The Vuelta a Spain 2026 has just begun, but this Monday much of the conversation among cycling fans does not only revolve around the stages or Tadej Pogacar’s lead. The presence of Erola Jons, a content creator incorporated by the organization to generate videos for social networks, has provoked hundreds of comments and criticism for the tone of some of her interventions with the riders and for her little apparent knowledge of cycling.
The controversy began during the first stage, held in Monaco, when Jons approached Pogacar and came to refer to him as «Pogachitar». Earlier he had also made comments about the Slovenian such as that, when he managed to find him, «curves were coming» or that he wanted to ask him if he was «that fast in private». Her interventions extended to other protagonists of the race and she was also criticized after approaching an area where a runner was changing and joking that this could serve to increase the audience.
The images have not taken long to circulate on X and other social networks, where numerous fans and professionals linked to cycling have questioned that a competition like La Vuelta gives that type of access to a content creator without specialized journalistic experience. The criticisms have especially pointed to the tone of the questions, the sexualization of some runners and the decision of the organization itself to place it in spaces usually reserved for accredited professionals.
THE VUELTA LIMITS ITS ACCESS TO CYCLISTS AND TEAMS
The controversy has already had consequences. As the organization itself explained to AS, the UAE Team Emirates-XRG, Pogacar’s team, transferred its complaint about what happened during the first day. After speaking with the team, La Vuelta apologized and has decided to change the protocol for the next stages.
Erola Jons will no longer have free access to teams or riders. From now on,any interaction must have the prior authorization of the corresponding team and the acceptance of the cyclist himself. The organization also insists that Jons has not been hired to replace journalists or compete with the traditional press, but as a content creator oriented especially to social networks. Despite the criticism, he will continue to be part of La Vuelta until the end of the race in Granada.
