“There are great possibilities that Pogacar will be in La Vuelta in 2025, it is the only ‘big one’ that is missing”

The general director of Unipublic, Javier Guillén, made it clear that they are “excited and delighted” that the Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar (UAE), winner of this year’s Giro, Tour and World Cup, is in La Vuelta in 2025, a possibility that Go close because “it’s the only ‘big’ one that’s missing.”

“We are excited and delighted that Pogacar could come to the Vuelta. We are absolutely respectful of the decision that the rider may make, but there is a certain reality, that the only big thing he is missing is the Vuelta. When he decides to come and run it it will be more than welcome, but if you ask me, I think there are great possibilities that it will be in 2025,” Guillén assured the media after a round table on women’s sports organized together with Loterías y Apuestas del Estado.

Regarding the women’s edition of the Spanish round, Guillén explained that if he could choose the date, he would choose to “stick” it to the men’s one. “I think that could also be beneficial for the race. Even so, we continue looking for fits, we continue doing analysis, because it is not a question of seeing if the Women’s Tour fits well in May because good athletes come, we also have to analyze other things,” he noted. .

The director of La Vuelta spoke about the progress of women’s cycling in recent years. “We have the feeling that something has changed. 10-15 years ago we were in a quite precarious situation as far as women’s sports were concerned, but thanks to everyone’s will we have managed to change that,” he explained.

“We have realized that it is worth it and that we also have to do it. Today’s sessions have also helped me to confirm that there are many things that are being done well, but evidently we are at a starting point, because there is still a lot to do,” Guillén reflected on the aid that both public entities, such as the CSD or State Lotteries and Betting, and private entities are providing to Spanish women’s sports.

Regarding the participation of the women’s Vuelta, the manager suggested that they want to have “the best WorldTour teams” and recalled that they have had two editions with “two great champions” such as the Dutch Demi Vollering and Annemiek van Vleuten, so they believe that they will continue having “a great participation”. “We are working with great enthusiasm and without rest,” he said.

The general director of Unipublic highlighted the importance of “powerful and serious structures” supporting women’s sports in Spain, something that had not happened for more than ten years. “I vindicate the work that is being done, and I also believe that it is key to promote it and benefit from the structures that already exist, such as Real Madrid or Atlético de Madrid with their women’s teams in football,” he added.

Finally, Guillén spoke about the inspiration of women’s cycling for men’s cycling. “Women’s cycling is very fun for us because of its spontaneity, and what invites us to say is that we see in women’s cycling keys that also work in men’s cycling and that we must insist. The stages have to be shorter because they are unpredictable,” he noted.

“Women’s cycling is more difficult to control and therefore men’s cycling would have to tend to go to that as well, because in the end, the only thing we are looking for is the greatest possible entertainment. I have to say that the freshness of women’s cycling, particularly, It amuses me a lot more, but of course they are communicating vessels and we are already in a moment in which we learn everything,” concluded the director of La Vuelta.