Tour de France champion and Olympic bronze medallist Chris Froome heads to the 2016 Vuelta a Espana with ‘unfinished business’ in the race, which starts on Saturday (August 20).
Froome has twice finished runner-up at the season’s final Grand Tour, and was fourth in 2012, but abandoned last year’s race injured after a crash in Andorra.
The 31-year-old is one of two Brits in the Team Sky line-up, confirmed today, which also includes two-time former national champion Peter Kennaugh.
Frome heads a strong nine-man line-up, which also sees Mikel Landa ride his third Grand Tour of the season, having bounced back from illness at the Giro d’Italia to play a key role in the mountains at the Tour de France.
Fit-again Leopold Konig, a top-ten finisher at all three Grand Tours in his career, is also included to bolster Sky’s options when the road ramps up.
Polish duo Michal Golas and former world champion Michal Kwiatkowski make their Grand Tour debuts for Team Sky, meanwhile, and American Ian Boswell, 25, is the youngest rider on the team.
Veteran domestique Christian Knees, 35, is the oldest, and the team is completed by Salvatore Puccio.
And Froome hopes he can continue the momentum which has already seen him win his third Tour de France and bag a time trial bronze at Rio 2016 this summer.
He said: “It’s already been a great summer for both myself and the team, but the Vuelta is another big challenge for us.
“The tough course and stiff competition is bound to make for some aggressive racing. We’re going there with a strong group of guys who have a lot of experience with this race.
“The Vuelta is a race I really enjoy and where I guess you could say I have unfinished business, so I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Chris Froome (GBR)
Ian Boswell (USA)
Michal Golas (POL)
Peter Kennaugh (GBR)
Christian Knees (GER)
Leopold Konig (CZE)
Michal Kwiatkowski (POL)
Mikel Landa (ESP) – replaced by David Lopez (ESP) due to injury
Salvatore Puccio (ITA)
Nairo Quintana holds 81-second lead over Team Sky man ahead of final mountain stage
Tour de France champion bags first ever stage win, narrowly beating Nairo Quintana on Pena Cabarga climb
British ace attacks late to claim victory and join fellow Brits Chris Froome and Peter Kennaugh in top ten overall
Alberto Contador leads list of contenders as Froome bids to become only third man to win Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana in same...
Rising British star named in Caja Rural-Seguros line-up after strong season
