For several years now, the Vuelta has been based on points for the green jersey, which tends to go to the sprinters. That’s generous, but the route must include sprint stages. That seems to be missing this year, so men like Mads Pedersen and Caleb Ewan have opted for a different program. Nevertheless, there is a green jersey up for grabs in Madrid.
Please also/in the leader jersey:
Preview Vuelta a España 2024
Favorite Red Jersey Vuelta a Espana 2024
Favorites polka dot jersey Vuelta a Espana 2024
Favorites white jersey Vuelta a Espana 2024
Pool tips Vuelta a Espana 2024
The last winners of the Green Jersey (points classification) Vuelta a España
2023 Kaden Groves
2022 Mads Pedersen
2021 Fabio Jakobsen
2020 Primoz Roglic
2019 Primoz Roglic
2018 Alejandro Valverde
2017 Chris Froome
2016 Fabio Felline
2015 Alejandro Valverde
2014 John Degenkolb
Favorites points classification Vuelta a España 2024
This list was compiled based on the opinions of (former) IDLProCycling editorial staff members who submitted their top ten candidates.
Mathias Vacek – Lidl Trek
The first name on our list is Mathias Vacek, a burly Czech rider from Lidl-Trek. This formation was originally supposed to compete in the Vuelta a España with Mads Pedersen, but in the end the team decided to transfer the composition to the different races.
Vacek is a man for all situations. He has a decent time trial under his belt, is quick to get to the finish line and can get over a hill. In theory, he can take top positions on the flat stages and move up in the breakaway stages.
This season, the young rider has come close to winning the Baloise Belgium Tour and has played a supporting role to Thibau Nys in several races. Before this Vuelta, his team reported that Vacek could also take his chance to win a stage.
Arne Marit – Intermarché-Wanty
Has the green jersey virus now also affected Intermarché-Wanty? Biniam Girmay, on behalf of the team, ensured that the Maillot Verde took home a fantastic Tour de France. Arne Marit is the sprinter in action at the Vuelta a Espana.
The Belgian hasn’t had a particularly successful year in Aike Visbeek’s team, but he’s motivated to show it in Spain (and Portugal). On his days, he proved his strength with second places in Valencia and Catalonia.
Marit gained his first experience of working in the big Tour last season at the Giro d’Italia, where he even came close to winning a stage. With this field of sprinters at the Vuelta, a single good result could be the breakthrough he needs.
Richard Carapaz – EF Education-EasyPost
This year’s Vuelta is extremely tough, so riders in the classification automatically have to enter the fight for the points jersey. Our (former) editors have already named Richard Carapaz as a contender for the red jersey, which automatically makes him a man who can just about keep up in the fight for the green jersey.
A win seems like a dream, but with Carapaz you can still be sure that he will fight for every place. The determined man from Ecuador always does that, as he proved in the last Tour de France.
However, the big goal is red, so the points score would be nothing more than a side win for Carapaz.
Jhonatan Narvaez – INEOS Grenadiers
From one Ecuadorian to another: Jhonatan Narváez was given a chance at the Olympic Games by the South American country’s cycling federation in favor of Carapaz, and this caused some friction back and forth. Not between the riders, which is a good thing: they will meet again at the Vuelta.
Narváez, who has moved to UAE Team Emirates, is relying on his power to push through, which could put him at the front of the green jersey race at the Vuelta. His specific qualities also allow him to ride in breakaways and occasionally position himself on a flat stage.
But the 27-year-old South American is apparently primarily interested in stage wins, like the ones he achieved at the Giro this year. There couldn’t be a better farewell gift for his team INEOS Grenadiers.
Pavel Bittner – dsm-unternehmenich PostNL
If you’re a sprinter on form, you’ll find yourself on this list. At least that’s the case with Pavel Bittner of dsm-firmenich PostNL: the 21-year-old Czech from the Dutch formation won two stages and the points classification of the Tour of Burgos, which immediately makes him one of the faster men for this Vuelta a Espana.
Bittner won’t get many chances and given his age it’s questionable whether he’ll even take part, but either way he’ll want to throw himself into the stages that suit him. These will mainly be the first nine days.
At least dsm-firmenich has let PostNL know that they will also be playing the Bittner card for these stages. Things could get even worse before the start of their first big tour.
Primoz Roglic – Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
Oh hey, a two-time winner of the points jersey. Primoz Roglic managed to take the points jersey to Slovenia in 2019 and 2020 in addition to the final classification of the Vuelta, something he managed to do often in those years. Nowadays, it’s more difficult anyway due to the rule changes.
Not that it would bother Roglic: one more or less Vuelta points jersey in the closet is all the same to him. He and his team Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe are aiming for nothing less than overall victory, and such an honor in the points classification is just an additional burden for him.
Nevertheless, with his time trial, breakthrough and uphill qualities, he is automatically in the race for green.
Corbin Strong – Israel Prime Minister Tech
The sprinters who travel to this Vuelta can overcome a lot. This is also the case for Corbin Strong, the New Zealander from Israel-Premier Tech. Last season, for example, he finished second behind Arnaud De Lie in the Quebec GP, but this year he prefers the Vuelta a España.
Strong renewed his contract with the formation just before the Vuelta and said he would like to repay that with a stage win in the Tour of Spain. If he wants to fulfil that ambition, he will fight for the green jersey in this field.
The New Zealander will be accompanied by Riley Sheehan as lead rider, with Israel Premier Tech showing its trust in the fast driver.
Bryan Coquard – Cofidis
At the Tour de France, Bryan Coquard can be counted on to fight for the points jersey, but at the Vuelta a Espana, things are a little different. The Frenchman from Cofidis took part in the Tour of Spain twice and experienced two retirements with less than pleasing results. At the same time, he finished in the top six in the points classification six times in seven participations in the Tour.
The Frenchman in French history? That could be, but with Cofidis it is a little different. The main sponsor has had important business in Spain for a long time and always sends the better riders to the Vuelta.
This means Coquard can break his Vuelta curse, just as he broke his WorldTour curse this year. After numerous places of honor in the Swiss Tour, he finally took his first WorldTour victory.
Kaden Groves – Alpecin-Deceuninck
Now let’s turn to the defending champion in the battle for green. That is Kaden Groves of Alpecin-Deceuninck, who won three stages and the points classification last year. The Belgian formation is once again counting on the Australian powerhouse, who is returning to competition after a two-month break.
Groves is still waiting for his first win in 2024. The Australian came close several times in the Giro and was determined to win the points classification, but ultimately missed the target everywhere. Now it’s up to him to turn things around.
He does this without Mathieu van der Poel, who has chosen a different program for the important World Championship in Zurich.
Wout van Aert – Visma | Rent a bike
There is only one top favorite for the green jersey in this Tour of Spain: Wout van Aert from Visma | Lease a Bike. The Belgian already has the Tour jersey in his possession, so now he can add a Vuelta version, which should be quite possible given his qualities.
Van Aert starts this Tour of Spain with a clear goal: to win a stage. Preferably several, of course, to get into the green. The route, with some stages that are too hard for the fast riders, suits him perfectly.
Van Aert can’t really build a lead for the Dutch team, but he is usually able to do his job in a hectic finale, allowing Wout to emerge victorious.
