Alex MacQuoid
UAE Team Emirates has announced a commanding line-up for the 2025 Vuelta a España, with a clear strategy built around dual leadership. Portuguese sensation Joao Almeida and home favorite Juan Ayuso will co-captain the squad in a bid to conquer the general classification across a grueling route that kicks off in Torino on August 23, winding through France and into the heartlands of Spain.
Almeida enters La Vuelta with sharpened ambitions after a premature crash in Stage 9 of this year’s Tour de France forced him to abandon with a rib fracture. The recovery, however, has allowed him to reset, recondition, and rechannel his energy into targeting Spain’s Grand Tour. Earlier this season, Almeida’s palmarès swelled with overall victories in the Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie, and Itzulia Basque Country—highlighting his consistency and tactical prowess.
“To start the Vuelta as a team leader is a special feeling for me, especially with the form I’ve shown this season,” Almeida told Roadcycling.com. “Recovering from the Tour crash has been a smooth process, and my sensations during training have been positive. I am confident we can achieve something big with the group around us.”
Alongside him, Juan Ayuso will carry equal weight in the team’s ambitions. At just 22, Ayuso already commands respect in the peloton. The Spaniard stormed to overall victory at Tirreno-Adriatico and finished runner-up in Volta a Catalunya earlier this year. His Giro d’Italia stint revealed depth and leadership maturity, even as teammate Isaac del Toro stole the spotlight.
“The Vuelta is my home race, and that makes it incredibly special,” Ayuso said. “I’ve been training with full focus and intent. Racing in Spain adds emotional value, and I’m determined to give everything for this team.”
Also read:Vuelta a España 2025 Route & Stages Preview
Supporting the leaders is a deep bench of talent. Mikkel Bjerg—noticeably absent from the Tour de France squad—returns to add horsepower, especially in time trials. Climbing specialists Marc Soler and Jay Vine offer tactical flexibility in the high mountains. Felix Großschartner, ever versatile, will serve as a key all-rounder, while Ivo Oliveira and Domen Novak round out the eight-man roster with developmental promise and critical support roles.
Notably, Tadej Pogačar will skip this year’s Vuelta, opting instead to recover from a triumphant but taxing fourth Tour de France title. The Slovenian star will focus on the Canadian classics, including the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Montreal, before turning his attention to autumn’s one-day monuments.
“After such a demanding Tour, together with the team I decided it was best for me to take a break,” Pogačar said. “The Vuelta holds a special place in my heart, but the body needs rest.”
UAE Team Emirates Vuelta a Espana 2025 Roster
- Joao Almeida
- Juan Ayuso
- Marc Soler
- Mikkel Bjerg
- Jay Vine
- Felix Großschartner
- Domen Novak
- Ivo Oliveira
UAE Team Emirates’ choice to field co-leaders reflects a bold tactical gamble—one that could yield dominance or spark internal tension, especially amid rumors of Ayuso contemplating a future beyond the Emirati setup. But with a roster stacked with talent and a leadership duo in prime form, the squad enters La Vuelta not just as contenders—but as a team to beat.