We review the overall favourites and stage win prospects and weigh up their chances of success in Spain

Not just in terms of results, but also controversy and high jinks and general... noise.

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Tom Pidcock

26 | Q36.5 Pro Cycling | Gbr Previous Vuelta starts: 1 (2021) Best GC result: 67 Best stage result: 4th

By Tom Pidcock's standards, 2025 has so far been a pretty quiet year. And you get the impression that that is exactly how he likes it.

He struggled to enjoy the Tour de France in 2023 and 2024, partly because his results did not meet the expectations that had grown around him, and partly because of a public falling out with Ineos Grenadiers's then director of racing Steve Cummings.

Now on a three-year contract at new team Q36.5 Pro Cycling, Pidcock says he feels liberated.

"I feel like I've been let off the lead," he said earlier this season. "I've found new interest, life and energy in cycling. It's really been revitalising."

And while he has had a quieter season, Pidcock has been far from invisible, winning the AlUla Tour in February and placing top-10 in all three Ardennes Classics, as well as taking an impressive second place at Strade Bianche.

Now, he says he is excited to have been invited to the Vuelta a España with his Q36.5 team - not something they would have taken for granted given their second-tier ProTeam ranking.

"I did my first Grand Tour four years ago in Spain and have great memories of it," Pidcock said. "Back then, everything was new, but this year, I go in with a lot more experience and higher expectations - especially with the Q36.5 team by my side." Pidcock has not spelled out exactly what his approach will be, but it is likely to prioritise stage wins, while keeping half an eye on the GC.

Ben O'Connor

29 | Jayco Alula | Aus Previous Vuelta starts: 2 Best GC result: 2nd (2024) Best stage result: 1st

Ben O'Connor returns to the race where he finished second overall last year, after spending almost two weeks in the race lead.