It is over 1,000 kilometres because the crow flies from the 2025 Tour de Pologne’s closing climb to Bukowina Tatranzska to the Vuelta a España‘s first summit end at Limone Piemonte – however after outperforming much better identified racers within the Polish ascent two weeks in the past, Monaco’s Victor Langellotti is poised and able to do the identical within the a lot larger enviornment of the Vuelta.
In Poland, Langellotti, 30, was something however a well-known face to many followers when he outgunned no much less a rider than Brandon McNulty (UAE Crew Emirates) to take each the stage and the lead at Bukowina. The rider from Monaco had solely signed for Ineos in 2025 – earlier than that he raced with the comparatively low-profile Spanish ProTeam Burgos-BH for his whole profession.
Whereas not capable of cling on for the general victory within the closing time trial, his victory in Poland was sufficient to shift Langellotti from the Ineos lengthy record for the Vuelta choice to a definitive choice.
Langellotti was chosen for his first Grand Tour because the Vuelta with Burgos BH in 2022 and is placing his hat within the ring for the race’s first summit end, the seven-kilometre class 2 Limone Piemonte on Sunday.
“I do know it slightly bit, it isn’t so removed from Monaco, so typically again within the winter I might go there to do some snowboarding,” Langellotti instructed reporters within the Vuelta’s stage 1 blended zone.
“It is a lengthy drag up in the direction of, however then the final three kms are kicking tougher. So the important thing will probably be to be in an excellent place after which look forward to the second to assault or launch my dash.”
One in all simply two professionals from Monaco within the present peloton, Langellotti has been breaking via one glass ceiling after one other within the final seven months of 2025. Becoming a member of Ineos Grenadiers noticed him turn out to be the tiny nation’s first WorldTour professional, a 3rd place in Tour de Pologne was Monaco’s first WorldTour podium end, and that was adopted up by his first outright win and lead.
“I am fairly comfortable concerning the form, it’s fairly good and I may present it in Poland,” he mentioned.
“Meaning all of the preparation has been good, plus we have performed a great job on the coaching camp in Andorra earlier than the Vuelta, so clearly I come right here with some expectations,” Langellotti mentioned.
His dedication to grab each likelihood he may get has already been clear this summer time, however combating for a victory in Limone Piemonte – and with it the lead after he completed safely in behind winner Jasper Philipsen in as we speak’s bunch dash – could be one other large step up he is able to take, he says.
“I might like to win a stage,that might be the primary purpose, and clearly Limone Piemonte is a fairly good stage finale for me, it may possibly go well with me fairly effectively,” he mentioned, “so tomorrow [Sunday] we’ll give it a shot.”
Langellotti’s earlier participation within the Vuelta 2022 ended when he deserted after a crash on a descent, however earlier than that, he wore the mountains jersey – Monaco’s first classification lead in a Grand Tour – for a number of days.
“It was a dream to be a part of a Grand Tour, however then carrying the mountain jersey was wonderful,” Langellotti says, agreeing that the reminiscence ought to assist encourage him on this 12 months’s race.
However each he and Monaco have one thing extra to look ahead to sooner or later Vueltas as effectively, with subsequent 12 months’s Gran Depart for the Spanish Grand Tour set to happen in his nation.
“It’s an honour to host a Grand Tour begin, however initially right here we’re in Turin, initially it is the Vuelta 2025 after which we’ll see,” he concluded. “However clearly, I am very happy that will probably be occurring, too!”
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