Caja Rural gets more ambitious every year. After requesting an invitation for the Giro d’Italia in 2016 which they were ultimately denied, they debuted in Tirreno-Adriatico, two years after participating in Il Lombardia. Already accustomed to the Spanish WorldTour events (Vuelta a Espana, Tour of Catalonia and Tour of the Basque Country), the team of Eugenio Goikoetxea and Josemi Fernández now wants to explore other parts of the calendar. 

As announced by Zikloland.com, the Navarre team have requested invitations for the Tour de Romandie and the Tour of Switzerland and for events organized by ASO like the Criterium du Dauphine. The Spanish management have realized that the 100th Giro d’Italia will probably give priority to Italian teams and have has decided to focus elsewhere, including on French races.

With Bora’s promotion to the WorldTour, one of the wild cards that was almost certain to be given to the German team, is now available.