Geraint Thomas to lead INEOS Grenadiers at the 2023 Vuelta

By INEOS Grenadiers
Posted on Aug 18, 2023

INEOS Grenadiers (Spain) - Press Release: 2018 Tour de France winner, Geraint Thomas, will spearhead the INEOS Grenadiers eight-man line-up for this year’s Vuelta a España.

The race gets underway on Saturday 26 August in Barcelona, kicking off with a 14.8-kilometre team time trial before heading into the mountains, finishing on Sunday 17 September in Madrid.

Thomas, the highly experienced and hugely popular Welshman, who has already finished as runner-up at the Giro d’Italia this year, starts La Vuelta for only the second time, marking his 19th career Grand Tour.

He will be supported by a strong and experienced group of racers, including former Tour de France and Giro d’Italia winner Egan Bernal. The inspirational Colombian played a key role for the Grenadiers at this year’s Tour de France, an incredible effort after his miraculous comeback from the major accident and potentially life-changing injury he sustained in 2022. This will be his second appearance at the Vuelta, having finished sixth overall in 2021, and his knowledge will be invaluable for the rest of the team.

Former World Time Trial Champion, Hour Record holder and gold medallist track star Filippo Ganna will make his La Vuelta debut. The Italian had a great start to the year with a successful Classics campaign, but his early season was cut short when he was forced to abandon the Giro d’Italia with Covid-19. He’s roared back into form since, winning the Tour de Wallonie and then going on to claim medals at the recent World Championships in Scotland.

Dutchman Thymen Arensman was 6th at La Vuelta in 2022, which included claiming victory on the ‘Queen Stage’ atop Sierra Nevada. The hugely talented 23-year-old also finished an impressive 6th place overall at the Giro d’Italia this year, as a key member of the high-mountain support for Thomas. Belgian rider Laurens De Plus, who played a similar starring role for Thomas in May, will look to impress once again following his Giro d’Italia performance.

Spanish fans will be thrilled to see the climbing talents of six-time national time trial champion Jonathan Castroviejo slot in alongside Omar Fraile. The latter has won stages at both the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France as well winning La Vuelta’s King of the Mountains titles in 2015 and 2016. The duo share 11 starts between them and will go all in for the team in their last race of 2023.

Exciting young German talent, Kim Heiduk, completes our selection and makes his Grand Tour debut in Spain. The highly promising 23-year-old will be looking to make his mark over the three weeks as he takes the next big step in his career.

INEOS Grenadiers line-up: