It is over 1,000 kilometres because the crow flies from the 2025 Tour de Pologne’s ultimate climb to Bukowina Tatranzska to the Vuelta a España‘s first summit end at Limone Piemonte – however after outperforming much better recognized 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 greater 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 Group 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 total profession.
While not able to hang on for the overall victory in the final time trial, his victory in Poland was enough to shift Langellotti from the Ineos long list for the Vuelta selection to a definitive selection.
Langellotti was selected for his first Grand Tour since the Vuelta with Burgos BH in 2022 and is putting his hat in the ring for the race’s first summit finish, the seven-kilometre category 2 Limone Piemonte on Sunday.
“I know it a little bit, it’s not so far from Monaco, so sometimes back in the winter I’d go there to do some skiing,” Langellotti told reporters in the Vuelta’s stage 1 mixed zone.
“It’s a long drag up towards, but then the last three kms are kicking harder. So the key will be to be in a very good position and then wait for the moment to attack or launch my sprint.”
One of just two pros from Monaco in the current peloton, Langellotti has been breaking through one glass ceiling after another in the last seven months of 2025. Joining Ineos Grenadiers noticed him grow 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 blissful concerning the form, it’s fairly good and I might present it in Poland,” he mentioned.
“Which means all of the preparation has been good, plus we have performed 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 probability he might get has already been clear this summer time, however preventing for a victory in Limone Piemonte – and with it the lead after he completed safely in behind winner Jasper Philipsen in right now’s bunch dash – can be one other huge step up he is able to take, he says.
“I might like to win a stage,that may be the primary purpose, and clearly Limone Piemonte is a fairly good stage finale for me, it may 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 sporting the mountain jersey was wonderful,” Langellotti says, agreeing that the reminiscence ought to assist encourage him on this yr’s race.
However each he and Monaco have one thing extra to sit up for sooner or later Vueltas as effectively, with subsequent yr’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 more than happy that will probably be taking place, too!”
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