Tadej Pogacar dominated the individual time trial in the opening stage of the Vuelta a España on Saturday, securing the leader’s red jersey with a time of 10 minutes 57 seconds over a 9.4km course in Monaco. The two-time Grand Tour champion edged out Ethan Hayter by a mere 0.09 seconds, while Joshua Tarling finished third, just four seconds behind.

This victory marks Pogacar’s ambition to achieve a career Grand Tour treble, having recently won the Tour de France for the fifth time and the Giro d’Italia in 2024. He expressed mixed feelings about his win, saying, “It’s a weird feeling to win the time trial on the first stage and by such a small margin. I was not expecting it.”

Pogacar credited his home advantage, noting that his familiarity with the technical aspects of the course played a crucial role in his success.

In a poignant moment, Pogacar revealed his support for Tarling, who recently lost his younger brother, Finlay, in a tragic accident. “I was really rooting for Josh as well,” he said, reflecting on the emotional complexity of the race.

The Vuelta continues on Sunday with a challenging 214.3km stage from Monaco to Manosque, France. The competition remains fierce, especially with Primoz Roglic aiming for a record-equalling fifth Vuelta victory, despite finishing 24th in the opening stage.