Fabio Aru, Fernando Gaviria and Tadej Pogacar headline UAE Team Emirates in Vuelta a España
Aug 19 2019 09:52 pm CET
UAE-Team Emirates logo
UAE Team Emirates is set to start in the Vuelta a España with a strong team that will fight for stage victories and the General Classification.
Fabio Aru, Fernando Gaviria and Tadej Pogacar will be the main men for the team's aspirations. This will be the first Vuelta for Gaviria, who will be in the mix in the stages for the fast men. "I am happy to make my debut in an important race like the Vuelta, the only Grand Tour I have never participated in," the Colombian commented.
"There aren’t many stages for the sprinters, and we’ll have to take our chances when we can – this is what makes the Vuelta even more challenging and stimulating."
Aru will be the man for the General Classification, after recovering from the leg surgery he underwent some months ago. "As always, the Vuelta a España represents an important and stimulating challenge, both in terms of the route and the quality of the startlist," the Italian explained.
"I’m excited and ready to race, especially since the operation I had four months ago. The goal is to compete at high level but also to be consistent."
This will be the debut of the talented Pogacar in a big race. "I am really excited to be able to participate in my first Grand Tour, I can’t wait to be on the starting ramp of the team time trial and start this new challenge," he said.
"I will be in Spain with the aim of learning as much as possible, understanding how to move in the bunch in such an important race and how to manage it over the three weeks. It’s the only way I can start building something good for the next few years."
UAE Team Emirates' general manager Joxean Matxon talked about the prospects of the formation for the race. "At the Vuelta we will be able to count on a very strong team, which offers us many possibilities depending on how the race unfolds," he affirmed. "We will be able to aim for the sprint stages with Fernando Gaviria who we know can do well there.
"For the general classification there will be Fabio Aru, whose condition has grown a lot and approaches the Vuelta with great concentration and determination. The choice was made also that the talented Tadej Poga?ar will make his debut after proving this year that he is not only a contender for the future but for the present also. Along with Conti, Henao, Marcato, Molano and Troia, we believe we have a complete and balanced team to give the necessary support to achieve our goals."
Fabio Aru
Valerio Conti
Fernando Gaviria
Sergio Henao
Marco Marcato
Sebastian Molano
Tadej Poga?ar
Oliviero Troia
SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEEDS