The Euskaltel-Euskadi cycling team has presented the nine riders that will defend the team colours in the Tour of Spain 2013 which kicks off on August 24 in Galicia and ends on September 15 in Madrid.

Samuel Sánchez will lead a powerful block consisting of Igor Antón, Mikel Nieve, Egoi Martínez, Gorka Verdugo, Jorge Azanza, Juanjo Oroz, Pablo Urtasun and Mikel Landa. Thus the Euskaltel-Euskadi will field an experienced team as it seeks to fulfil the ambition of a place on the podium in the last grand tour of the 2013 season.

Manager Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano stressed that “We go to the Vuelta with a very complete team. We have a leader who already knows what it takes to finish on the podium in a grand tour and he is accompanied by a group of cyclists who have experience in this type of race. Anton and Nieve are two climbers who have previously taken important victories. Egoi, Verdugo and Azanza have been riding with Sanchez for many years. Urtasun and Oroz will have the job of offering Sanchez protection on the flat, windy and hazardous stages. And finally we have Landa who experienced the Vuelta last year and will use this edition to take another step in his progression.”

In terms of objectives, Galdeano explained that “Our goal must be to be in the struggle to win the Vuelta. Obviously, the list of candidates is impressive with people like Nibali (Astana), Valverde (Movistar) and Rodriguez (Katusha), but our challenge has to be to try to be in the fight until the end. Samuel already knows what it is like to fight to win a grand tour; in 2009 he was less than one minute short of overall victory,” Galdeano remarked.

“The route of this year's Vuelta suits riders who can attack and defend well in all areas. There are many summit finishes, including some very explosive ones and there is also a nearly 40-km time trial. The terrain will be very demanding from the first day and be small differences can be made during the first week in Galicia. I think it will be a very exciting Vuelta and it should provide quite a spectacle for the fans,” concluded Galdeano.

Regarding the future of the cycling team, Galdeano commented, rather vaguely, that “We are looking for a new sponsor and we are making a great effort in this direction. We face a major challenge with some uncertainty, but we are professionals and, as always, we will do our utmost to achieve the objectives. This jersey deserves nothing less,” concluded the general manager.