The 80th edition of the Vuelta a España began on Saturday in Turin with the Principality firmly in the spotlight…
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II was present at the start, both as an ardent cycling fan and as a representative of Monaco, which will host the prestigious Grand Départ in 2026. The event carried extra resonance for the Principality thanks to the participation of Monegasque rider Victor Langelotti, who is taking on the challenge alongside his Ineos Grenadiers teammate Brandon Rivera, also a product of the Union Cycliste de Monaco.
For Langelotti, fresh from a stage victory and top-10 finish at the Tour of Poland, the Vuelta offers both a personal milestone and a chance to represent his home country on one of cycling’s biggest stages. He spoke of his ambition to complete the race after being forced to abandon in 2022 and of his hope to claim a stage victory. “My first goal is to reach Madrid,” he said, “but the dream would be to win a stage while helping the team fight for the overall.”
Prince Albert II took time to meet both Langelotti and Rivera before the start, praising their success and underlining Monaco’s long-standing commitment to cycling. The Sovereign highlighted how the Principality has previously welcomed major events, including the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in 2009, and stressed that lessons learned from Turin will help Monaco deliver an exceptional start to the Vuelta in 2026.
With 184 riders on the start line and 186 kilometres ahead on day one, the peloton heads towards Novara. But for Monaco, the Vuelta’s opening weekend has already been a triumph, with national pride carried in the legs of its own rider and anticipation building for the race’s arrival on home soil.
