At the Vuelta, which starts on Saturday, we can cheer on Madis Mihkels (EF Education - EasyPost), who is going to score a result in the last grand tour of the year.
"I'm really excited. Last year I did my first Grand Tour at the Giro d'Italia and despite the crash I came out pretty well. Of course I'm hoping for better luck this year. I already know what to expect, so I'm looking forward to it," said Mihkels.
The 22-year-old Estonian made no secret of the fact that he is going after stage wins. "I see five great opportunities for a sprint to the finish. These are my goals – these five stages," Mihkels confirmed. "The first stage in Italy is already an opportunity for me. The rest of the route is of course very, very difficult. But I am strong enough that I believe I can do well in the grupetto, get through it and save as much strength as possible for the important days. Competing in the Estonian championship jersey is super cool. It is a really beautiful jersey. I like its design and I am proud to be able to wear my national colors."
The Vuelta begins in Turin and the first five days will include rides in Italy, France and Andorra. In addition to Mihkels, the US team includes Archie Ryan, Markel Beloki, Lukas Nerurkar, Jardi van der Lee, Esteban Chaves, James Shaw and Sean Quinn.
