No Haig, as Mikel Landa, Santiago Buitrago and Gino Mäder lead Bahrain - Victorious at mountainous Vuelta a Espana

Into a mountainous Vuelta a Espana, Bahrain - Victorious have announced a very strong lineup for the uphill terrain, with several riders capable of fighting for the overall classification but also to be in the fight for several stage wins.

“For the GC, we have Mikel. Let’s see how his condition is. With Gino Mäder as co-leader, we have a strong squad for all terrains," team DS Franco Pelizotti said. "We’re looking to do a good TTT, and have 3 good stages in Holland, so we arrive in Spain without time gaps". The Basque climber admitted that the GC may end up not being a priority, hence giving freedom to the team's fellow climbers, without the presence of last year's podium finisher Jack Haig due to his Tour de France crash injuries.

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Gino Mäder has struggled with form this year but being the defending youth classification champion and fifth last year, he will surely carry ambitions. Furthermore, Santiago Buitrago comes as a dangerous outsider after his recent win at the Vuelta a Burgos, and the several other wins on tough days he's had over this past year.

Wout Poels will come in as an important mountain domestique after once again showing his good legs at the Giro d'Italia where he helped Landa onto the podium, as will Luis León Sánchez who finished inside the Top15 of the Tour de France. Chasing stage wins will surely be a priority within the team aswell with it's depth, and Fred Wright will be a good option for both breakaways and the hard finales on the hilly days. Jasha Sütterlin and Edoardo Zambanini complete the squad as the team's most reliable domestiques.

Bahrain - Victorious for Vuelta a Espana: Mikel Landa, Santiago Buitrago, Gino Mäder, Wout Poels, Luis León Sánchez, Jasha Sütterlin, Fred Wright and Edoardo Zambanini.