Published December 17, 2016 11:33AM
Tom Boonen, Rui Costa highlight Vuelta a San Juan
Current world champion Filippo Ganna and 2013 world champ Rui Costa will be among the headliners in the 35th edition of the Vuelta a San Juan Jan. 23-29
Laureano Rosas has won the last three Vueltas a San Juan. Photo courtesy of Vuelta a San Juan
Some big names are heading south for the rebooted Tour de San Juan next month in Argentina. The race already has a long history, dating back more than three decades, but gets a facelift in 2017 with the arrival of four WorldTour teams.
Among the confirmed starters are 2013 Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali, making his debut in his new Bahrain—Merida colors. Others confirmed starters include Tom Boonen and Fernando Gaviria (QuickStep), former world champion Rui Costa (TJ Sport) and Bauke Mollema (Trek—Segafredo).
The seven-stage event runs from January 23-29, and features a mix of stages. The stage race slots in for the Tour de San Luis, a popular early season race that pulled the plug after the 2016 edition.
The race is drawing six Professional Continental teams, including UnitedHealthcare, 10 continental teams, and six national teams, including the Italian national squad with Olympic omnium gold medalist Elia Viviani.
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Jorge Chica, sports secretary for the province of San Juan, said, “Argentina has been the country with the highest growth in cycling. This is due to the fact that the five San Juan teams become continental, an important event of cycling growth in San Juan.”