Spanish Grand Tour's 73rd edition

2016 winner Nairo Quintana and 2009 victor Alejandro Valverde are Telefónica-backed squad's biggest names at race start in Málaga, Saturday.

GUIDE | All informations on the 2018 edition of the Vuelta a España

Eusebio Unzué has defined the eight-man squad that will fly the Movistar Team flag at the 73rd edition of the Vuelta a España (Saturday 25th August – Sunday 16th September). Two former winners of the race, Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde, headline a roster completed by Andrey Amador, Winner Anacona, Daniele Bennati, Richard Carapaz, Imanol Erviti and Nelson Oliveira.

The 2018 Vuelta a España will mark the 39th consecutive appearance -all-time record- for the Blues in the Spanish Grand Tour, a race where they’ve achieved four overall wins, 12 podium finishes and 58 stage victories (Statistics).

The Telefónica-backed squad, which will travel to Málaga on Wednesday, will have to tackle a demanding course (Race guide) that includes two ITTs -an opening, 8km stage + a 32km effort in Cantabria on week three (stage 16, Tuesday 11th)- and plenty of mountains in its second half. Three consecutive mountain-top finishes in Asturias and León -La Camperona, Les Praeres and Lagos de Covadonga, Friday 7th to Sunday 9th- will be decisive, together with the Andorra stages on the final weekend and the finish up the Balcón de Bizkaia (Wednesday 12th).