2025 Vuelta a España - Ultimate team-by-team-guide

In the absence of Tadej Pogačar, João Almeida and Juan Ayuso lead a strong UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad, but Jonas Vingegaard is the favourite, and he lines up at the head of a Visma | Lease a Bike that will also feature Matteo Jorgenson and 2023 winner Sepp Kuss.

Defending champion Primoz Roglič also misses the race, but Jai Hindley heads up the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe squad, while Egan Bernal features for Ineos Grenadiers.

There are 23 teams and 184 riders at the 2025 Tour de France, with five UCI ProTeams joining the 18 WorldTour teams on the start line in Turin on August 23. Ahead of the start, we run through the teams and their goals

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 55th - Xandro Meurisse
Stage wins: 3

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Jasper Philipsen
Rider to watch:  Luca Vergallito

Alpecin-Deceuninck's Vuelta a España 2025 Lineup:

• Tobias Bayer
• Rasmes Debruyne
• Gal Glivar
• Edward Planckaert
• Jasper Philipsen
• Jonas Rickaert
• Oscar Riesebeek
• Luca Vergallito

After suffering the full range of emotions at the Tour de France from ecstasy to agony, Jasper Philipsen comes into the Vuelta for the first time since 2021 with a point to prove. The Belgian sprinter has picked up three stages across two appearances at the race, and is comfortably the biggest name in the sprint field on the startlist, with Mads Pedersen his main threat. Beyond Pedersen, it will be a case of whether Philipsen has recovered from his Tour wounds, but a fourth place at the ADAC Cyclassics suggests he is heading in the right direction.

With the first stage set to end in a sprint, Philipsen has the opportunity to take his second Grand Tour leader's jersey of the season after claiming the yellow jersey on the opening day of the Tour de France. Philipsen will be well supported by his reliable lieutenants, such as Edward Planckaert and Jonas Rickaert.

Luca Vergallito provides the team's best option outside of the sprints, with the Italian one to watch for the breakaways in the mountains, and could finish comfortably inside the top 20 overall. Young Slovenian Gal Glivar is another intriguing rider to watch.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 13th - Cristián Rodríguez
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Cristián Rodríguez
Rider to watch: Raúl García Pierna

Arkéa-B&B Hotels's Vuelta a España 2025 Lineup:

• Jenthe Biermans
• Raúl García Pierna
• Victor Guernalec
• Léandre Lozouet
• Cristián Rodríguez
• Louis Rouland
• Pierre Thierry
• Alessandro Verre

The majority of Cristián Rodríguez’s work goes unnoticed, but the 30-year-old Spanish climber has finished 13th overall in the previous two editions of the Vuelta. Based on a 20th place at the recent Tour de France, whilst playing a support role in Kévin Vauquelin’s excellent 7th place overall, Rodríguez is arguably in his best climbing shape ever. 

This was hinted at before the Tour when he won his first professional race in four years, the Mercan'Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes. We’ve seen plenty of riders crack the top 10 at a Grand Tour for the first time in 2025, and Rodríguez will be quietly confident he can be the next.

Similar to Rodríguez, Raúl García Pierna had a solid Tour de France, also supporting his French teammate in the mountains and featuring in multiple breakaways. With more license for freedom at the Vuelta, the 24-year-old could be an outsider for breakaway stages. As the Spanish time trial champion, García Pierna will no doubt also be aiming to make a mark on stage 18's individual time trial. 

Jenthe Biermans could score a top 10 or two in the sprint stages, while there are four riders making their Grand Tour debuts in the team.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 22nd - Jack Haig
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Antonio Tiberi
Rider to watch: Damiano Caruso

Bahrain-Victorious's Vuelta a España 2025 Lineup: 

• Santiago Buitrago
• Nicolò Buratti
• Roman Ermakov
• Jack Haig
• Mathijs Paasschens
• Finlay Pickering
• Antonio Tiberi
• Torstein Træen

Damiano Caruso is a smooth operator; not many would have predicted that the veteran would finish 5th in the Giro d’Italia after an inconsistent two years. However, Caruso did exactly that, illustrating his experience, which was a major boost for the team, as the young Italian hopeful, Antonio Tiberi, didn’t have the race he was hoping for.

One of his best performances since 2021, when he was runner-up and took a stage win. Later in the 2021 season, Caruso would win a stage at the Vuelta also, so could he mirror this type of performance in 2025?

