Cannondale-Drapac are starting the Vuelta a España with four riders making their Grand Tour debut and another starting his first Vuelta.
With no GC contender in the line-up, the team will capitalise on its squad’s motivation to animate in pursuit of stage wins. The team will be led by Basque sport director Juanma Garate in cooperation with Tom Southam
“The average age in our team is 27 years. It’s probably not the youngest team at the start, but I think we do bring the team with the most rookies,” said Garate. “Not only do we have four riders racing their first Grand Tour, but we have another two riders who have only ever done one Grand Tour in their careers.
“The Vuelta this year has a team time trial, one individual time trial, four stages that will most likely end in a bunch sprint, six hilly stages and nine uphill finals,” said Garate. “The design of this year’s Vuelta opens a lot of possibilities for aggressive teams and riders.”
Amongst the riders making their debut is 32 year-old Australian Will Clarke, who is in his first year with Cannondale-Drapac.
“Will Clarke was the last one added to our roster,” said Garate. “He had a crash in Colorado, but he was our reserve rider, and he will take to the start instead of Davide Formolo, who is ill. He and Tom Scully will have more or less the same role. When there is an open final, these two can really surprise in the final. And they will lead-out Tom van Asbroeck in the sprinter’s stages.”
“I’m super happy to get the call-up for the Vuelta,” said Clarke. “It was one of my goals for the year. I have never raced for three weeks in a row, so I’m just looking forward to going through the whole experience. Everyone says once you have done a Grand Tour, it raises you to a new level.
“Personally, I would like to get in some breakaways and be active in the race to support my teammates. I think as a team we are fully capable of stage wins, so coming away with that is the aim. I’m still pretty sore from my crash in Colorado. My arm and hip are a bit swollen, with stitches in my knuckle. It’s not ideal, but as a bike rider, I think we all have these moments, and you become stronger by pushing through them.”
The 2017 Vuelta a España starts with a 13.9-kilometer team time trial in Nîmes, France on Saturday, August 19.
