CYCLING – TEAM Bahrain Victorious are poised to tackle the last Grand Tour of the year with the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, taking place from Saturday until September 8.
Following a strong performance at the Giro d’Italia, the team is ready to take on the rugged terrain, steep climbs, and relentless competition in the three-week event all over Spain and Portugal.
This year’s La Vuelta starts in Portugal and finishes in Madrid, with 3,304 kilometres and over 52,000 vertical metres of climbing in between.
The parcours of the 79th edition is a gruelling route that promises to test the mettle of even the most seasoned riders.
Spanning 21 stages, the race will cover a diverse range of landscapes, from the flats of Portugal and Sierra Morena in week one, to the treacherous ascents of stage nine at Sierra Nevada, multiple Cantabrian mountain-top finishes in week two with stage 15 finishing at Cuitu Negru, and an equally demanding third week with three daunting mountain-top finishes in Burgos and the Basque Country, only to finish with a decisive time trial in Madrid.
As we already expect from La Vuelta, this climbing-heavy route demands versatility, endurance, and tactical nuance.
Leading the charge for Bahrain Victorious is Antonio Tiberi, a rising star known for his exceptional climbing ability and resilience. His fifth place and the white Jersey at this year’s Giro are proof that he is deserving of the leader’s role at La Vuelta.
Joining him are the experienced heads of Kamil Gradek, Jasha Sutterlin, Damiano Caruso, Torstein Traen and Jack Haig, as well as two younger riders in Fran Miholjevic and Rainer Kepplinger.
Supported by a formidable team, Tiberi will be aiming for a strong performance in both the overall and young riders’ classifications. The team will also look to seize opportunities for stage wins, particularly in the mountain stages and in breakaways.
“This will be my third Vuelta and my first as captain,” said Tiberi. “After this year’s Giro d’Italia, the ambitions are high, but it is also true that it is the first time that I will do two big tours in the same year.
“After a good training camp at altitude and the Vuelta a Burgos, which helped me get back into race rhythm, I feel that my condition is starting to be good. It will certainly be one of the hardest Vueltas of recent years, thanks to the many metres of difference in altitude that there will be, but if the conditions are good, I will be able to take advantage of it.
“The team and the support of all my teammates will also be fundamental, and fortunately, I have seen them a lot ready and excited to give their best. I hope to be able to obtain similar or even better results than the Giro; certainly my commitment and that of the whole team will be the maximum.”
Bahrain Victorious’ sports director in Spain will be Neil Stephens.
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