Tour de Andalusia Set to Spotlight Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard
Pogacar’s plans took an abrupt turn this Monday as the Slovenian star shifted his season opener to a different stage, with the goal of adding a third Tour de France title in July. The rider will start the course next Monday amid discussions about the new early-season race and his path through southern Spain. In Jaén Paraíso Interior, he is set to cross paths with Enric Mas, who will also begin his 2023 campaign on the roads of Andalusia.
Initially, Pogacar was expected to kick off with the Emirates Tour, a race that already feels like a logical opener given the UAE-based sponsorship and the team’s past wins. Yet this week’s schedule shift was not accidental. Danish rival Jonas Vingegaard, another top contender for the season’s big prize, had already booked his start, while plans for a renewed Galicia tour that had been branded as the Great Way were adjusted toward the end of February—opening a window for new content and competition in the Iberian peninsula.
among olive trees
That’s why Pogacar will be the marquee attraction in two Andalusian races, both newly emphasized on the calendar. He signed up for Jaén Paraíso Interior next Monday, a second edition organized by a Spanish squad led by Pascual Moparler, known for its work in cyclo-cross and its local ties. The route’s signature appeal comes from unpaved stretches weaving through groves of olive trees, offering a challenging mix of surfaces and climbs that test a rider’s versatility and nerve. The race promises suspense as Pogacar aims to translate his grand tour ambitions into a bold early-season statement.
Following Jaén Paraíso Interior, Pogacar will move into a broader Andalusian program running from Wednesday, February 15 to Sunday, February 19. Both events are slated for live broadcast on major sports channels, with Eurosport providing consistent coverage and telemetry for fans watching from Canada, the United States, and beyond. The route for the Far East or Ruta del Sol highlights a stunning landscape with five stages that combine sprint opportunities, time trials, and alpine-like climbs as the profiles come into sharper focus. Pogacar is expected to show a prepared, aggressive approach on each stage as the daily contours reveal a distinct mountain strategy.