Cycling: The Vuelta a España, the last Grand Tour of the year, starts on Saturday. Almost everything that is of rank and repute will be at the start - at least in relation to the overall ranking. With Nairo Quintana (Movistar) the defending champion is missing, with Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) probably the best driver of this decade. Nevertheless, the start list for the mountain stages reads like a best-of. No wonder we could hardly make up our minds when selecting the candidates for the top 10...
The 5 top favorites on the podium
- Chris FroomeSky
Romain Bardet (Ag2r)
Fabio Aru (Astana)
Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida)
Esteban Chaves (Orica Scott)
There can only be one. At the end of the Vuelta a España, too, only one will be at the top. But it never seems to have been so difficult to call that one pro. Chris Froome is going into the race as a favorite but we saw in the Tour of France that he's not unbeatable. Romain Bardet and Fabio Aru were close. In the end, the time trial in particular threw a spanner in the works. At the Vuelta, mountain skills are traditionally even more important. That also suits Vincenzo Nibali and Esteban Chaves. But the two haven't found their best form this year - maybe it will come in Spain now? In any case, Chris Froome will be much more vulnerable than at the Tour de France. His team is less strong and the profile suits him less. The teams Orica-Scott and Astana in particular could play a decisive role tactically.
Radiant Chaves made it onto the podium last year. How in shape is he in 2017?
15 challengers at the Vuelta a España 2017
- Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana)
Tejay Van Garderen (BMC)
Rafal Majka (Bora-hansgrohe)
Davide Formolo (Cannondale-Drapac)
Andrew Talansky (Cannondale-Drapac)
Daniel Moreno Fernández (Movistar)
Adam Yates (Orica Scott)
Simon Yates (Orica Scott)
Bob Jungels (Quick Step Floors)
Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin)
George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo)
Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo)
Warren Barguil (Sunweb)
Louis Meintjes (UAE)
Alberto Contador (Trek Segafredo)
We counted no fewer than 15 challengers (at least). It's hard to take someone off the list completely. All the drivers mentioned have the potential to be at the front of this year's Vuelta a España. Rafal Majka, for example, had to give up the Tour de France early. That he has the potential for the podium is undisputed. George Bennett also left the big loop before Paris, but up until then had been in the top 10 overall. Steven Kruijswijk almost won the Giro d'Italia last year - if it hadn't been for the fatal fall into the Schneeberg. The Yates brothers, like Andrew Talansky, have already proven on a Grand Tour that you shouldn't do the Top 10 calculation without them. Louis Meintjes, Ilnur Zakarin, Bob Jungels, Tejay Van Garderen… all these riders are among the best professionals in the mountains and can also compete for the podium in this tour. Not to mention Alberto Contador. The Spaniard will retire at the end of the season. Can he make another big hit? With this line-up, the top 10 would be a great result...
