Vuelta 2026: Laporte and Molard to start in Monaco on Saturday
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Two riders with strong Riviera ties will line up for the Vuelta a España's Monaco start on 22 August, while Clément Champoussin misses out after being left off the XDS Astana squad.
The Principality hosts the Grand Départ of the Vuelta a España on Saturday 22 August 2026, and two familiar faces from the Côte d'Azur will be on the start line. Christophe Laporte, the Var-born sprinter, and Rudy Molard, who is based on the French Riviera, have both been confirmed in their respective team selections for the three-week Spanish grand tour.
One notable absence is Clément Champoussin, the Nice-born climber who will not feature after XDS Astana omitted him from their official Vuelta roster. No reason has been given for his exclusion from the squad.
For Monaco residents, Saturday's start will bring road closures and significant crowds to the Principality, with the race peloton departing from the heart of the Principality before heading westward into Spain. The event marks one of the highest-profile cycling occasions to be staged in Monaco in recent years, placing the Principality at the centre of the professional road-racing calendar for the day.