Statistical analysis

Five of the Blues selected for the 72nd edition of the Spanish Grand Tour are 26 or younger; four of them will ride their first-ever three-week stagerace

The Movistar Team’s lineup for the 2017 Vuelta a España announced on Monday confirmed the absolute gamble of Eusebio Unzué’s management group on the talent of their youngest riders. The average age of the Blues’ roster at Nîmes’s start on Saturday will be 27.2 years old, way below their previous six appearances at the country’s biggest race since Telefónica took over as title sponsor.

Soler (23), Carapaz (24), Arcas (25) and Pedrero (25) will all make their debut at a Grand Tour, and form -together with Rubén Fernández (26)- the core of a group which also features two quite experienced members -Rojas (32) and Moreno (35)- as well as two talented riders who are still young, such as Oliveira (28) and Betancur (27).

Unzué’s squad for the 2017 Vuelta is also three yuears younger than the lineup which won the race in 2016 (30.7), the two most youthful riders inside that group -Fernández himself and Nairo Quintana- able to wear the red jersey as GC leaders.

AVERAGE AGE: 
– 2017 – 27.2
– 2016 – 30.7
– 2015 – 30.8
– 2014 – 28
– 2013 – 30.8
– 2012 – 28.3
 -2011 – 29.8

RIDERS AGED 26 OR YOUNGER:
– 2017 – 5 (Soler, Carapaz, Arcas, Pedrero, Fernández)
– 2016 – 2 (Quintana, Fernández)
– 2015 – 1 (Quintana)
– 2014 – 3 (Izagirre, Malori, Quintana)
– 2013 – none
– 2012 – 3 (Castroviejo, Intxausti, Quintana)
– 2011 – 3 (Intxausti, Konovalovas, Madrazo)