Great Britain’s Steve Cummings has missed out on selection for the Vuelta a Espana after BMC Racing confirmed their nine-man line-up for the race.
Led by Spanish veteran Samuel Sanchez, the American team have stuck with their provisional team – which means no place for Cummings, who was provisionally listed as first reserve.
Cummings – who also missed the Tour de France through injury – has been in strong form on his return to the peloton, placing well in the time trials at the Tour of Poland and Eneco Tour.
He withdrew from the latter during stage five with stomach problems, however, and has not been able to force his way into a team also containing former world champions Cadel Evans and Philippe Gilbert and mid-season signing Rohan Dennis, formerly of Garmin-Sharp.
Though not selected as team leader, Evans – who won back-to-back stages at the Tour of Utah as part of his pre-Vuelta warm-up, will enjoy the status of protected rider for the race.
Five-time stage winner Gilbert, meanwhile, rides on the back of his seventh place at the Eneco Tour, a race which saw Dennis make his debut for his new team.
DS Valerio Piva said of the selection: “Cadel will also be a protected rider, like we did for Samuel at the Giro d’Italia.
“Samuel is an experienced rider, he knows the parcours and he is super motivated. Cadel comes out of Utah very strong, which will be very important.
“And we cannot forget Philippe Gilbert, who specializes in the uphill finishes. So we will try to win a stage with him.”
Manuel Quinziato, another rider coming off the back of some encouraging performances at the Eneco Tour is also selected.
Long-standing domestique Steve Morabito is also selected, while Danilo Wyss, Dominik Nerz and Larry Warbasse round off the selection.
Nerz, who finished 14th overall last year, offers an additional option overall having finished ninth at the Tour of Poland while Warbasse, 24, makes his Grand Tour debut.
BMC Racing for the 2014 Vuelta a Espana
Samuel Sanchez (ESP)
Cadel Evans (AUS)
Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
Dominik Nerz (GER)
Rohan Dennis (AUS)
Larry Warbasse (USA)
Danilo Wyss (SUI)
Manuel Quinziato (ITA)
Steve Morabito (SUI)
