Los Spanish cyclists want to do well at home. After discreet performances in the Giro d’Italia and in the Tour de France (In the Italian race, Mikel Landa finished third and Pello Bilbao, fifth; in the gala round, to find the first Spaniard you have to go down to fourteenth position: Luis León Sánchez), it is time to show that Spanish cycling continues at the highest level.
A priori, the one that has more options to choose to wear the red jersey is Enrique Mas. The Balearic will lead the Movistar Team with the aim of at least equaling the second place he achieved in the 2018 and 2021 editions. To do so, he will have the help of a classic that faces his last Vuelta: Alexander Valverde. At 42 years old, the Murcian will compete in this race for the sixteenth time (he won it once, in 2009, stood on the podium seven times and achieved twelve stage victories) in what will be his farewell to cycling at the highest level.
However, the Spanish they are not the big favorites to win the last Grand Tour of the year. The Slovenian Primoz Roglic, the Portuguese Joao Almeida and the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz start with an advantage thanks to their track record and their current state of form
Spaniards in the Vuelta 2022
Euskaltel-Euskadi
Mikel Iturria, Mikel Bizkarra, Ibai Azurmendi, Carlos Canal, Luis Ángel Maté, Xabier Mikel Azparren, Joan Bou and Gotzon Martín.
Burgos PH
Óscar Cabedo, Ángel Madrazo, José Manuel Díaz, Ander Okamina, Jesús Ezquerra, Manuel Peñalver and Daniel Navarro.
Kern Pharma
José Félix Parra, Héctor Carretero, Francisco Galván, Roger Adriá, Raúl García Pierna, Urko Berrade and Pau Miquel.
Movistar Team
Enric Mas, Lluis Mas, Carlos Verona, José Joaquín Rojas and Alejandro Valverde.
You trust
Rubén Fernández, José Herrada and Jesús Herrada.
UAE Team Emirates
Marc Soler and Juan Ayuso.
Bahrain Victor
Mikel Landa and Pello Bilbao.
Ineos Grenadiers
Carlos Rodriguez.
Astana
David de la Cruz.
Trek Segafredo
Juan Pedro Lopez.