Nairo Quintana chasing "the best overall classification possible" at Vuelta a Espana where he'll lead Arkéa Samsic

After finishing a strong sixth place at the Tour de France, Nairo Quintana proceeds to lead Arkéa Samsic at the Vuelta a Espana, with a team based around his GC ambitions but also stage wins throughout the six weeks.

“La Vuelta is an important objective for Nairo, especially since he has already written his name on the list of winners of this event,” Yvon Ledanois, team DS, said in a press release. "Our leader is aiming for a big result, that is to say the best overall classification possible, as was the case recently on the roads of the Tour de France. The Arkéa-Samsic team will be totally at his service. The icing on the cake would be, in addition to a good final general classification, a stage win for Nairo in this race”.

Ambitions are high. As in the Tour, Quintana will not be supported by a mountain-focused team, however that has not been an issue at the Tour de France where the team largely was built around protecting him in the treacherous days, whilst in the mountains he only had to keep up with the GC riders. Élie Gesbert will be the sole domestique who will be in a strong position to support the Colombian when the race goes uphill.

Anthony Delaplace will also eye that terrain. Right-hand man Lukasz Owsian will be besides Quintana, whilst the rest of the team will not only protect him on the flat stages, but defend the ambitions of Dan McLay in the sprints. Thibault Guernalec, Simon Gugliemi and Clément Russo will be part of that crucial support block.

Arkéa Samsic for Vuelta a Espana: Nairo Quintana, Anthony Delaplace, Élie Gesbert, Thibault Guernalec, Simon Gugliemi, Dan McLay, Lukasz Owsian and Clément Russo.