The cost of the Vuelta a España World Championship double is clear as Van Aert, Mas and Ayuso struggle in Montréal

In recent years, the Vuelta a España has often proven useful as preparation for the World Championships, but the top ten riders in the overall standings failed to make an impact at the World Championships. Even green jersey winner and two-stage winner Wout van Aert faltered at the most crucial moment. Spain, in particular, saw their stars crumple on the Canadian roads.

The Spanish team had Juan Ayuso and Enric Mas listed as their team leaders. Ayuso finished thirteenth and didn’t do too badly, while Mas didn’t even get close to the final sprint and dropped back to the peloton 105 kilometers from the finish. He pointedly stepped off his bike and called it quits shortly afterward.

In addition to Mas, Felix Gall also failed to finish, after coming third in the Vuelta. Richard Carapaz (ill) and Mattias Skjelmose (exhausted) didn’t even compete, so only Primoz Roglic managed to make a bit of an impression. He was part of a breakaway with Mathieu van der Poel, finishing 21st in the final standings.

That’s not so surprising, since Roglic really came into his own in the Vuelta and was at his best during the final week. The riders who had excelled for three weeks clearly had little left in the tank in Montreal. National team coach Alejandro Valverde told Marca: “We had expected more from them. I don’t know if Enric hasn’t recovered properly from the Vuelta—he doesn’t know himself either.”

Ayuso said he felt “empty” when the final reached its climax. The Spaniard felt dizzy but still managed to finish the race. At the European Championships, the Lidl-Trek team leader will be aiming for a repeat, with a Spanish team without Mas, who is basking in the afterglow of his Vuelta victory. Ayuso will have a strong team with him at the European Championships, featuring Urko Berrade, Pau Miquel, Joel Nicolau, Cristián Rodríguez, and Iván Roméo.

On The Move podcast, Bruyneel, Spencer Martin and Lance Armstrong talk abut the stark contrast between those who rode the Vuelta and those who didn't: "I'm just looking at the top 13, Nobody from the Vuelta in the top 13," says Bruyneel.

"What we learned at the Vuelta is that the tour fries you. What we learned at the World Championships is that the Vuelta fries you," continued Martin. "It's hard to perform after these stage races."

Bruyneel goes further to explain the added difficulty in 2026: "Especially on a different continent, you know, that's an extra stress factor. You know, you need to be traveling there beforehand and to adapt to the time zone."

Armstrong chimes in that the organisers should just move the World Championships back to August like it used to be. "Next year it's in August," reply both Martin and Bruyneel. Indeed the 2027 World Championships in France will begin on the 23rd August 2027.