Tiberi, on the other hand, will be looking for redemption, not only for his Giro setback, but for last year’s race, when he had to abandon the Vuelta while sitting fourth in GC. Tiberi’s form suggests he is heading in the right direction after finishing second at the Tour de Pologne.

Having finished 10th at the Tour de France in 2024, Santiago Buitrago didn't race the GC this July, with a sole highlight being a third place finish on the Mont Ventoux stage. The Colombian climber, if he can find his best legs, could find himself fighting for either a top 10 in GC or for a stage win and the mountains classification.

Jack Haig is in the squad and has the experience of being a former podium finisher at the Vuelta, something he achieved in the 2021 edition, whilst Torstein Træen was climbing well at the recent Vuelta a Burgos.

Update: Damiano Caruso will miss the race through injury and is replaced by Finlay Pickering.

Vuelta 2024:

GC:15th - Guillaume Martin 
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Bryan Coquard
Rider to watch: Oliver Knight

Cofidis's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Stanisław Aniołkowski
• Emanuel Buchmann
• Simon Carr
• Bryan Coquard
• Jesús Herrada
• Oliver Knight
• Paul Ourselin
• Sergio Samitier

Bryan Coquard has had top-10 stage finishes in 9 out of 11 Grand Tour starts but has yet to taste victory in a three-week race. Can he go one better than a second place finish in the 2022 edition?  Stanisław Aniołkowski provides another card for the French team in the sprints.

Jesús Herrada is a three-time Vuelta stage winner and can never be counted out of a breakaway success. Meanwhile, Simon Carr is one to watch for the mountain breakaways if he can find his best shape after a disrupted 2025, as is Emanuel Buchmann.

Another British rider on the French team who is one to watch is Oliver Knight. The 24-year-old is in great form after a strong showing at the British championships with third in the time trial, and seventh in the road race - despite an ill-timed mechanical, before delivering the first professional win of his career at the Ethias Tour de Wallonie and finishing third overall. 

If Knight can carry this form into his Grand Tour debut, he may become one of the discoveries of the race. 

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 2nd - Ben O’Connor
Stage wins: 1

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider:Felix Gall
Rider to watch:Léo Bisiaux

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Bruno Armirail
• Léo Bisiaux
• Sander De Pestel
• Felix Gall
• Jordan Labrosse
• Nans Peters
• Callum Scotson
• Johannes Staune-Mittet

Last year was a resounding success for the French team, who led the race for a large period via Ben O'Connor's victory on stage 6. The Australian and the team fought valiantly throughout the race and eventually ended second overall behind Primož Roglič.

This year, the GC hopes will be focused on Felix Gall, who looked to be getting stronger as the Tour de France grew older, and the Austrian landed in a career-best 5th in GC after an attritional three weeks. The Austrian made his Vuelta debut in 2024, finishing in 29th, but will be a strong podium contender this time around. If things don’t go to plan in the GC, Gall could take a stage win due to his combative style, and he might vie for the mountains classification too.

The French team also have some younger riders to pin their hopes on in Johannes Staune-Mittet and Léo Bisiaux. Staune-Mittet, both of whom are making their grand tour debuts. Staune-Mittet finished 12th at the Tour de Romandie and the recent Tour de Pologne, and the Norwegian could be seen in plenty of breakaways. 

Bisiaux had a strong Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa, finishing 14th before taking a stage at the Vuelta a Burgos and 3rd in the GC in a field featuring plenty of riders who will be competitive in the GC at the upcoming Vuelta.

Bruno Armirail is a consistent rider who always attacks in the Grand Tours and was particularly combative at the Tour de France, but has yet to taste a professional road race victory, with four time trial successes. Australian rider Callum Scotson was also climbing well at the Tour de France, while Nans Peters could complete the Grand Tour stage win set, having won at the Giro d'Italia in 2019, and Tour de France in 2020.

Vuelta 2024:

GC:4th - Richard Carapaz
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider:Madis Mihkels
Rider to watch: Archie Ryan

EF Education-EasyPost's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup: 

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

With the absence of Richard Carapaz, EF Education-EasyPost line up with a young squad with plenty of potential, but also one very experienced rider who had a breakthrough performance in the 2015 edition, before a podium finish the following year, Esteban Chaves.

Madis Mihkels will be one to watch for the sprint stages, with the Estonian champion achieving two top 10 finishes on his Grand Tour debut in 2024 at the Giro d'Italia.

