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The Vuelta a España start list saw some surprise shakeups this week in a flurry of team roster reveals.
All-attacking Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz and Canadian favorite Derek Gee are out. GC threat Giulio Ciccone has decided to hunt stages. And Tom Pidcock has doubled down on his classification ambition.
The news from EF Education-EasyPost that Carapaz would not be at the Italian start on August 23 is the most race-shifting shock.
Carapaz missed the Tour de France with a gastro infection and was expected to return for an all-out push on La Vuelta.
However, Carapaz hasn’t found the training consistency to hit prime form. The 32-year-old has decided to pause his comeback until the Kigali road worlds next month.
EF Education-EasyPost instead brings a rabble of stage-hunters led by Estaban Chaves and featuring former U.S. champion Sean Quinn.
Meanwhile, Gee was being touted as a top-5 contender for the Vuelta after he hit fourth overall this May at the Giro d’Italia. “Gee-C” was a surprise omission from Israel-Premier Tech’s selection.
Velo has contacted IPT to ask for detail as to why he was not selected.
[A provisional Vuelta a España start list for all teams can be seen at bottom of post – ed.]
Carapaz and Gee out, Ciccone shelves GC
Carapaz hasn’t found the training consistency to race the Vuelta. (Photo: Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Carapaz’s withdrawal condenses the GC battle to a likely brawl between Jonas Vingegaard and UAE Emirates-XRG’s troublesome tandem João Almeida and Juan Ayuso.
Lildl-Trek’s top climber Ciccone revealed this week he won’t be getting involved in that super team battle.
“I’d like to target the GC. There’s perhaps a chance in Pogačar’s absence, but it’s not something I’ve ever achieved,” Ciccone told Gazzetta dello Sport. “Rather than chase something that might never happen, I’d rather go for something that really suits me.
“I like winning. Putting your arms in the air is 10,000 times better than going for the GC,” Ciccone said. “If I had to choose between a podium place in Madrid and the polka dot jersey, there’s no doubt which I’d pick.”
O’Connor, Tiberi, Pidcock chase classification dreams
Pidcock is chasing GC on a course well suited to his attacking punch. (Photo: Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
Bahrain-Victorious, Jayco-AlUla, and Q36.5 Pro Cycling also posted their Vuelta 8s this week.
Antonio Tiberi is on a mission to land on his first grand tour podium with Bahrain Victorious, while Ben O’Connor, Eddie Dunbar, and Chris Harper form a strong triple-threat for Jayco-AlUla.
O’Connor is expected to rattle around the top end of the classification after he rode in red for 13 days at last year’s race.
Q36.5 Pro Cycling rubber-stamped Pidcock’s classification ambition in its team statement on Tuesday.
The Brit said he’s older, wiser, and hoping to place high after his disappointing run at the Giro d’Italia.
“We learned from the Giro and had more time for thorough preparation this time, with an altitude camp and the Arctic Race of Norway,” Pidcock said. “I’m curious to see what I can do in the general classification.”
Ineos Grenadiers and Soudal-Quick Step have not yet confirmed their teams.
It’s more than likely that GC hopefuls Egan Bernal and Mikel Landa will be added to the Vuelta a España start list when they do.
Pedersen poised for points jersey rampage
Can anybody stop Pedersen in the points classification? (Photo: LUCA BETTINI/AFP via Getty Images)
At the other end of the race, there’s one name that’s expected to drive the narrative: Mads Pedersen.
Lidl-Trek confirmed the dynamite Dane is back hunting his second points jersey of the year after he already crushed everybody and won the Maglia Azzura at the Giro d’Italia.
Alpecin-Deceuninck has not yet confirmed its team. However, it’s expected Jasper Philipsen will lead the Belgian mob after he crashed out of the Tour de France.
The super-speedster will likely be Pedersen’s biggest problem in the hunt for the points jersey.
Vuelta a España start list as of August 20
Courtesy ProCyclingStats.com