Youthful EF Education-EasyPost squad looks to future with 4 Grand Tour debutants at the 2025 Vuelta a Espana

EF Education-EasyPost will line up in Turin on Saturday with one of the youngest rosters at this year’s Vuelta a Espana, blending four debutants with a pair of seasoned grand tour leaders in Esteban Chaves and James Shaw.

Archie Ryan, Markel Beloki, Lukas Nerurkar, and Jardi van der Lee are all set to make their first appearances at a three-week race, while Madis Mihkels and Sean Quinn return for fresh chances after disrupted seasons.

With no designated GC leader, the team is approaching the 3,180 km race with a simple brief: attack whenever possible and target stage wins. “We don’t have anything to fear. Everyone here has been selected for their own ability. Nobody is here by chance,” says James Shaw, who will take on a road captain role, in EF's press release revealing the lineup. “For me, to win a stage in a grand tour would mean a lot. It would prove that all that hacking around on British Conti teams was worth it.”

The Vuelta’s reputation for unpredictability and explosive racing suits EF’s lineup. Irish climber Ryan, one of the most promising youngsters in the peloton, is eager to seize his chances.

“I want to try and get in the break in some of the harder stages and fight for a stage win or two,” he said. “It’s the grand tour that has the stages that suit me the best.”

Esteban Chaves, a veteran of multiple podium finishes in grand tours, knows his influence will extend well beyond his own racing. “It is going to be fun with all of the young guys. If I do a bad race or am moody or complain too much, they will take that on. I want to create a great memory for them in the future,” Chaves explained.

For 21-year-old Jardi van der Lee, the selection alone was a milestone. “When I got the call, I got goosebumps all over my body. It’s a dream come true,” he admitted. “For me, it would be incredible just to get up there in a stage that suits me and fight for the win. But I also really want to make it to Madrid and finish my first grand tour.”

Madis Mihkels, the Estonian national champion, will carry the team’s sprinting ambitions. After a bruising Giro debut last year, he is targeting up to five opportunities in fast finishes. “I see five great opportunities for me to sprint. Those are my goals,” Mihkels said. “I know what to expect now, so I am looking forward to it.”

Sean Quinn, meanwhile, returns after a year plagued by injury and health issues. His comeback adds an extra layer of motivation. “There were definitely times this past year when I thought I would never race my bike again, because of my knees,” Quinn reflected. “That showed me fragility and reminded me every race could be my last. So I have to grab this chance with both hands.”

With a young, hungry squad and little pressure in the overall standings, EF Education-EasyPost appear set to embrace the Vuelta’s chaos. From the high mountains of Asturias to the punchy finales in Galicia, fans can expect the pink and blue jerseys animating breakaways in search of breakthrough wins.

Archie Ryan
Markel Beloki
Lukas Nerurkar
Jardi van der Lee
Esteban Chaves
James Shaw
Sean Quinn
Madis Mihkels