Prince Albert II stepped into the sporting spotlight this week, welcoming cycling superstar Tadej Pogačar ahead of a historic moment for Monaco.
The Monegasque royal met the Slovenian athlete during the official team presentation for the 2026 Vuelta a España.
The two were photographed smiling and shaking hands as excitement builds for the prestigious race, which begins in the principality on Saturday, August 22.
Pogačar, the reigning world champion and five-time winner of the Tour de France, is among the biggest names participating in this year’s competition. The 27-year-old cyclist is also a familiar face in Monaco, where he currently resides.
© Alexander HassensteinThe opening stage will be particularly personal for Pogačar. Riders will compete in a 9.4-kilometer individual time trial through Monaco, with the route taking the cycling star past his own home.
A historic first for Monaco:
The 2026 departure will secure Monaco a unique place in cycling history. The principality will become the first location to have hosted the opening stage of all three of the sport’s Grand Tours.
© Tim de WaeleMonaco previously welcomed the Giro d’Italia in 1966 and the Tour de France in 2009. La Vuelta’s arrival completes the remarkable trio exactly 60 years after the Giro began there.
The inaugural time trial will start in front of the Monte Carlo Casino before taking riders through the famously glamorous city-state. More than 180 cyclists are expected to take part in the race, which will continue through Spain before concluding at the Alhambra in Granada on September 13.
© Tim de WaeleFor Pogačar, the competition also represents an opportunity to complete a major career milestone. While he has already won both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, he has yet to claim an overall victory at La Vuelta.
The Slovenian athlete made his Grand Tour breakthrough at the Spanish race in 2019, finishing third overall and winning three stages during his debut appearance. If he triumphs this year, he will become only the ninth cyclist in history to win all three Grand Tours.
© Alexander HassensteinPrince Albert’s meeting with the champion highlighted Monaco’s close relationship with international sport. The sovereign has long supported major athletic events hosted in the principality, including Formula One’s Monaco Grand Prix, the Monte-Carlo Masters and the World Athletics Diamond League.
Now, with cycling’s biggest stars gathering on its streets, Monaco is preparing to add another history-making chapter to its sporting legacy.
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