| An excursion into the Netherlands awaits the peloton as they take on this year’s Vuelta a España, with Team DSM revealing an eight-rider strong roster that will line-up in Utrecht to take on an action-packed 21 days of racing at La Vuelta as the curtain on the Grand Tour calendar draws to a close.
Getting under way, a predominantly flat route lays ahead of the bunch in the Netherlands, starting with a fast 23-kilometre time trial through the streets of Utrecht before two days which should see the sprinters do battle for stage honours; unless the infamous Dutch wind has a role to play. Heading back to the north of Spain after their travel day, a succession of challenging and hilly terrain lends itself to exciting and attacking racing, with several tough hilltop and mountain finishes; including the brutally steep Nava finale that returns after its inclusion in 2018. Following the first rest day a long individual effort against the clock will put the racing rhythm back into the riders’ legs before they take on some days that could suit the attackers or sprinters. A handful of mountain-top finishes will also shake things up while the second week concludes at altitude with the bunch reaching 2500 metres above sea level atop Sierra Nevada. Racing concludes with a mixed bag of terrain in the final week, where every type of rider will find a route that suits them and should result in some fierce battles for the breakaway.
Click here for the full line-up and to read more about the team's goals for the race. | 