Van Aert already has the receipts: he beat Pogačar at Paris-Roubaix 2026, in the velodrome, head-to-head — proof that the most dominant rider in the peloton is not untouchable on every terrain. At the Vuelta, van Aert isn't chasing red in the mountains; he's targeting the green jersey, stage wins, and the opening time trial in Monaco, where he told Het Laatste Nieuws: «Taking the red leader's jersey during the opening weekend is on my mind.» With 58,000 meters of climbing virtually guaranteeing Pogačar the GC, the race's real tension plays out a tier below — and that's exactly where van Aert operates.