Warren Barguil and John Degenkolb headline a young Giant-Shimano team set for the Vuelta a Espana, which rolls out in Jerez on Saturday August 23.

The team features two Grand Tour debutants – American duo Lawson Craddock and Chad Haga – and will be targeting sprint success through Degenkolb alongside supporting Barguil’s overall challenge.

Barguil won two stages at the Vuelta last year as he made his Grand Tour debut, while Degenkolb won five in 2012.

And coach Christian Guiberteau hopes the final Vuelta – as well as providing more stage success – will prove an important stepping stone for the team.

He said: “We head into the Vuelta with two real objectives, firstly to help support Warren towards a good overall result in the race.

“In this we will also help both Warren develop as a leader and also some of the other younger riders in the team to progress in working every day for an overall goal.

“As well as this we want to target a sprint win but the opportunities for this outcome are few and far between. With John, together with others, we have good options for these stages.

“The team will be built around aiming for these objectives while at the same time focusing on the development that you get from riding a Grand Tour.”

Degenkolb will start the race on the back of the Tour de France, where he played a crucial role in Marcel Kittel’s four stage wins, alongside finishing second twice on two occasions himself.

Koen de Kort also races on the back of the Tour, having also rode the Giro d’Italia this season, while German Johannes Fröhlinger starts his 11th Grand Tour to offer vital experience as road captain.

Nikias Arndt, Tobias Ludvigsson and Ramon Sinkeldam complete the Giant-Shimano line-up.

Barguil – who finished 14th at the Tour of Poland after some impressive showings on the two mountainous stages – believes in the strength of the team.

He said: “I head to the Vuelta really motivated to try for a good result overall and together with the team have worked towards being in the best shape possible.

“We have a strong team here and I hope that I can progress and prove myself.”

Giant-Shimano team for the 2014 Vuelta a Espana

Warren Barguil (FRA)
John Degenkolb (GER)
Nikias Arndt (GER)
Lawson Craddock (USA)
Johannes Fröhlinger (GER)
Chad Haga (USA)
Koen De Kort (NED)
Tobias Ludvigsson (SWE)
Ramon Sinkeldam (NED)