Nairo Quintana (Movistar) will be back in action on Wednesday when he lines up as captain for a strong Movistar team in the Vuelta a Burgos. Traditionally a warm-up event for the Vuelta, the Spanish race suits Quintana down to the ground and should be a good opportunity for him to clock up another win as he starts his preparations for the world championships.
The Vuelta a Burgos may have a reputation as a warm-up race for the Vuelta but Movistar will be led by a rider that has no intentions of riding the Spanish grand tour. Instead, Nairo Quintana will line up at the event on the back of a very strong Tour de France showing and targets a good result as he gradually ramps up his build-up for the hilly world championships road race in Florence.
With no time trial and the traditional queen stage to the top of the Lagunas De Neila, the 5-day race suits Quintana perfectly and he should be the main favourite if he has managed to maintain some of his Tour condition. He most recently raced the Clasica San Sebastian where he blew the race to pieces as he worked to set up Alejandro Valverde for the win.
He will be joined by a very strong team in Burgos. Former Vuelta winner Juan Jose Cobo is eager to show that it was a mistake by his team to deny him a spot on the Vuelta roster while Benat Intxausti - 8th overall in the Giro - is using the race to prepare for his home grand tour. Giovanni Visconti is gradually trying to find back to the condition that allowed him to win two Giro stages while Jose Herrada is also looking to get back into full swing on the back of a very solid Giro showing.
Sylwester Szmyd hopes to finally find the strength that has turned him into one of the most valuable mountain domestiques in past seasons while Ruben Plaza hopes to have maintained some of his good Tour form. Spanish road race champion Jesus Herrada who has had outstanding season so far, and veteran Jose Ivan Gutierrez complete the roster.
The Vuelta a Burgos consists of five stages of which three have short, sharp climbs to the finish. One stage should suit the sprinters while the final stage to Lagunas De Neila is one for the pure climbers.
Starting on Wednesday, you can follow the race on CyclingQuotes.com/live and we will have a thorough race preview online tomorrow.
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