World Championships

Valverde, Lastras and Castroviejo for Spain; Amador, with Costa Rica; Rui Costa, with Portugal; Quintana, with Colombia and Kiryienka (Belarus) and Konovalovas (Lithuania) represent Blue squad at Limburg races

After the innovating team time trial was held last Sunday (with Movistar Team in 6th place), the elite UCI World Championships 2012 starts their traditional programme –ITT and road race- with the individual test (45.7km; 13.30 CET) preceeding the grand appointment on Sunday with the Valkenburg circuit, 267 kilometers of demanding roads in southern Netherlands (10.45 CET). Movistar Team will be heading into the Worlds with eight riders from up to six different national federations.

As well as in the London Olympic Games, the telephone squad has a majority in the Spanish national team, with three rders: Alejandro Valverde, one of the biggest favourites for the win; Pablo Lastras and Jonathan Castroviejo, who will be, along with Contador, the only from the Spanish representatives to ride both races. Beside them, Rui Costa, Nairo Quintana and Andrey Amador will compete at the RR with the Portugal, Colombia and Costa Rica outfits, respectively, while Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus) and Ignatas Konovalovas (Lithuania) will make the double on Wednesday and Sunday.