Javier Guillen, Vuelta a Espana race director, has said that Sky’s reigning Tour de France champion Chris Froome’s decision to ride the Spanish Grand Tour is “the icing on the cake” for his event this year, after attracting almost all of the sport’s top names.

"If you had told me before the start of the year, I wouldn’t have believed it. It’s the icing on the cake," Guillén told Spanish newspaper AS. "It’s good that so many important riders have thought to make more of a big year. Froome’s decision is fantastic for the Vuelta and for cycling."

Guillen’s race has drawn names like Froome, Quintana, Valverde, Nibali, Rodriguez, Aru, Landa, van Garderen, Bouhanni and Degenkolb, with only the fast sprinters, Peter Sagan, Alberto Contador and a few others missing from the sport’s biggest names.

"He likes the race and the country too. The Spanish crowds like him and he feels comfortable here," Guillén said of Froome’s participation. "And the sporting challenge will have carried weight too. He knows the Vuelta and only one rider has come here after winning the Tour, Carlos Sastre in 2008."

Froome has twice finished second, in 2011 and 2014, and has brought a team to help him win the Vuelta. He is backed by the likes of Nico Roche, Sergio Henao and Geraint Thomas.

Guillen also spoke of the disappointment of defending champion Contador not starting, but he says that with the Spanish hero doing two Grand Tours already this season, the decision is completely understandable.

"It’s a shame but it’s understandable," Guillén said. "He gave everything in the Giro and the Tour. The only chance of him [riding the Vuelta] was if he had won in France too and was going for the treble. We’ll try in 2016."