BMC Racing Team today announced a long list of ten riders ahead of the Vuelta a Espãna.

Sports Director Valerio Piva confirmed the participation of Samuel Sánchez and Tejay van Garderen.

“Both Samuel Sánchez and Tejay van Garderen will be protected riders in our team at the Vuelta a Espãna with Samuel as our main General Classification rider. Tejay will be focused on stage victories for the first part of the race and then we will evaluate how everyone is racing, but the team will be built around these two riders,” Piva explained.

Sánchez and van Garderen are looking forward to racing the final Grand Tour of the season.

“My main objective will be to finish in the top ten in the General Classification. It will be difficult as we’ll have top notch participation, but we definitely want to win a stage and do very well in the opening Team Time Trial. I believe we will bring a very competent and focused team for what will be a very hard Vuelta a Espãna,” Sánchez said.

“I’m looking forward to racing the Vuelta a Espãna. Completing two Grand Tours in one year is something I haven’t done, and will be a good step in my development. I’m excited for the Team Time Trial as it gives us a good chance to take the jersey. Then I will take the race as it comes and look for opportunities when they present themselves,” van Garderen said.

The final team of nine riders will be selected after the next block of racing is complete.

“Some of the riders in the long list are currently competing in Rio, and some are currently racing at Vuelta a Burgos and the Tour of Utah. We will finalize our selection after these races are finished, also keeping in mind our other objectives for the final part of the season including the UCI Team Time Trial World Championships,” Piva confirmed.

BMC Racing Team Vuelta a Espana Long List:

Darwin Atapuma (COL)

Silvan Dillier (SUI)

Jempy Drucker (LUX)

Philippe Gilbert (BEL)

Ben Hermans (BEL)

Taylor Phinney (USA)

Samuel Sánchez (ESP)

Dylan Teuns (BEL)

Tejay van Garderen (USA)

Danilo Wyss (SUI)