Vuelta Espana Top 5 GC picks

Aug 28th, 10. Carlos Sastre, Frank Schleck, Vincenzo Nibali, Denis Menchov and Joaquim Rodriguez are RoadCycling.co.nz's Top 5 picks for the Vuelta Espana win.

2009's podium riders not racing in 2010 ©Unipublic

The three week Spanish tour begins with a team time trial at 10pm on Saturday evening in Seville, Spain (8am tomorrow morning NZ time).

Some big names are missing from this Grand Tour, but there are still plenty of top riders left in the starting line up to make the 75th Vuelta Espana a great fight for overall victory.

None of last year's Top 3 Vuelta riders are racing this year for various reasons.  2009 Champion Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) is currently serving a suspension for doping offences, Cadel Evans' BMC team chose not to race a 3rd Grand Tour in their first year and Sammy Sanchez is not on his Euskatel Euskadi start list.

Also missing are Tour de France's top team, RadioShack, who were not invited to this tour and overall Tour de France winner Alberto Contador (Astana) who has ended his season.

For those who are racing, this year's tough course suits riders with the highest level of endurance.

Four of RoadCycling.co.nz's Top 5 have already proved themselves in the other Grand Tours of 2010 - Carlos Sastre (Cervelo TesTeam), Vincenzo Nibali (Liguigas), Denis Menchov (Rabobank) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha). 

The 5th pick, Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank), was injured early in the Tour de France and was unable to show his form.  With brother Andy (2nd in this year's Tour de France) committed to helping him win this tour, he is super motivated for victory.

Who will be the winner in Madrid? ©Unipublic

2010 Grand Tour results

Carlos Sastre - Cervelo TestTeam 

"I have a special motivation for the Vuelta. We have six summit finishes so it's a good course for me. I have extra motivation," said Sastre, who has finished 2nd in this tour twice before.

"I didn't have the turbo engine I wanted during the Giro or Tour, so maybe I can have a good race here at the Vuelta. This is my third Grand Tour this season, others have only done one. It will be a difficult fight."

Frank Schleck - Saxo Bank

"We´re coming to Spain with a really dynamic team of riders. We have JJ (Haedo) for the sprints, Andy (Schleck) and Fränk (Schleck) for the climbs and Gustav (Larsson) and Fabian (Cancellara) for the pace making along with a good combination of experienced and young riders," said Sports Director Bradley McGee said on team-saxobank.com.

"Naturally, Fränk is highly motivated to do well and obviously he's going for the overall classification."

Liquigas - Vincenzo Nibali

"I have good feelings but I don't want to have too much pressure. I want to ride the Vuelta as I did the Giro, doing my best day by day without [pressure]. It's also a new experience for me because I've never ridden the Vuelta: I feel good and ready to face it," said Nibali who recently won the Trofeo Melinda.

Rabobank - Denis Menchov

Menchov is the only rider in this year's tour who has won the Vuelta before.  He won the Vuelta in 2005 and in 2007 and the Giro d'Italia in 2009.  He has shown great form in 2010 with his 3rd placing in the Tour de France.

Joaquim Rodriguez - Katusha

He was in top form at the Tour de France and sits in 2nd place behind Alberto Contador in the 2010 UCI World Rankings.  He only needs to gain 54 points to be named the World's best rider of 2010. 7th or better in the Vuelta will give him the win, unless Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne) who is the next highest placed Vuelta contender takes the tour victory.  

Other top contenders: Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank), Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne), Luis Leon Sanchez and David Arroyo (both Caisse d'Epargne).

Vuelta Espana

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• Stage by stage overview 
• Start list 
• All Vuelta Espana news