A third strong climber and potential general classification threat, comes in the form of
Valentin Paret-Peintre. Like O'Connor, the Frenchman is reportedly set to leave Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale at the end of the season with Soudal - Quick-Step the supposed destination. Also similarly to O'Connor, Paret-Peintre was impressive earlier this year at the Giro d'Italia, helping his team leader to 4th overall and finishing 16th in his own right.
With the team completed by time trial specialist
Bruno Armirail, former Tour de France stage winner
Victor Lafay, Belgian talent
Sander De Pestel and the Frenchman, Clement Berhet plus former Vuelta King of the Mountains winner,
Geoffrey Bouchard the team has capabilities to compete against the very best.
"We are going to the start of the Vuelta Ciclista a España with an attractive and solid team. Ben O'Connor will be the leader and Felix Gall the co-leader, with the objective of a top 5 in the general classification. They will lead a well-armed collective, with riders who have an interesting profile both in a role of teammate and as contenders for the stage victory, which is the other objective," assesses the team's Cyril Dessel to the
official website. "The route of this Vuelta Ciclista a España is difficult and mountainous, without however presenting many very high mountain stages. It is a Tour for climbers and climbing adventurers, which suits our squad well. The riders approach the race with a lot of motivation and enthusiasm. They have done a good preparation, for the most part during a training camp in Tignes last month. The state of mind is very good, the lights are green."