Archie Ryan and Lukas Nerurkar are making their Grand Tour debuts, and both riders are well-suited to the typical punchy climbs the Vuelta has to offer. Ryan has had some solid results in recent months, including 2nd overall at the Tour of Austria, whilst Nerurkar finished 17th at the Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa.

Former American champion Sean Quinn has had a disrupted 2025 but showed promising signs in his comeback at the Tour of Austria, hinting that his form could be on the rise towards the Vuelta. Meanwhile, Markel Beloki, son of Joseba, will be full of confidence on his Grand Tour debut, having won the Tour Alsace, joining a list of riders that includes Thibaut Pinot and Tom Pidcock.

Vuelta 2024:

GC:6th - David Gaudu
Stage wins:1

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: David Gaudu
Rider to watch: Thibaud Gruel

Groupama-FDJ's Vuelta a España 2025 Lineup:

• Clément Braz Afonso
• Rémi Cavagna
• David Gaudu
• Thibaud Gruel
• Stefan Küng
• Guillaume Martin
• Rudy Molard
• Brieuc Rolland

After winning an epic battle on the Eastern Mountain in the Tour of Oman back in February, there was plenty of optimism surrounding David Gaudu. However, 2025 hasn't gone to plan, and Gaudu's stock has dropped heading into the Vuelta. However, it's a race of happy memories for Gaudu. He finished sixth in 2024, and he claimed two stage wins in 2020, which could help him bounce back to his old self.

Guillaume Martin is a former King of the Mountains winner at the Vuelta, back in 2020, and is very likely to end inside the top 20 should he make it to Madrid. The hope for the 32-year-old is that he will be closer to 10th than 20th.

Two-time former European champion Stefan Küng will be looking to replicate his first Grand Tour stage win from twelve months ago in the individual time trial on stage 18, and is always a threat to go solo on a transitional breakaway stage.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Thibaud Gruel scored 2 top-five stage finishes in the recent Tour de Pologne, illustrating his fast finish after a hilly race, which could serve him very well at the Vuelta.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 10th - Carlos Rodríguez
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Egan Bernal
Rider to watch: Victor Langellotti

Ineos Grenadiers's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Egan Bernal
• Filippo Ganna
• Michał Kwiatkowski
• Bob Jungels
• Victor Langellotti
• Magnus Sheffield
• Brandon Smith Rivera
• Ben Turner

2025 has shown that Egan Bernal is an exceptional athlete and human being to bounce back from adversity the way that he has. While a 7th place overall at the Giro d'Italia doesn't stand amongst his GC victories at the Giro d'Italia in 2021 and the Tour de France in 2019, it illustrates that the Colombian champion is heading in the right direction. 

A sixth place at the Vuelta a Burgos isn't anything to write home about, by the Colombian's top standards, however, with a strong team around him, and with the pressure cooker not at full blast, Bernal can never be counted out of a strong GC result. It would not be a surprise to see Bernal improve upon his Giro showing and move closer towards the podium this Autumn.

Filippo Ganna's Tour de France was over before it even really started, with the Italian crashing on the opening stage in Northern France. He has not raced since, so it's difficult to place too many expectations, but there could be plenty of opportunities for success, particularly the individual time trial on stage 18. We've even seen Ganna mix it up in sprints on occasion, and with a weaker field of sprinters here, he may try his luck on a stage or two. 

At the recent Tour de Pologne, Victor Langellotti became the first rider from Monaco to win a WorldTour race and ended 5th overall. Langellotti possesses a lethal punch at the end of a hilly race, and this is well-suited to the Vuelta. He could be the rider who lands the stage win the British team will be hoping for after missing out twelve months ago.

Update: Ben Turner is a late replacement for Lucas Hamilton who misses out through illness.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 28th - Louis Meintjes
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Louis Meintjes
Rider to watch: Huub Artz

Intermarche-Wanty's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Huub Artz
• Kamiel Bonneu
• Dries De Pooter
• Arne Marit
• Louis Meintjes
• Simone Petilli
• Dion Smith
• Luca Van Boven

Louis Meintjes is the most experienced rider in the Intermarché-Wanty lineup, and the 33-year-old climber is well-accomplished at the Vuelta. The 2022 edition was a standout for Meintjes, which saw the South African win a stage and finish 10th overall. 

His 2025 shape indicates he isn't currently at that level, but he is still capable of finishing not too far away from the top 10 overall if he finds some good form.

