Juan Ayuso, João Almeida and Jay Vine in climber-focused UAE Team Emirates lineup for Vuelta a Espana

UAE Team Emirates has revealed its powerful contingent of eight cyclists who will take on the challenge of conquering the 3,157 kilometers from Barcelona to Madrid in the Vuelta a España 2023. Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida are the leaders.

Ayuso, last year's sensation, blew everyone away by finishing on the podium in his Grand Tour debut. With his youth and determination, he will be looking to repeat his phenomenal performance and show the world that his success was no fluke. For his part, Joao Almeida, who has already proven his ability in this year's Giro d'Italia, has his sights set on the podium at the Vuelta a España. Together, they form a double attack in the general classification that could trigger exciting moments on the road.

The excitement is not limited to the general classification, as UAE Team Emirates also boasts exceptional talent in the sprint stages. Juan Sebastian Molano comes into the Vuelta a España on the back of a stage win at the Vuelta a Burgos, which gives him an extra dose of confidence. With the support of the Oliveira brothers, Ivo and Rui, experienced to work on the flat, the team is ready to contest exciting stage finishes and fight for victory in the mass finishes.

The mountains will be a crucial stage in this Vuelta a España, and UAE Team Emirates is not skimping on climbing talent. The trio of Marc Soler, Jay Vine and Finn Fisher-Black is a solid lineup that will face the challenges of the summits with determination and skill. Grand Tour debutant Finn Fisher-Black adds a dash of intrigue to the team as he faces the challenge of the mountains for the first time in an event of this caliber.

Juan Ayuso expressed his enthusiasm for the race, highlighting the teamwork and personal connection to the course. "Last year's Vuelta was something special, a race that I will always remember and that gave me a lot of confidence," Ayuso said. "In the last few months we've worked a lot together as a group and it's gone very well. This year's course will pass close to where I grew up or lived, so personally that will also make it very special. As for the competition, it's going to be tough, no doubt, with great rivals on the start list, but I think we're up to it."

For his part, Joao Almeida shared his optimism about the team's performance and his own expectations. "The sensations are good: I feel stronger than last year at this time. I think Juan has also improved, so we are in a very good place," Almeida expressed. "Last year at the Vuelta was already a success for us, so we're back to aim for the same or more. We had two guys on the podium at the Tour, so why not also at the Vuelta? It could be very nice."

Under the guidance of Sport Director Joxean Matxin Fernandez, along with Sport Directors Tomas Gil and Manuele Mori, UAE Team Emirates has created a balanced and ambitious line-up for the Vuelta a España. With riders proven in top competition and promising newcomers, the team is ready to face the challenges of the road and compete at the highest level.

Joao Almeida

Juan Ayuso

Finn Fisher-Black

Sebastian Molano

Marc Soler

Jay Vine