Instagram @tadejpogacar
Monaco became the centre of the cycling world on Saturday, 22nd August, as La Vuelta 2026 opened in the Principality with a spectacular individual time trial—and a victory decided by less than a tenth of a second.
The 9.4-kilometre course transformed some of Monaco’s most recognisable locations into a racing circuit, taking riders past Casino Square, Port Hercule, Fontvieille and Larvotto. Prince Albert II officially marked the start of proceedings by cutting the ribbon before the competition began.
For Tadej Pogačar, the streets were particularly familiar. The Slovenian cyclist, who lives in Monaco, completed the course in 10 minutes and 57 seconds, beating Britain’s Ethan Hayter by just 0.09 seconds.
Pogačar later joked that the decisive fraction may have come as the route passed his apartment, describing that section as the most technical part of the course and one he knows from walking and cycling there every day.
Joshua Tarling finished third, four seconds behind Hayter.
The Monaco victory gives Pogačar the first leader’s jersey of this year’s race and marks an impressive beginning to his first La Vuelta appearance since 2019.
It could also be the start of another significant chapter in his career. After winning his fifth Tour de France earlier this year and the Giro d’Italia in 2024, victory at La Vuelta would place Pogačar among the select group of riders to have won all three Grand Tours.
Following the glamour and technical precision of the Monaco opener, the scale of the challenge changes dramatically. Stage 2 takes the peloton from Monaco to Manosque, covering 214.3 kilometres—the longest stage of the 2026 edition.
For Monaco, however, Stage 1 delivered exactly the kind of sporting spectacle the Principality knows how to host: iconic scenery, international attention and a home resident winning by the smallest of margins.