Tactics, teamwork and the right pacing determine success. How to transfer the strategies of the cycling pros from the Vuelta to your own rides.
The Vuelta a Espana proves year after year that cycling is far more than just pure legwork. It is a highly complex game of chess on two wheels. Anyone who follows the reports in the cycling media closely will quickly notice: the decisive factors for victory are often tactical. Whether it is perfect sprint preparation, clever pacing on climbs or the value of teamwork – the pros provide us with valuable lessons that can be transferred surprisingly well to your own training and your next RTF or group ride.
An impressive example of functioning teamwork was shown on stage 11 of the Vuelta 2026. As Radsport-News and Cyclingnews consistently report, Team Visma-Lease a Bike demonstrated how important flexibility and trust are. After the Belgian top star Wout van Aert came away empty-handed as captain the day before, he put himself completely at the service of his young teammate Matthew Brennan on the stage to Lorca. Together with Christophe Laporte, van Aert prepared the sprint so precisely that Brennan was able to take his third stage victory.
For your own training in a group, this means: success rarely works as a solo effort. A well-functioning paceline or targeted drafting for a weaker rider at the end of a long tour saves the energy of everyone involved. Van Aert emphasised after the race how important it was to tackle a key corner in the finale in a controlled manner and without taking too much risk. In recreational sports, too, the rule is: agreements before tight corners or confusing sections prevent crashes and keep the pace high.
The only 21-year-old Matthew Brennan is the discovery of this tour. But his path to success was by no means straightforward. According to Cyclingnews, the Brit looks back on a difficult spring in which the Classics season did not go as planned and he was set back by an illness. Instead of continuing to train in frustration, he took a conscious step back to refocus.
If you stagnate in training, are slowed down by a cold or your form curve points downwards, there is no reason to panic. Take an example from the pros: accept the setback, ease off the pace and start anew after a real recovery phase with fresh motivation and clear, realistic goals.
Stage 12 of the Vuelta leads the riders up to the Calar-Alto-Observatorium at an altitude of over 2200 metres. As Radsport-News analyses, over 4500 metres of climbing await on the 167 kilometres. Former pro Alejandro Valverde, who knows the route inside out, pointed out the special challenges in an interview with Cyclingnews: the final climb is extremely susceptible to wind and irregular. In addition, the altitude plays a role, even if the pros compensate for this through targeted altitude training.
If you venture onto long climbs or passes yourself, you should approach them strategically. Jack Haig from Netcompany Ineos emphasised before the stage that without absolute exceptional riders like Tadej Pogacar, the racing is much more tactical. For you, this means: do not tackle steep sections in the red zone. Pace yourself, use flatter intermediate sections to recover and watch the wind. If you are riding in a group, it is worth saving energy in the draft instead of wearing yourself out alone in the exposed sections.
The pros show how it is done: cycling is a team sport and a mental game. Use the dynamics of your training group, share the lead work fairly and ride with foresight. And when things are not going well, a conscious break often helps more than forced kilometres.
Your takeaway: Pace yourself wisely on long climbs and use drafting in the group instead of wearing yourself out in a solo effort.
This article was generated automatically with AI from the sources listed above and has not been editorially reviewed.