Arne Marit made his Vuelta debut twelve months ago and finished 4th on a sprint stage. The Belgian could replicate a similar result this time around. Dion Smith could also land a top 10 or two from a sprint, something the Kiwi did on three occasions in the 2020 edition.

Huub Artz is the current under-23 European champion, and the Dutchman has proven in the elite ranks that he is a capable time trialist and climbs well on hilly terrain, as illustrated in the Tour de Romandie and  Tour of Norway, finishing 6th at the latter.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 5th - Mattias Skjelmose
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Mads Pedersen
Rider to watch: Giulio Ciccone

Lidl-Trek's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Andrea Bagioli
• Julien Bernard
• Giulio Ciccone
• Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier
• Daan Hoole
• Søren Kragh Andersen
• Mads Pedersen
• Carlos Verona

After a lean Vuelta in 2024 from a stage-winning perspective, there's a very strong chance that things could be much different this time around for Lidl-Trek.

Mads Pedersen has been one of the stars of 2025, in arguably his best season to date. The former world champion has all the well-rounded qualities to pick up plenty of stage wins and the points classification, having done so at the Giro d’Italia in May. He could even take the opening stage and the red jersey along with it to add to the pink jersey he wore during the opening week of the Giro.

Giulio Ciccone is one of the in-form riders ahead of the Vuelta, having won the Donostia San Sebastian Klasikoa and a stage at the Vuelta a Burgos. The Italian had his Giro d’Italia cruelly cut short due to a crash, where he was in the mix in the GC. 

Ciccone is a proven stage and KoM hunter success, and could complete the set of mountain jerseys here. However, based on his form, and if he can avoid an incident or accident, he could finally crack the top 10 in a Grand Tour for the first time in his career. 

Carlos Verona and Daan Hoole both picked up stage wins at the Giro as well, and will have further chances in the mountains and the individual time trial, respectively. Meanwhile, Søren Kragh Andersen is an elite rider at his best, and the Danish champion can never be ruled out for fighting for a stage win, particularly after a promising showing at the PostNord Tour of Denmark.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 3rd - Enric Mas
Stage wins:0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider:Pablo Castrillo
Rider to watch:Orluis Aular

Movistar's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda
• Jorge Arcas
• Orluis Aular
• Carlos Canal
• Pablo Castrillo
• Iván García Cortina
• Michel Hessmann
• Javier Romo

Typically, Movistar would be arriving at La Vuelta with confidence of a podium finish with Enric Mas, something the 30-year-old has achieved in four out of his last six appearances at the race. However, Mas won’t be on the start line this year, meaning that the Spanish team will need to rely on the talent of others in the squad.

Whilst Mas achieved his reliable podium position in 2024, there were no stage wins for the Spanish team, meaning that their drought extends to four years, with Miguel Ángel López the last Movistar rider to win a stage at the Vuelta a España.

Pablo Castrillo was one of the stars from twelve months ago, winning two excellent stages, and putting his name on the map. It's been a debut season of ups and downs at Movistar for the Spanish rider, but he has shown plenty of good signs to suggest he can have another successful Vuelta, even if it isn't in the form of two stage wins.

Javier Romo is a solid climber who nearly won the Santos Tour Down Under GC, and could feature in breakaways, whilst Carlos Canal has a quick finish at the end of a hilly race, and could improve upon the two tenth-place stage results he picked up twelve months ago.

Orluis Aular and Iván García Cortina are both fast finishers at the end of a hilly stage and could score plenty of top 10 finishes between them. Aular came close to a stage win in his last Vuelta appearance, 2nd on stage 7 in 2023.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 1st - Primož Roglič
Stage wins:3

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Jai Hindley
Rider to watch: Giulio Pellizzari

Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Giovanni Aleotti
• Nico Denz
• Finn Fisher-Black
• Jai Hindley
• Giulio Pellizzari
• Matteo Sobrero
• Tim van Dijke
• Ben Zwiehoff

Defending champion Primož Roglič is not on the start list, meaning that Red Bull-BORA hansgrohe will have to take a different approach to proceedings this edition.

They do still boast a Grand Tour winner in the lineup via Jai Hindley. Although the Australian has moved into a support role since the arrival of Roglič, Hindley can't be ruled out of a competitive GC performance, as he is capable of a podium in this field when at his best. 

