Uran and OP-QS Ready to Battle Stacked Vuelta Field
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Aug 18, 2014 – Colombian rider Rigoberto Uran will head the Omega Pharma challenge in the Tour of Spain, which gets underway on Saturday. Aside from Uran, second in the Tour of Italy, the team will look to Belgian veteran Tom Boonen to deliver victories in the sprint finishes as there is no place for their British star Mark Cavendish.
AFP/Yuzuru Sunada
He has been ommited despite returning to competition earlier this month in the Tour of the Ain after crashing out of the Tour de France on the opening stage and tearing ligaments in his right shoulder. Omega’s typically strong line-up also features time-trial great and reigning world champion Tony Martin of Germany.
Team sports director Rolf Aldag said Uran had the ability to gain rich consolation for his runners-up spot in the Giro, even with Britain’s 2013 Tour de France champion Chris Froome in the field.
“Uran showed in the Tour of Italy that he had the qualities needed to win a Grand Tour,” said Aldag. “We have selected a balanced team capable of helping Uran whether it be on the flat or in the mountains.”
The Tour of Spain begins with the first of 21 stages, a 12-kilometer team time-trial in Jerez de la Frontera.
Team Line Up:
Tom Boonen (BEL), Gianluca Brambilla (ITA), Nikolas Maes (BEL), Tony Martin (GER), Wout Poels (NED), Pieter Serry (BEL), Rigoberto Uran (COL), Martin Velits (SVQ), Carlos Verona (ESP)