⚽ Sports
· Next Month
Vuelta a España 2026, Stage 9 (La Vila Joiosa/Villajoyosa → Alto de Aitana, 187.4 km, August 30, 2026): Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates, SLO) wins the stage (confirmed by official UCI result)
Probability
72%
Pogačar already won Stage 1 (Monaco ITT, 0.09 seconds ahead of Hayter) and holds the Red Jersey. Stage 9 is the hardest of the opening week: 187.4 km, 4,948 m of climbing, summit finish at Alto de Aitana (21.9 km final ascent, avg 5.5%, final 6.6 km at ~8%). Cyclingstage.com identifies Pogačar as the clear favourite for this type of long summit finish. Competition per bookmakers: Enric Mas (+1200) and Felix Gall (+1200) as podium candidates. Jonas Vingegaard (key rival) is out injured — a thinner top-field than usual.
Data basis for this prediction
- Vuelta Stage 9 Profil: 187,4 km, 4.948 m, Alto de Aitana (procyclingstats.com, Aug 2026)
- Cyclingstage.com: 'Pogačar in race with most elevation gain' — Stage 9 Favoriten (Aug 2026)
- Stage 1 Ergebnis: Pogačar gewinnt Monaco-ITT vor Hayter (+0,09 s), Tarling P3 (cyclinguptodate.com, 22. Aug. 2026)
- Vuelta 2026 Rivalen-Odds: Mas +1200, Gall +1200 (cyclingstage.com/thesportsgeek.com)
Verdict: Miss
[Vorzeitig entschieden] Tadej Pogačar stürzte auf Etappe 8 schwer und gab die Vuelta 2026 auf (Aufgabe, Schulterverletzung). Er kann Etappe 9 nicht gewinnen. Quelle: lavuelta.es ('Coquard sprints to victory; Pogacar abandons'), Canadian Cycling Magazine