UPDATE: INEOS Grenadiers forced into last-minute change of Vuelta a Espana lineup as illness disrupts plans

Unlike most teams at this upcoming Vuelta a España, INEOS Grenadiers have just presented a lineup that is just as strong or even better than its Tour de France group. The British team is tackling the final Grand Tour of the season with a stacked squad full of quality stage hunters for the many hilly and mountainous days, whilst also supporting Egan Bernal's overall classification ambitions.

“La Vuelta always produces unpredictable, aggressive racing and this squad gives us a variety of options," team DS Scott Drawer said in a press release. "Egan comes into the race as our leader, supported by a group that mixes climbing strength, time trial power and experience. It’s a team that can fight for opportunities and race in a style that’s been consistent with our approach at both the Giro and the Tour de France. We can’t wait to get racing.”

After his seventh place at the Giro d'Italia, Bernal comes in as a GC outsider for this Vuelta, a candidate to the Top5. “I’m relishing the challenge of leading the INEOS Grenadiers at this year’s Vuelta. It’s a race that always delivers aggressive, unpredictable racing - which is what I enjoy. My preparation has been good, and with the team we’re bringing - a mix of Grand Tour winners, strong support and guys hungry to show themselves - we can be confident. Starting in Italy also gives me extra motivation after so many special moments racing there.”

But the team will most certainly be primarily focused on stage wins taking into consideration it's lineup and the rivals that it will have in the high mountains. After withdrawing from the Tour de France on it's first stage, Filippo Ganna returns to racing close to home actually with the Italian start, and will take aim at the final week's individual time-trial as well as certainly some sprints and breakaways.

Bernal will have the support of his right-hand man Brandon Rivera and Lucas Hamilton likely as pure domestiques; whilst Bob Jungels, Michal Kwiatkowski, Magnus Sheffield and Victor Langellotti will likely have a lot of freedom to chase their own ambitions with breakaways throughout the entire three weeks of racing. The latter won a stage impressively at the recent Tour de Pologne where the returning Kwiatkowski also showed good form; whilst Sheffield showed great form during the spring and won the queen stage of Paris-Nice.

On the eve of the start of the 2025 Vuelta a Espana however, illness has struck the INEOS camp. As a result, Lucas Hamilton has been forced out and as revealed by the team on social media, the in-form Ben Turner gets the call-up to the season's final Grand Tour. The Brit won a stage and the Points Classification at the recent Tour de Pologne, showing his impressive current level.

Egan Bernal
Filippo Ganna
Lucas Hamilton Ben Turner
Michal Kwiatkowski
Bob Jungels
Victor Langellotti
Brandon Rivera
Magnus Sheffield