There won't be total pressure on the Australian as young Italian, Giulio Pellizzari, lines up for his Vuelta debut, and if the 21-year-old can replicate anything similar to the Giro d'Italia in May, where he finished 6th, it could be a mouthwatering prospect for the team this Autumn. With Hindley as team leader, Pellizzari should have the opportunity to learn from the Aussie without too much pressure, and with a wildcard role, which should only enhance the team's chances of a successful race.

Matteo Sobrero finished third overall at the Tour de Pologne and will be an outsider for the individual time trial on stage 18, while Giovanni Aleotti was climbing well in Burgos recently.

Finn Fisher-Black also comes in off a strong and consistent first five stages Tour de Pologne before the Kiwi abandoned ahead of his first Grand Tour in two years. Meanwhile, Tim van Dijke could give the team an option for some top tens in the sprints. 

Vuelta 2024:

GC:8th - Mikel Landa
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Mikel Landa
Rider to watch: Valentin Paret-Peintre

Soudal-QuickStep's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Gianmarco Garofoli
• Mikel Landa
• Junior Lecerf
• Valentin Paret-Peintre
• Pepijn Reinderink
• Maxmillian Schachmann
• Mauri Vansevenant
• Louis Vervaeke

Mikel Landa returned to action with 18th place at the Vuelta a Burgos after crashing out on the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia.  

With a lack of racing in recent months, Landa could fly under the radar, and if able to return to his early-season shape, a big ask, he could be a podium contender, having finished in the top 10 in the previous two editions.

Valentin Paret-Peintre thrives on the big stage. Winning a Giro stage in 2024 and finishing 16th overall, the Frenchman has justified Soudal-QuickStep’s faith in signing him by delivering a monumental victory atop Mont Ventoux at the recent Tour de France.  If Paret-Peintre arrives in similar shape, he could complete the grand tour stage win set very quickly, and by default, see himself not too far away from the top 10 if he gets into the right breakaways.

Junior Lecerf will be a confident rider heading into the race after winning the Czech Tour, and will also give the Belgian team another card to play on the tougher stages.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 11th - Eddie Dunbar
Stage wins: 2

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Ben O'Connor
Rider to watch: Eddie Dunbar

Jayco AlUla's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Koen Bouwman
• Eddie Dunbar
• Anders Foldager
• Chris Harper
• Patrick Gamper
• Christopher Juul-Jensen
• Kelland O'Brien
• Ben O'Connor

Ben O'Connor was one of the stars of the 2024 edition, winning stage 6, holding the race lead until stage 19, and ultimately finishing 2nd overall. 

The recent Tour de France didn't go to plan from a GC perspective for O'Connor as he fell out of contention early in the race. However, the Australian turned his Tour into a resounding success, winning a stage atop the mighty Col de la Loze. If O'Connor can produce the climbing legs that we saw in the latter half of the Tour from the breakaway, he could be a podium contender once more, or if things fade from a GC front, could target stages as he showed in July.

Eddie Dunbar was another major success story from the 2024 Vuelta, as the Irishman claimed two spectacular stages in different styles. Dunbar looked in promising form at the Tour, finishing 4th on stage 6 behind compatriot Ben Healy, but unfortunately abandoned before the start of stage 8. 

Alongside O'Connor, Jayco AlUla have strong cards to play in the mountains, as well as Giro d'Italia stage winner from May in Chris Harper, and former two-time Giro stage winner and mountains classification winner from 2022, Koen Bouwman.

Anders Foldager is a punchy rider who could score some top 10s from reduced group sprints, also.

Vuelta 2024:

GC:35th - Max Poole
Stage wins:1

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider:Casper van Uden
Rider to watch:Kevin Vermaerke

Picnic PostNL's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Patrick Eddy
• Juan Guillermo Martinez
• Chris Hamilton
• Bjorn Koerdt
• Gijs Leemreize
• Timo Roosen
• Casper van Uden
• Kevin Vermaerke

With the announcement on Wednesday morning that Max Poole was ruled out of the Vuelta with the Epstein-Barr virus, Picnic PostNL have had to adapt.

However, the team have some strong climbers who will be active on breakaway stages if previous Grand Tours are true to form, and it could give them a chance of landing a stage win.

Kevin Vermaerke, Chris Hamilton, and Gijs Leemreize are all often active throughout three-week stage races, but none have yet to land a professional victory despite their talent and efforts. With multiple top-10 stage finishes for both Hamilton and Leemreize, it feels as though if they continue to knock at the door, eventually it will open. 

