Astana Qazaqstan Team have decided on their '8' for the Vuelta a España. it is a modest team with modest ambitions, putting focus on the team's climbers to contest for stage wins throughout the 21 days of racing, whilst
Lorenzo Fortunato will aim for the overall classification.
The Italian rider signed with the Kazakh team this season and has had strong showings. He finished 14th at Tirreno-Adriatico, 10th at the Volta a Catalunya and 12th at the Giro d'Italia. He has been a rider with good and consistent form throughout the season, also winning the KOM classification at the Criterium du Dauphiné, and recently finishing second in the queen stage of the Vuelta a Burgos. In a Grand Tour with a modest field that has little influence from the time-trials, the Italian may benefit from his lightweight physique to thrive in the many steep summit finishes that will decide the race.
The team puts in quite a bit of focus in the mountains, bringing in
Harold Tejada who may aim for stage wins in the many mountainous days and South American Grand Tour debutants
Santiago Umba and
Harold Martín López who look to perform in the same terrain. Simultaneously, Kazakh duo Nicolas Vinokourov and
Gleb Brussenskiy.
Ide Schelling will be aiming for the sprint stages, those specifically that feature some climbing. The Dutchman can realistically aim for good results as he has shown the legs on several occasions this year, and will be supported here by italian
Gianmarco Garofoli.
Astana Qazaqstan Team for Vuelta a España:
Gleb Brussenskiy
Lorenzo Fortunato
Gianmarco Garofoli
Ide Schelling
Harold Tejada
Santiago Umba
Nicolas Vinokourov
Harold Martín López
