AG2R La Mondiale
One of only two French teams, in the race, AG2R will be looking to show what they couldn’t, in this year’s Tour de France. Nicolas Roche will be looking to improve on his seventh place, from last year, but his lacklustre year could play against him. Joining him will be Guillaume Bonnafond, Dimitri Champion, Cyril Dessel, Steve Houanard, David Le Lay, Lloyd Mondory, Mathieu Perget and, the only other non-French rider, Matteo Montaguti. It is unlikely that the French team will really trouble the top GC positions, but they could gain another top-ten placing.
Andalucía Caja Granada
The first of the wild card teams and with a new sponsor, the Andalucían team will be looking for their first tour stage victory. Their nine rider line-up looks like this; Jesús Rosendo, Adrián Palomares, José Luis Roldán, Antonio Cabello Baena, David Bernabéu, Alberto Benítez, Antonio Piedra, José Vicente Toribio and Juan José Lobato. A stage victory for this, pro-continental, team will make the tour a success, so here’s hoping.
BMC Racing Team
Hot off their success from Cadel Evan’s Tour de France victory, BMC will be looking for another podium. The Australian won’t be riding in the Vuelta, but up and coming Taylor Phinney will be. The American turned pro this year and will be looking to make an impression, on his first ever Grand Tour. It is not sure who will join, the 21-year-old, but eyes will be on the team, to see if they can reproduce the effort given earlier in the year.
Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
Competing in their second year as a continental team, Cofidis have done little to prove they can get back in to the big leagues. They endured a difficult and disappointing Tour de France, but, as the second wildcard team, they will be looking to the Vuelta for a boost in morale. Like the other wildcard before, Cofidis will be looking for a stage victory and anything after that will be a bonus. Pressure is also on them to prove that they deserve their spot over Francaise de Jeux, who narrowly missed out on a ride.
Euskaltel-Euskadi
The Vuelta will be heading in to the Basque country, for the first time in 33 years, and Euskaltel will be looking to capitalise on this. Igor Anton will head up the team of Mikel Nieve, Egoi Martínez, Gorka Verdugo, Amets Txurruka, Juanjo Oroz, Iñaki Isasi, Jorge Azanza and Pierre Cazaux. Anton wore the red jersey, for a total of five stages, before he crashed out on stage 13. He put on a good show in the Giro d’Italia’s Mont Zoncolan and should be a big challenge for the jersey.
Geox-TMCThis Spanish team have a lot to prove, after begin snubbed for a pro-tour licence and missing out and both previous Grand Tours. With Carlos Sastre and Denis Menchov in their ranks, they will be gunning for a good GC placing. They will have to do something with their team time-trial, if they don’t want to be embarrassed on the first stage. They could only manage 8th, in the Vuelta a Burgos, but still better than their counterparts at Euskaltel.
HTC-Highroad
With the announcement that the team will disbanded, at the end of the year, the riders will be looking to go out with a bang. It is unlikely that Mark Cavendish will return to defend his jersey, as he has eyes on the World Championships. Without the Manx missile; they are unlikely to take any of the jerseys home, but a stage victory or two might cheer them up.
Katusha
Joaquin Rodriguez had the red jersey within his grasps, last year, but a dismal time-trial really put a stopper in proceedings. Off the back of his victory, at the Vuelta a Burgos, he will be aiming for a bigger one. Teammate Dani Moreno came close behind him, giving the Russian team a good morale boost. Katusha didn’t have a great Tour de France will hope Rodriguez has a better time-trial, if they has any hopes a podium.
Lampre – ISD
The Italian team have really suffered from Alessandro Petacchi’s lack of form, this year, but Michele Scarponi has stepped up to the plate. Scarponi was well and truly demolished, by a dominant Alberto Contador, at this year’s Giro. With the Spaniard ending his season early, he surely is a big contender for the overall victory. He also finished ahead of last year’s Vuelta winner, Vincenzo Nibali. This could be the perfect end to the season, after a mid-year dip.
Leopard-Trek
Neither of the Schleck brothers will be taking part, unlike last year, as they are due to be racing in the USA ProCycling Challenge in Colorado. They are yet to name names, but the absence of the Luxembourg riders will severely hinder their chances. A top ten finish will most likely be their main aim, as a podium is unlikely.
Liquigas-Cannondale
Home of last year’s victory, Nibali, Liquigas will be aiming for the top spot, for a second year in a row. Coming in to the race last year the Italian team had already won one of the Grand Tours, but this year is a little different. Nibali only managed third in the Giro and Ivan Basso finished a disappointing 8th, at the Tour de France. The pressure is on to take some success, on the final Grand Tour of the year.
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