Casper van Uden will be aiming to cause another minor upset in a Grand Tour sprint as he did at the Giro d'Italia.

Bjorn Koerdt is making his Grand Tour debut, and the 21-year-old British rider has looked spritely in recent races such as the Arctic Race of Norway and Circuit Franco-Belge, as well as finishing 2nd at the British Criterium Championships behind Cameron Mason at the end of June.

Vuelta 2024:

GC:14th - Sepp Kuss
Stage wins: 3

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Jonas Vingegaard
Rider to watch:Ben Tulett

Visma | Lease a Bike's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Victor Campenaerts
• Matteo Jorgenson
• Wilco Kelderman
• Sepp Kuss
• Ben Tulett
• Dylan Van Baarle
• Jonas Vingegaard
• Axel Zingle

Jonas Vingegaard arrives as the clear favourite for the red jersey after finishing second at the Tour de France for the second consecutive year, behind Tadej Pogačar. While the Dane was put to the sword by the world champion, Vingegaard was comfortably head and shoulders above everyone else in the race. Another positive heading into the Vuelta is that he looked spritely in the final week of the Tour and motivated for the upcoming Spanish Grand Tour. 

Vingegaard has appeared twice previously at the race, first as a domestique for Primož Roglič in 2020, with the Slovenian winning the race for the second time. After defending his Tour title in 2023, Vingegaard arrived at the Vuelta a España alongside Roglič in a stacked Jumbo-Visma team. However, it was Sepp Kuss who claimed the red jersey, with the Dane having to settle for second in a clean sweep of the podium for the Dutch team.

The American duo of Matteo Jorgenson and Sepp Kuss were part of the Tour team alongside Vingegaard and also feature in the Vuelta squad. Both are set to be key lieutenants in the mountains for Vingegaard, but could be back-up GC options should something happen to the Dane. 

Victor Campenaerts was also part of the Visma team at the Tour and will be an ever-reliable figure, with the experienced Dutch duo of Dylan Van Baarle and Wilco Kelderman also present, the latter another key rider in the mountains. 

Axel Zingle makes his Visma grand tour debut, and the Frenchman could present an opportunity for the sprints with a reduced field of fast finishers due to the parcours. Meanwhile, Ben Tulett lines up for his first grand tour in over three years since the Giro d’Italia in 2022. The British rider showed good form this summer, finishing 12th at the Critérium du Dauphiné and 3rd at the Tour de l’Ain with teammate Cian Uijtdebroeks.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 9th - Pavel Sivakov
Stage wins: 3

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: João Almeida
Rider to watch: Juan Ayuso

UAE Team Emirates-XRG's Vuelta a España 2025 Lineup:

• João Almeida
• Juan Ayuso
• Mikkel Bjerg
• Felix Großschartner
• Domen Novak
• Ivo Oliveira
• Marc Soler
• Jay Vine

After winning a fourth Tour de France, Tadej Pogačar made the decision to skip the Vuelta a España, presenting a big opportunity for the team’s other standout GC riders. 

If this was based on before his crash at the Tour de France, João Almeida would have been regarded by many to be the closest challenger to Jonas Vingegaard after an exceptional 2025, which has seen the Portuguese rider win the GC at Itzulia Basque Country, Tour de Romandie and Tour de Suisse. However, it remains to be seen what shape Almeida will arrive in Turin in, but if he is well recovered, he could be one of the main players in the GC battle across the three weeks of racing.

Another rider who will be aiming to seize the opportunity is Juan Ayuso. The 22-year-old Spaniard already had a taste of a grand tour leadership role in 2025, at the Giro d’Italia, where things were looking very positive after stage 7, after claiming the stage win and sitting in second overall. However, the race began to unravel for Ayuso, who eventually abandoned on stage 18, having already fallen out of GC on stage 16. 

Ayuso has had a low-key few months since, with only two race days in Spanish one-day races - an anonymous Donostia Klasikoa San Sebastian, before a second place the following day behind teammate Isaac del Toro at the Circuito de Getxo - Memorial Hermanos Otxoa. However, the 22-year-old has already proven in the past his capabilities at the race, finishing 3rd overall in 2022.

You can never know what to expect from Marc Soler, but the Spaniard is often most reliable at his home grand tour as a three-time stage winner, including last year, and a former top 10 finisher. Soler was a key cog in the UAE Team at the Tour in July, and if Ayuso and Almeida are to thrive from a GC capacity, the support of a rider like Soler will be crucial. 

