Movistar's Nairo Quintana, a previous champion, also confirmed his withdrawal from the Vuelta a España, following the exit of Enric Mas.
Movistar Heads into Vuelta a España Without GC Leader
The Vuelta a España, one of cycling's most prestigious Grand Tours, kicks off in Turin this Saturday. However, the Spanish team Movistar will be entering the race without a clear General Classification (GC) contender, as Enric Mas has been ruled out due to thrombophlebitis.
According to team manager Eusebio Unzué, the team is approximately 80% decided, with a few riders yet to be finalized. The team currently has six riders confirmed, with two more to be announced this weekend.
Among the confirmed riders is Nairo Quintana, who won the Vuelta in 2016 riding for Movistar. Quintana's most recent Grand Tour appearance was at this year's Giro d'Italia, where he finished 25th overall and helped Einer Rubio manage a top 10 overall placing. However, Quintana has been ruled out of the Vuelta due to needing more time to recover from a crash.
Another confirmed rider is Javier Romo, who recently finished runner-up at the Tour Down Under. Pablo Castrillo, double stage winner in 2024, is also provisionally expected to start for Movistar in the Vuelta. The additional rider Movistar Team will call up for the Vuelta a España 2023 is Michel Heßmann.
The news source for the provisional expected riders is FirstCycling.
The Vuelta a España in 2023 will have a lot of mountains, making it unlikely for many sprinters to participate. This does not favor Fernando Gaviria's chances for the race, as he has been a strong performer in flat sprints. Gaviria, who burst onto the scene in three-week races with seven stage wins in his first three appearances, will not be racing in the Vuelta this year, as he does not have a new contract with Movistar or a team for 2026 confirmed.
The final decision on Movistar's team for the Vuelta a España will be made on Tuesday. The team confirmation for Movistar's squad for the Vuelta will come four days before the race's start.
With the absence of Mas, Quintana, and Gaviria, Movistar team will be without two more big names at the Spanish Grand Tour. The team will be looking to find a new leader to challenge for the GC and compete for stage wins in the mountains.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Tough choices on August 13, 2025 for those born under Aquarius? Consider the advantages and disadvantages to gain guidance
- Microbiome's Impact on Emotional States, Judgement, and Mental Health Conditions
- Restaurant staff allegedly requires Minnesota teenager to validate her gender for bathroom access.
