24 hours before the start of the Vuelta a Espana, Lampre-Merida had to refocus completely as low cortisol levels prevented defending champion Chris Horner from starting the race. However, the Italian team bounced back with wins in two big mountain stages, making the team pleased with the outcome of the race.

Lampre-Merida went into the Vuelta a Espana hoping to be in contention for the overall win but when low cortisol levels took defending champion Chris Horner out of the race, they had to focus on new objectives. The team defied all expectations as Winner Anacona and Przemyslaw Niemiec both won big mountain stages.

At one point it seemed that Anacona was in contention for a top 10 finish but the Colombian faded in the final week. Nonetheless, the team is overly pleased with the results.

"This Vuelta is over," sports director Joxean Fernandez Matxin said. "I think we were protagonist every day. We were great to win two stages and just as good to be present in almost all escape attempts. With the absence of the defending champion Horner, we had a big loss in the battle for the overall standings, but I think we managed to get the maximum out of ourselves."