This is what Gall, Carapaz and Onley had to say about their results at the Vuelta a España: 'A little different for us'

The Vuelta a España marked the end of the last Grand Tour of 2026. Enric Mas won the race for Movistar , with Primoz Roglic of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe as his closest rival. Behind them were Felix Gall (Decathlon CMA CGM), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), Sepp Kuss (Visma Lease a Bike) and Oscar Onley of Netcompany INEOS, each with their own story to tell.

"My main goal this year was to finish on the podium in a Grand Tour. The Giro went very well, and I was already able to achieve that goal there. I hoped to do the same during the Vuelta, and I was able to repeat that performance."

I had a really strong team, and their dedication was incredible throughout those three weeks. When you’re fighting for a spot on the podium, everyone has to make sacrifices and give 100% toward that goal. That’s exactly what happened over the past three weeks, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

"I've been with the team for five years now, and I feel like I reach a new milestone every year; that's really rewarding. It's also great that we all get to stand on the podium together for the team classification and that I can share this moment with my teammates."

"I think this Vuelta was a little different for us. We lined up at the start with tremendous confidence and a clear, ambitious goal: to compete for the victory. That drive motivated us to fight every day and keep the team at the front at all times."

After three weeks, fourth place is a well-deserved result. We fought tirelessly for it, always keeping our ambition to win alive, and we seized every opportunity that came our way. The team was flawless from start to finish—they supported me through thick and thin and gave it their all.

In cycling, the line between winning and losing is razor-thin, but competing for the win requires a relentless effort—and that’s exactly what we delivered. Throughout these three weeks, the team has shown true character; we never stopped trying, no matter what opportunity presented itself.

I am incredibly proud of my teammates, who performed fantastically; of the coaching staff, who worked tirelessly on every little tactical detail; and of the entire support staff. They are the best at what they do. Their work takes place behind the scenes and often goes unnoticed, but without them, we simply wouldn’t be here.

It was a Vuelta that we thoroughly enjoyed. Every stage was a learning experience for all of us. Competing in a Grand Tour is always incredibly tough; if you reach the ultimate goal, it’s fantastic, and if you just fall short, you keep pushing as long as there’s a chance. Personally, I’m incredibly happy with the team, proud of a fantastic Vuelta and a great season, and above all, proud that we showed the world our fighting spirit. It was three incredible weeks.”

"It's been three long weeks, I think. There's always a lot of tension and stress surrounding the race, especially when you're competing for the overall classification; so it feels good and it's a relief to be done now."

To be honest, the team we had here was truly incredible—not just in terms of how we rode, but also in terms of the atmosphere off the bike and at the dinner table in the evenings. I’ll remember that for a long time. You can’t force things like this, but when the chemistry is right and it all comes together naturally, it’s truly something special. I enjoyed it immensely.

I wouldn't say I have any regrets. There were a few setbacks, but they weren’t due to things I could really control. I got a little sick during the first week, and after that I had a few crashes, which of course is never ideal. I think I’ve learned a lot from the way the team and I made plans to get back in top shape.

"I think it's fair to say that this hasn't been a great season for me, so just finishing the Vuelta is a success in itself. And of course, it's also nice to ride at a decent level for three weeks. It gives me a lot of motivation and confidence for the future."