Tomorrow the Vuelta a Espana starts with a team time trial and the Spanish grand tour can present a formidable line-up. Below is a few facts about the riders in attendance.

198 riders from 22 teams will take the start of the 69th Vuelta a España. They hail from 33 different countries and five continents, including nine African-born cyclists.

Spain (28), France (27) and Italy (26) have the highest numbers of starters, Italy having gained one at the eleventh hour with the replacement of Chris Horner by Valerio Conti as a result of a decision by the Lampre-Merida team.

The oldest competitor is France’s Sébastien Hinault from IAM Cycling at the age of 40 years and 193 days. The youngest is MTN-Qhubeka’s Merhawi Kudus from Eritrea at the age of 20 years and 212 days.

Seven Grand Tour winners will be in contention: Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde, Cadel Evans, Ryder Hesjedal and Damiano Cunego, as well as Grand Tour podium finishers Thibaut Pinot, Fabio Aru, Joaquim Rodriguez, Samuel Sanchez, David Arroyo, Rigoberto Uran, Yaroslav Popovych and Jurgen van den Broeck.

The sprinters’ list includes Peter Sagan, John Degenkolb, Nacer Bouhanni, Tom Boonen, Michael Matthews, Daniele Bennati, Roberto Ferrari, Yauheni Hutarovitch, Andrea Guardini, Moreno Hofland, Francesco Lasca, Nikias Arndt, Matteo Pelucchi, Greg Henderson, Gerald Ciolek and Kristian Sbaragli.

Time trial world champions Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara will be the other stars of the event.