Euskaltel-Euskadi returns to the Vuelta. /
Cycling
The Basque team faces its second consecutive round with the illusion of shining in front of its fans, especially in the home stages
The Euskaltel-Euskadi has just announced the eight runners who will compete in the Vuelta a España that begins next Friday, August 19 and that will feature Roglic, according to the Dutch press, specifically the Wielerflits website. The Slovenian was awaiting the evolution of his injury to a vertebra that was caused by a fall during the Tour de France. If he finally comes, he would have the opportunity to get the fourth consecutive win in this race, which he is so good at. For his part, Xabier Mikel Azparren, Ibai Azurmendi, Mikel Bizkarra, Joan Bou, Carlos Canal, Gotzon Martín, Mikel Iturria and Luis Ángel Maté are the chosen ones to face a very special edition for the orange team since three stages will be held in Euskadi.
For the second consecutive year, the men’s professional team from the Euskadi Foundation will compete in the Spanish round of the WorldTour, in an edition that includes three days on Basque roads: the fourth stage, Vitoria-Gasteiz-Laguardia, on Tuesday 23 August; the fifth day, Irun-Bilbao, on Wednesday, August 24, and the sixth, Bilbao-Pico Jano, on Thursday, August 25. The first three stages will be held in the Netherlands and the race will conclude in Madrid on September 11.
“The eight riders chosen form a solid and trustworthy block in which Ibai Azurmendi is the rookie against the eleventh Vuelta that Maté will contest,” they point out from the orange squad. «The objective is to be an active part and be present in the race, like last year, try to be in all the breakaways that are possible. Of course, in the home stages, which we can be good at, try to sneak the best possible tricks into the breakaways to, if possible, fight for a victory. This is a special Vuelta a España for us that begins in the Netherlands and then resumes here in front of our fans, on our roads, our public, and that is why it is important to do it well and not lose the identity of the team of being in the fight », emphasizes Jorge Azanza, director of the Basque ensemble.
Mas and Valverde, leaders of Movistar
Movistar has also made public the squad that will run the Vuelta and that is called to get victories and points for the classification. The telephone team is playing for relegation from the UCI ranking of the first division with Lotto and Israel. Enric Mas and Alejandro Valverde will be the leaders for this race.
The first will have to overcome problems with relegation, which have not allowed him to shine this season. In the case of the Murcian it will be, predictably, his last Vuelta. Joining them will be Carlos Verano, Nelson Oliveira, Juan José Rojillas, Mathias Norsgaar, Gregor Muehlberger and Lluis Mas.