Question marks and a desire for revenge: INEOS heads to the Vuelta with Arensman as part of a three-pronged attack, no Bernal

INEOS Grenadiers has unveiled its lineup for the upcoming Vuelta a España. The British team is heading to Lisbon with a mix of experience and youth. On paper, there are several riders capable of contending for the general classification. Thymen Arensman, the only Dutchman in the selection, is aiming for another top finish in a Grand Tour after his sixth place in the Giro. Last year, he had to withdraw from the Vuelta after a nasty crash. Notably absent is Egan Bernal. The Colombian, who had expressed ambitions for this race, has been left out.

Alongside Arensman, Carlos Rodriguez appears to be INEOS's main GC contender. The Spaniard finished seventh in the Tour de France, a somewhat disappointing result. Rodriguez will be highly motivated as he starts the Vuelta, where no clear favorite has emerged, possibly giving him a chance to fight for a podium spot or even more.

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In addition to the Dutch and Spanish riders, the Belgians also have something to look forward to. Laurens De Plus showed strong form in the Tour de France and hopes for an opportunity to target the general classification himself. Joshua Tarling will make his Grand Tour debut, starting his first race since the Olympics. Another interesting name on the roster is Jhonatan Narváez, who has been in excellent form all year. Brandon Rivera, Oscar Rodriguez, and Kim Heiduk complete the lineup. The Vuelta kicks off on August 17th.

Scott Drawer briefly commented on the team's ambitions: "We want to be aggressive and seize opportunities as they come—whether that’s gaining time in the general classification with Carlos and Thymen, or securing stage wins with riders like Josh and Jhony. This is a young and dynamic team with the strength and potential to compete for the overall, as well as chase stage victories on various terrains." Additionally, there’s hope to claim the leader’s jersey on day one with Tarling in the time trial.

Rodriguez and Arensman are glad to have each other: "It's great to have more cards to play"

Arensman expressed his ambitions and mentioned how pleased he is to have Rodriguez as another key rider in the team with general classification aspirations. "It’s always exciting to ride a Grand Tour, especially with this team. This will be my fifth Vuelta, so I know the race well, and I have some positive memories from it, especially from the stage in 2022. That was probably one of the best results of my career so far. There are also some tough memories, like last year when I crashed, but you have to leave that behind and come back with the hope of creating more good memories, like in 2022."

"Being a leader in this team is always a privilege, and it’s great to share that role with Carlos. Of course, he’s a Spaniard, and this is his home race, so it will always be special for him; it’s always good to have two cards to play when you’re going for the general classification," he continued. Arensman also reflected on the Tour of Burgos. "In Burgos, I wasn’t quite where I wanted to be, but my body usually builds up, and it’s good to get used to the heat. My body feels solid and is responding well, so I’m ready to take the next step in the Vuelta," said the rider, who didn’t perform at his best last week.

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For Rodriguez, the Vuelta is also another chance to aim for a strong overall result. The 23-year-old is curious to see how his body reacts after the Tour. "After the Tour, I took a few days off to recover, and then I gradually started training again to maintain my form. I think my body has recovered, and I’m starting to feel more like myself again after being ill for a while. This is the first time I’m doing two Grand Tours back-to-back, so it’s going to be a new experience for me. I just want to enjoy the race as much as possible, and it will be special with the support on the home roads. I’ve raced and trained a lot with Thymen, so that will definitely help us during the Vuelta," said the Spaniard.

Selection INEOS Grenadiers for the 2024 Vuelta a Espana

Thymen Arensman
Carlos Rodriguez
Oscar Rodriguez
Laurens De Plus
Brandon Rivera
Kim Heiduk
Jhonatan Narváez
Joshua Tarling

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