"It is the grand tour that suits me the best" - EF Education-EasyPost talent targets a stage win on Grand Tour debut

EF Education-EasyPost will be a team to watch at the upcoming Vuelta a Espana. With multiple Grand Tour debutants and young talents, and without clear leader, the American team can only surprise. For the mountains, young Irishman Archie Ryan would love to build on the momentum from his second place at the Tour of Austria a month ago. And, if possible, win a stage or two.

"I'm super, super excited," said Ryan, as reported by Irish Independent. "I think it is going to be a great three weeks. I haven't done a Grand Tour before, so I'm excited for the experience. We’ve got a super young squad. It’ll be pretty exciting and hopefully Poppy Chaves [Esteban Chaves] can guide us through it nicely."

The team lost their leader Richard Carapaz who is not ready to race again just yet and that opens up a lot of opportunities for the younger riders, such as Ryan. "I want to try and get in the break in some of the harder stages and fight for a stage win or two. That’s the goal. There are going to be loads of opportunities."

Ryan who excels on steep climbs will be in his own territory in Spain, with notorious rampas inhumanas awaiting riders on every corner. "That is why I'm just really excited to go there. It is the grand tour that has the stages that suit me the best," he concludes.