Mattias Skjelmose, Tao Geoghegan Hart and Giulio Ciccone in climber-oriented Vuelta lineup for Lidl-Trek

Lidl-Trek will start the Vuelta a España with a team fully focused in the mountains. A strong lineup, not only does Mattias Skjelmose start the race with high GC ambitions but he will also be able to count on the support or perhaps co-leadership of Tao Geoghegan Hart and Giulio Ciccone.

"Lidl-Trek will line up at the Spanish Grand Tour with Mattias Skjelmose as leader, ready to take on his biggest goal of the season," the team wrote in a press release. "The team goal? A top GC result in addition to stage wins". Mattias Skjelmose is their main weapon, having focused on the Vuelta specifically to aim for the GC this year. The Dane has proven himself as a quality GC rider with the Tour de Suisse in his palmarès alongside other strong results, and will hope to take the leap into Grand Tour success.

Giulio Ciccone who finished on the Top10 of the Tour de France and former Giro d'Italia winner Tao Geoghegan Hart will be key cogs for the team's mountain performance and realistically both can also aim for the GC depending on the circumstances. All three could potentially be strong stage win seekers. Carlos Verona comes in after a strong Tour de France, with the support and also chase stage wins role as is Patrick Konrad who has just finished on the Top10 of the Clásica San Sebastián.

Sam Oomen will provide support in the mountains whilst Otto Vergaerde will be a vital piece of the team's flat stages. Mathias Vacek will also likely be on domestique duties on the flat days but realistically the Czech rider can also be a contender for stage wins on the hilly days after what he has shown this season.

Lidl-Trek for Vuelta a España:

Mattias Skjelmose
Tao Geoghegan Hart
Giulio Ciccone
Patrick Konrad
Sam Oomen
Mathias Vacek
Otto Vergaerde
Carlos Verona