Riders who between them have won more than a dozen races this year will line up at the start of the season’s final Grand Tour
Vuelta a España kicks off on Saturday in Salinas de Torrevieja, with a team time trial, and once again concludes in Madrid, after three gruelling and energy-sapping weeks that put on the table a mountainous route covering almost 3300 kilometers. The race – which this year will see the leader’s red jersey celebrate a decade – will include eight uphill finishes, five of which are new, six days for the sprinters and a 36km-long individual time trial in Pau, host of a stage against the clock also at the Tour de France.
At the previous 16 participations, Deceuninck – Quick-Step have won a total of 26 stages and two secondary classifications with no less than 16 different riders. Now, our outfit comes at the start as firm leader of the UCI World Team Classification, which we top since March 2018, keen on being again one of the main protagonists and leaving an indelible mark over the three-week event.
Eros Capecchi, Rémi Cavagna, Tim Declercq, Paris-Roubaix winner Philippe Gilbert, Dutch Champion and Grand Tour debutant Fabio Jakobsen, James Knox, Argentinean Champion Maximiliano Richeze and Zdenek Stybar, one of the season’s performers in the Spring Classics, will make up Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s roster for the 74th edition of La Vuelta (24 August – 15 September).
“We have a nice mix of young and experienced riders, and our goal will be to go for stage victories. Fabio is making his first Grand Tour appearance and with the help of Max we hope he’ll be there in the bunch sprints, while James will take it day by day and see what he can do in the mountains. Rémi is also capable of some nice things, as he has shown earlier this year in California, while Tim will do what he does best and work hard at the head of the peloton to bring back the break”, said sports director Wilfried Peeters. “Another experienced rider is Eros, who can help in the mountains and guide our young guys. Last but not least, Phil and Styby have what it takes to win a stage and will look for opportunities over the next three weeks.”
Photo credit: ©Luc Claessen/ Getty Images
James Knox