At the Vuelta, which begins on Saturday, we can cheer for Madis Mihkels (EF Education - EasyPost), who will be aiming for results in the last Grand Tour of the year.
"I'm very excited. Last year I did my first Grand Tour, the Giro d'Italia, and despite a crash, I came out of it quite well. Of course, I hope for better luck this year. I already know what to expect, so I'm looking forward to it with excitement," said Mihkels.
The 22-year-old Estonian did not hide that they will be chasing stage wins. "I see five great opportunities for myself in the finish sprints. Those are my goals – those five stages," Mihkels confirmed. "The very first stage in Italy is already an opportunity for me. The rest of the course is, of course, very, very difficult. But I am strong enough that I believe I can do well in the peloton, get through it, and save as much energy as possible for the important days. It's super cool to compete in the Estonian national champion jersey. It's a really beautiful jersey. I like its design and I'm proud to wear my national colors."
The Vuelta starts in Turin, and the first five days will be raced on the roads of Italy, France, and Andorra, among other places. In addition to Mihkels, the US team's roster includes Archie Ryan, Markel Beloki, Lukas Nerurkar, Jardi van der Lee, Esteban Chaves, James Shaw, and Sean Quinn.
