The early action in the Vuelta a España had been as expected. Though it was a slight surprise that Tadej Pogačar seized the red jersey in Monaco, from then on it was highly likely he intended to keep the race lead all the way to Granada. Not that it was a stated objective to do so from start to finish, but seeing as he would be joining a select group of riders who had achieved that feat, it would have been rude not to seize the historic opportunity.
Six days in, three stage wins, and an overall lead of nearly four minutes, the predictions of him reaching Granada with an advantage somewhere in double figures were looking ominously on track.