The same can be said for Felix Großschartner, who will be deployed in a mountain domestique role, despite finishing in the top 10 twice before at the race, illustrating the overall strength of the team. 

Jay Vine is a former two-time stage winner and also the defending mountains classification champion. The Australian could thrive in another wildcard role and will be looking to shine in the individual time trial on stage 18. 

Away from the GC, Ivo Oliveira should be mixing it up in the sprint stages, and based on his 2025 form, which has seen him claim four victories, he could pop up with a stage podium or top five here or there. Domen Novak and Mikkel Bjerg are two reliable domestiques who round out the Team.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 16th - Lorenzo Fortunato
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider:Lorenzo Fortunato 
Rider to watch: Harold Martin López

XDS Astana's Vuelta a España 2025 Lineup: 

• Nicola Conci
• Lorenzo Fortunato
• Sergio Higuita
• Harold Martín López
• Fausto Masnada
• Wout Poels
• Harold Tejada
• Nicolas Vinokurov

On paper, this looks like a fun squad for XDS Astana to hunt stage victories and the mountains classification. Lorenzo Fortunato thrived in this role at the Giro d’Italia, winning the King of the Mountains as well as runner-up on a stage where he did a 1-2 with his teammate Christian Scaroni.

After finishing second at the Vuelta a Burgos recently, Fortunato could be one of the major animators at this year’s Vuelta, but could even try to crack the top 10 in a Grand Tour GC for the first time, though this may take away from his freedom to attack.

Many others who could also fight for stages and the mountains jersey. Not least 37-year-old Wout Poels, who’s proven time and time again he can still compete at the big races. 2025 has seen Poels win a stage and the GC at the Presidential Tour of Turkey, with young Ecuadorian teammate Harold Martín López finishing runner-up. López went on to win a stage and the GC at the Tour de Hongrie and is a rider who looks ready to make the step up in a WorldTour-level race. 

Sergio Higuita had a very solid Tour de France, finishing 14th overall, indicating a return to his old self, while Harold Tejada was very combative, featuring in four breakaways at the Tour, and it wouldn’t surprise many if the 28-year-old was able to land a first Grand Tour stage in the future. 

Vuelta 2024:

GC: N/A
Stage wins: N/A

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Hugo de la Calle
Rider to watch: Sergio Geovani Chumil

Burgos Burpellet BH's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Eric Antonio Fagúndez
• Mario Aparicio
• Daniel Cavia
• Hugo de la Calle
• Sinuhé Fernández
• Carlos García Pierna
• Sergio Geovani Chumil
• José Luis Faura

Hugo de la Calle is one of Burgos Burpellet BH's most talented riders, and the 21-year-old could make a name for himself at this year's Vuelta. De la Calle goes well on harder terrain, and the fact that he is often willing to race aggressively will only play into his advantage.

Daniel Cavia and Eric Antonio Fagúndez could have an outside chance to land a top 10 stage result, with strong kicks in the finish. 

Mario Aparicio finished 12th at the recent Vuelta a Burgos, whilst Carlos García Pierna won the mountains prize, illustrating that both riders' climbing legs are where they want to be.

Meanwhile, Sergio Geovani Chumil tasted victory earlier in the season at the O Gran Camino stage race, where he won stage 4 ahead of Derek Gee. The Guatemalan rider thrives on climbs and will be aiming to kick on from the success he had back in March.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: N/A
Stage wins: N/A

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Guillermo Thomas Silva
Rider to watch:Fernando Barceló

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• Abel Balderstone
• Fernando Barceló
• Joan Bou
• Jaume Guadeño
• Alex Molenaar
• Joel Nicolau
• Jakub Otruba
• Guillermo Thomas Silva

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA returns to the Vuelta a España after a year's absence and will be dreaming of having a race even a quarter as good as Equipo Kern Pharma from twelve months ago. 

The Spanish team’s last stage win was back in 2012, courtesy of Antonio Piedra's victory on Stage 15. One rider who provides an outside chance of breaking the drought is Guillermo Thomas Silva. 

The Uruguayan champion has never had a victory close to the level of a Vuelta stage, and is set to make his grand tour debut. But at 23 years of age, Silva climbs well for a fast finisher, and with the nature of the sprint stages in the Spanish grand tour, he could be a rider who shines in a similar fashion to former Caja-Rural rider Orluis Aular, who finished 2nd on stage 7 in 2023.

