As the 2025 Vuelta a Espana approaches, Caja Rural - Seguros RGA have announced their carefully selected eight-man squad for the three-week race, which runs from 23rd August to 14th September, starting in Turin and finishing in Madrid.
The team arrives with a strong, balanced roster, blending promising debutants and seasoned campaigners, all poised to compete fiercely on the diverse and challenging route.
Fresh Faces and Experienced Fighters
This year, three riders will make their Grand Tour debut with Caja Rural. Uruguayan Thomas Silva leads the charge — already the team’s top winner this season with three victories. Alongside him, Czech Jakub Otruba, winner of a stage at the G.P. Torres Vedras, and Spanish rider Jaume Guardeño join the fold, injecting fresh energy and ambition into the team.
Supporting the newcomers are experienced riders such as the dependable Fernando Barceló and Abel Balderstone, the reigning Spanish national time trial champion. Alex Molenaar provides a quick finish in sprints, while Joan Bou and Joel Nicolau bring the grit and determination needed to animate the race and assist their teammates.
Preparation and Ambition
Sporting Director José Miguel Fernández expressed his optimism about the team’s prospects: “Firstly, we feel fortunate to be at the start of La Vuelta a España once again. We understand its value and how hard it is to be here. We greatly appreciate this opportunity and have prepared for the race with great care," he says in a team press release.
"We have assembled the most balanced team possible to shine across all terrains. Although we may lack a pure sprinter, we prioritised climbers and all-rounders who arrive in excellent form and have real chances of contesting stage wins from breakaways. Our goal will always be to win a stage, and based on that, I believe we have riders such as Thomas Silva, Alex Molenaar, and Fernando Barceló who have shown great level throughout the year and are genuine contenders for stage victories."
"We also have highly skilled and experienced riders capable of enduring difficult moments, such as Nicolau, Bou, and Otruba — the latter being a natural rouleur. Finally, we bring Abel and Jaume, hoping they can perform well in the high mountain stages. We are aware that the next three weeks will be extremely demanding, facing rivals of the highest calibre, and so we have prepared ourselves to meet the challenge of this great race. Without a doubt, we will give our all to carry Caja Rural and Seguros RGA to the top.”
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA for the 2025 Vuelta a Espana
Joan Bou
Joel Nicolau
Thomas Silva
Jaume Guardeño
Jakub Otruba
Fernando Barceló
Abel Balderstone
Alex Molenaar
Joel Nicolau
Thomas Silva
Jaume Guardeño
Jakub Otruba
Fernando Barceló
Abel Balderstone
Alex Molenaar
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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