It's Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) versus Jumbo-Visma's Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic for the 2023 Vuelta a España. Evenepoel will attempt to defend his title the Vuelta 2023, running August 26 to September 17, with two serious rivals wanting to dethrone him.

Roglic is a three-time winner and won the Giro d'Italia earlier this year. And Vingegaard of course just came from winning his second Tour de France title. Their Jumbo-Visma team are trying to win all three grand tours in one year, and have a good chance at doing so.

As things stand now, Roglic is the favorite with Evenepoel and Vingegaard likely second and third overall. But there is a lot of racing before the finish in Madrid and other rivals to consider.

The Vuelta a España starts in Barcelona with a team time trial and runs for three weeks, ending in Madrid. It's a massive climbers' affair: 10 summit finish stages, five of those are new summits. And another 25km time trial on stage 10.

Tadej Pogacar will not race the Vuelta a España 2023 

Tadej Pogacar Says No Way To Racing Vuelta a España 2023

Tadej Pogacar announced he will not race, but there are others who could take on the top trio. Top riders to look out for, outside the super stratosphere of Rog and Remco? Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers), João Almeida and his UAE teammate Juan Ayuso, Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious), and runner Enric Mas (Movistar). Thomas went second at the Giro d'Italia with Almeida third. Landa is always reliable, and Mas was second to Evenepoel in 2022 with Ayuso third.

Evenepoel, Roglic, Vingegaard Top Riders To Win the Vuelta 2023

Why Roglic on top? He looks classier than ever before, adding a Giro to his palmarès this May in a nail bitter finish over Thomas. He's raced once since, after training camps going to annihilate the Vuelta a Burgos field for the overall win.

Evenepoel might have spent a few too many coins at the World Championships chasing rainbows, which he won in the time trial and defending off rumors that he's leaving the team for Ineos. But a lot will depend on how he manages his resources against a wiser Roglic.

Vingegaard is coming off a second Tour de France win, hasn't raced since July 23 and has had commitments since. It's to be seen on how he managed his time and victory celebrations with friends and family in the weeks afterwards.

It appears the top three will be Roglic, Evenepoel, and Vingegaard, but there is a lot of racing before we get to Madrid on September 17 for the conclusion of the Vuelta a España.