Abel Balderstone will wear the national stripes as Spanish Time trial champion on stage 18, while Fernando Barceló finished second in the road race, and could be one to watch in breakaways.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 30th - Matthew Riccitello 
Stage wins: 1

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Ethan Vernon
Rider to watch:  Matthew Riccitello

Israel-Premier Tech's Vuelta a España 2025 lineup:

• George Bennett
• Pier-André Côté
• Marco Frigo
• Jan Hirt
• Nadav Raisberg
• Matthew Riccitello
• Jake Stewart
• Ethan Vernon

In the absence of Derek Gee, Matthew Riccitello will be aiming to step up and present an option for Israel-Premier Tech in the many mountain stages of the Vuelta. Whether this is in a GC or stage hunting capacity remains to be seen, but one for for sure is that the 23-year-old American is a talented climber and the team will hope he can step up in the absence of the Canadian.

Jan Hirt and George Bennett bring bags of experience as former top 10 finishers in Grand Tours, and this will be important to the younger riders in the team, such as Riccitello. 

Jake Stewart came close to a stage win at the Tour de France, whilst Marco Frigo is always willing to roll the dice. The combative Italian is still chasing his first grand tour stage, having come close on plenty of occasions.

Ethan Vernon is one of the more established sprinters on the start list with twelve professional wins to his name, including two stages of the Volta a Catalunya. The 24-year-old British rider will be an outsider to take a stage in a sprint if things go to plan. 

Vuelta 2024:

GC: 77th - Jonas Gregaard 
Stage wins: 0

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Elia Viviani
Rider to watch: Alec Segaert

Lotto's Vuelta a España lineup:

• Lars Craps
• Jasper De Buyst
• Jonas Gregaard
• Arjen Livyns
• Alec Segaert
• Eduardo Sepúlveda
• Liam Slock
• Elia Viviani

The Belgian team will be hoping that Elia Viviani can roll back the years at the Vuelta, the only Grand Tour where the Italian sprinter hasn't won an individual stage in his career. 

Based on recent years, it's unlikely that Viviani will do so here, but Lotto will have that his experience will help score some solid stage results. A glimmer of hope for Viviani is that he won his first race for nearly two years at the Presidential Tour of Turkey in May, but a Vuelta stage win feels a very long shot currently. He will be well supported by riders like Jasper De Buyst and Arjen Livyns.

Alec Segaert has been in solid shape over the Summer at the Baloise Belgium Tour, National Championships and PostNord Tour of Denmark, and will make his Grand Tour debut here, before a move to Bahrain-Victorious for 2026.

Vuelta 2024:

GC: N/A
Stage wins: N/A

Vuelta 2025:

Key rider: Tom Pidcock
Rider to watch:Fabio Christen

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team's Vuelta a España lineup:

• Marcel Camprubí
• Fabio Christen
• David de la Cruz
• David González
• Damien Howson
• Xabier Mikel Azparren
• Tom Pidcock
• Nickolas Zukowsky

Q36.5 Pro Cycling are the final team to have received a wildcard invitation for the Vuelta, having also appeared at the Giro d’Italia in May. There, the team achieved multiple top 10 stage results via Matteo Moschetti and Tom Pidcock, with the latter ending 16th in the general classification. 

Pidcock returns to the Vuelta for the second time in his career after recently winning a stage and finishing runner-up at the Arctic Race of Norway. The British rider signalled his intent to target the top 10 in the GC, but he should also be well suited to plenty of the punchy finishes, with the opportunity to try and land the sponsors of Q36.5 their first grand tour stage win. 

Pidcock will be well supported in the mountains via David de la Cruz, with the veteran Spanish climber having finished seventh in the GC at the Vuelta three times previously, as well as Damien Howson, who also shines when the road rises.

Fabio Christen is a versatile rider who presents an opportunity beyond Pidcock to fight for a stage win with the 23-year-old Swiss rider capable of a fast sprint at the end of a hilly stage or from a breakaway, as illustrated at the Tour of Slovenia and Tour de Suisse this Summer. 

• Route preview
• The five key stages of this Vuelta
• GC favourites
• King of the mountain favourites
• Point classification favourites
• Favourites for the youth classification
• Dark horses to watch
• Five must-have riders for your Vuelta fantasy team