Enric Mas and Alejandro Valverde lead Movistar Team's vital Vuelta a Espana assault

Movistar Team are sitting in a dangerous position where their World Tour position is in no ways guarranteed, and with that possibility looming in the horizon the Spanish team will have itself forced to perform at their home Grand Tour to assure maintenance - and they have a good team for it.

Enric Mas has heavily suffered with crashes this year, derailing his GC tilts at Tirreno-Adriatico, Itzulia Basque Country and the Critérium du Dauphiné. Afterwards, he was forced to abandon the Tour de France with Covid-19 on the final week, which has severely impacted the Spanish team's revenue of points. This has put them in a complicated position, but Mas - who was second at the Vuelta last year - will now have favourable terrain to aim high, and he will look to have a performance at the level of last year's.

Alongside him will be Alejandro Valverde, racing his final Vuelta a Espana in what is his last season as a professional rider. GC should not be a reasonable goal, however the veteran still has the legs to chase stage wins mostly on the hilly days, and will be a protected rider for the Spanish team. Critérium du Dauphiné stage winner Carlos Verona will be their main domestique, but possibly also a stage hunter throughout the race.

Gregor Mühlberger will also be having a protective role in the climbs, whilst the rest of the team focuses on protection for it's leaders and also breakaways on hilly days. Nelson Oliveira and José Joaquín Rojas bring the experience, whilst Lluís Mas Bonet and Mathias Norsgaard complete the lineup.

Movistar Team for Vuelta a Espana: Alejandro Valverde, Enric Mas, Carlos Verona, Nelson Oliveira, José Joaquín Rojas, Mathias Norsgaard, Gregor Mühlberger and Lluís Mas Bonet.