Sanchez and Van Garderen to lead BMC at Vuelta a España
Aug 04 2016 06:22 am CET
Both Tejay van Garderen and Samuel Sanchez will take part in the upcoming Vuelta a España. This was announced by their team BMC Racing on Wednesday.
The team sent out a press release late on Wednesday to announce its long list for the Spanish Grand Tour, confirming that Van Garderen and Sanchez will lead the formation.
"Both Samuel Sanchez and Tejay van Garderen will be protected riders in our team at the Vuelta a Espãna with Samuel as our main General Classification rider," said Sports Director Valerio Piva.
"Tejay will be focused on stage victories for the first part of the race and then we will evaluate how everyone is racing, but the team will be built around these two riders"
Sanchez has finished in the top ten of the Vuelta six times and aims to do so again this year. "My main objective will be to finish in the top ten in the General Classification. It will be difficult as we'll have top notch participation, but we definitely want to win a stage and do very well in the opening Team Time Trial.
"I believe we will bring a very competent and focused team for what will be a very hard Vuelta a Espãna," the Spaniard said.
Van Garderen took part in the Vuelta in 2010 (35th) and last year when he was forced to withdraw after a crash in the first week.
"I'm looking forward to racing the Vuelta a Espãna. Completing two Grand Tours in one year is something I haven't done, and will be a good step in my development. I'm excited for the Team Time Trial as it gives us a good chance to take the jersey. Then I will take the race as it comes and look for opportunities when they present themselves," he explained.
The complete long list (nine of these ten riders will travel to Spain):
Darwin Atapuma (COL)
Silvan Dillier (SUI)
Jempy Drucker (LUX)
Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
Ben Hermans (BEL)
Taylor Phinney (USA)
Samuel Sánchez (ESP)
Dylan Teuns (BEL)
Tejay van Garderen (USA)
Danilo Wyss (SUI)
