As one of the very last teams, Alpecin-Deceuninck has also announced its eight-man roster for the upcoming Vuelta a España. The Belgian WorldTour team, led by the Roodhooft brothers, made the announcement via a post on X. There were still some uncertainties surrounding world champion Mathieu van der Poel, but the 29-year-old Dutchman will not be participating in the grand tour in his beloved Spain.
Earlier this year, Van der Poel occasionally hinted at a possible participation in the last grand tour of the year, but — as most had actually already expected — he has decided to skip it. The all-rounder from Kapellen opts instead for a different kind of preparation for the World Championships in Zürich, which will be held on September 29.
Groves as sprint leader, mostly aggressive stage hunters
So, who will then be going to Lisbon, where the three-week race will kick off? Maurice Ballerstedt, Kaden Groves, Quinten Hermans, Juri Hollmann, Xandro Meurisse, Edward Planckaert, Oscar Riesebeek and Luca Vergallito make up the octet, with Groves considered the leader. The 25-year-old Australian knows what it’s like to win a stage in the Vuelta, having done so four times already (in 2023 and 2022). This year, the Aussie will again be hoping to shine in the sprints, though there may not be too many opportunities.
The team is otherwise mainly composed of aggressive riders, who should perform well on different terrains. Hermans and Riesebeek in particular are expected to perform well, as they have come close to a victory in a grand tour in the past. For Hollmann and Vergallito, it will be their grand tour debut.
Alpecin-Deceuninck selection Vuelta a España 2024
Maurice Ballerstedt
Kaden Groves
Quinten Hermans
Juri Hollmann
Xandro Meurisse
Edward Planckaert
Oscar Riesebeek
Luca Vergallito
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