THEMOVE: Will the 2026 Vuelta Route Attract Tadej Pogačar? | THEMOVE+

Host: Lance Armstrong (out this week)
Co-hosts: Spencer Martin and Johan Bruyneel
Date: December 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a detailed analysis of the newly announced 2026 Vuelta a España route. Spencer Martin and Johan Bruyneel dig into the course design, discuss its implications for star riders like Tadej Pogačar and Primož Roglič, and break down major news in the transfer market—most notably the Derek Gee and Oscar Onley sagas.

Listeners get a candid, insider take on what makes (or breaks) a successful Grand Tour, with critical reflections on race planning, riders' ambitions, and the future of major cycling teams.

1. The 2026 Vuelta a España Route: Too Hot to Handle?

[03:41] Route Breakdown & Initial Impressions

• Route Highlights:
  • 21 stages, starting with a 10km time trial in Monaco
  • 8 mountain stages, 6 flat-ish stages (finale in Granada with uphill), 5 hilly stages, 2 time trials (10km & 32.5km)
  • After stage 7, the race stays south of Valencia for the duration
• Heat Concerns:
  • The race will run through the south of Spain in August and September, traditionally brutal months for heat.

Johan Bruyneel:

"Anybody who has been to Granada in the summer and you can, I mean, beginning of September is still summer. It's going to be extremely hot." [04:32]

• Course Difficulty:
  • Over 58,000 meters of climbing—harder than the Tour de France by 6-8k meters.

Bruyneel:

"Making it so hard, man, I doubt that's good for the suspense of the race... especially the heat. I'm worried about the heat for the riders." [06:54]

2. Critique: Course Design and the Vuelta’s Identity Crisis

[08:26] North-South Alternation & Missed Opportunities

• Why the lack of classic northern Spanish mountains?
  • Spencer and Johan lament the absence of traditional Basque and Asturian climbs, attributing choices mostly to financial deals with host cities and logistical planning.

Bruyneel:

"The north of Spain, traditionally, that's where the nicest and the most beautiful mountains are... obviously going to be 5 degrees cooler than in the south." [08:32]

• Stale Racing:
  • Last year’s race was panned for monotony and lack of dynamism—repetitive hilly-to-single-climb finishes, and little memorable racing outside the Basque region.

Spencer Martin:

"The protest hid the fact that the course was awful, truly terrible." [09:12]

3. Who Will Ride? Will Pogacar Show Up?

[09:59] Rider Participation and Calendar Implications

• Roglič is Confirmed:
  • Expected to be at the start and targeting a fifth Vuelta win.
• Pogacar Unlikely, But Plausible:
  • Could benefit from course difficulty, but participation depends on Tour de France and World Championships goals.
  • Pogacar’s relatively light build-up calendar before the Tour leaves the Vuelta open as a possibility.

Bruyneel:

"It's not too hard for Pogacar. Even if Pogacar's at 90-95%, he can still win the Vuelta." [11:30]
"He hasn't won the Vuelta yet. So, yeah, it's not always going to be..." [11:52]

4. The Vuelta's Place As a Grand Tour: A Race of Last Resort?

[13:43] Team Motivation & Calendar

• Traditionally the most unpredictable Grand Tour:
  • Teams often decide their Vuelta rosters late, depending on earlier season successes or failures.
  • Many riders use it as a fallback if earlier goals weren’t met or due to injury recovery.

Bruyneel:

"That's why the Vuelta, in my opinion, is the most difficult race as a team, to get a motivated team at the start because it's late in the season and, you know, usually everybody has attained their goals already before the Vuelta." [17:22]

5. Derek Gee’s Transfer Drama: The Inside Story

[21:01] Derek Gee Moves to Lidl-Trek

• Background:
  • Gee was rumored to be embroiled in a possible lawsuit with Sylvan Adams (Israel Premier Tech) after unilaterally ending his contract.
  • Gee spotted training with Lidl-Trek all but confirms the move.
  • Parties likely reached a settlement—Lidl-Trek is rumored to have paid a substantial (possibly 7-figure) buyout.

Notable Quotes:
Bruyneel:

"If Derek G. Is training with [Lidl-Trek], he's not... because he's not going there. There's no other way." [21:16]
"It's extremely difficult... to build your team around for a Grand Tour, around a rider who can be podium but most likely won't be podium." [24:12]

• Team Building Dilemma:
  • Derek Gee is a valuable addition but not a surefire Grand Tour podium contender.
  • Lidl-Trek wants GC depth; their investment signals increased ambition and budget.

Bruyneel:

"It's not a great situation because a rider that goes for the podium also needs support of a team. And you have to divide your team in two... It's a gamble. I don't think Derek G. will win a Grand Tour next season." [25:00]

6. Oscar Onley and the UCI Contract Calendar

[28:18] Oscar Onley’s Future

• Onley not at current or potential new team camps—suggesting a pending move to INEOS.
• Spencer: "He was not at the training camp for Oscar only. He'll probably be..."
• UCI Transfer Rule Changes:
  • Riders will soon be able to wear new team jerseys starting November 1 (instead of January).
  • A positive change prompted by current awkwardness (e.g., Remco Evenepoel at Red Bull’s camp in Soudal Quick-Step kit).

Bruyneel:

"Since I was the team manager, it's always been the case... feels very unnatural to have, you know, riders on your team... and they still have to wear their outfit from the year before." [29:31]

7. New Kits and Team Branding

[30:31] INEOS’s Orange & White Kit

• Discussion on INEOS’s new kit: orange top for Total Energies sponsorship, with a white and gray lower half.
• Hosts express skepticism about the style, but agree it will stand out in the peloton.

Bruyneel:

"There must be a thinking behind it, but I don't know what the thinking is. It looks a bit strange." [31:18]

8. Closing Thoughts

• Spencer wraps up the discussion, noting a scheduling change due to Boxing Day, and promises the next episode will drop the Monday after.

Key Takeaways

• The 2026 Vuelta a España will be one of the hardest and hottest Grand Tours ever, stirring controversy and concern over heat and course design.
• Pogacar’s participation remains an open but tantalizing question—his presence could define the race.
• Derek Gee’s blockbuster (and expensive) move to Lidl-Trek underscores the escalation of transfer fees and team ambitions.
• The Vuelta remains cycling’s wildcard Grand Tour, shaped by late-season storylines, unpredictability, and shifting team goals.
• UCI changes to contract/kit timing are welcomed by both hosts and seen as overdue.

Memorable Quotes

• Johan Bruyneel:

  • "I feel for the riders and it's... I think it's just... It's a stupid course. It's too hot to have two weeks in the south. It's too hot." [12:47]

• Spencer Martin:

  • "The protest hid the fact that the course was awful, truly terrible." [09:12]

• Johan Bruyneel:

  • "It's extremely difficult and complicated for a team to build your team around for a Grand Tour around a rider who can be podium but most likely won't be podium." [24:12]

Notable Timestamps

• 03:41 - Vuelta route overview and breakdown.
• 04:32 - Deep dive into heat and route location.
• 06:33 - Discussing course design and climbing numbers.
• 09:12 - Criticism of last year’s Vuelta and lack of dynamism.
• 09:59 - Speculating on Pogacar, Roglič, and key starters.
• 17:22 - Challenges of fielding a motivated Vuelta team.
• 21:01 - Derek Gee’s transfer saga details.
• 28:18 - Oscar Onley’s possible move and new UCI transfer rules.
• 30:31 - Thoughts on new INEOS kit and branding.

This summary encapsulates all major discussion threads, key insights, and colorful moments that define THEMOVE’s signature insider approach.