Published August 11, 2016 11:29AM
BMC finalizes Vuelta roster: Van Garderen, but no Phinney
BMC Racing builds its Vuelta team around Samuel Sanchez and Tejay van Garderen but leaves Taylor Phinney home, despite expectations that he'd race.
BMC Racing confirmed its Vuelta roster, which will include Tejay van Garderen as one of the lead riders. Photo: Tim De Waele | <a href="http://www.tdwsport.com" target="_blank">TDWsport.com</a> (File).
BMC Racing confirmed its roster for the final grand tour of the season, the Vuelta a España, and while the U.S.-registered team will bring GC hopeful Tejay van Garderen, his fellow American Taylor Phinney has been left off the list.
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Phinney, fresh off the Rio Olympics road race and time trial, was expected to start his first grand tour since 2013, after the 2014 crash that nearly ended his career. Speaking to CyclingNews in early August, Phinney said, “I’m really excited for the next three months. I’m going to Rio and then the Vuelta, which I’m going to give a crack. The team has given me the green light there to race with Tejay hopefully.”
The 26-year-old, who did not finish the Rio road race and was a distant 22nd in Wednesday’s time trial is rumored to be heading to Cannondale – Drapac for 2017.
“We have chosen a strong, balanced team built around Samuel Sánchez and Tejay van Garderen,” BMC sport director Valerio Piva said of the squad for the Spanish tour. “Sánchez is our leader for the general classification, and van Garderen is another protected rider. The rest of the riders have been selected for their ability to win stages.”
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“I believe we will bring a very competent and focused team for what will be a very hard Vuelta a Espãna,” Sánchez added.
BMC Racing Vuelta roster
Darwin Atapuma (Col)
Silvan Dillier (Swi)
Jempy Drucker (Lux)
Philippe Gilbert (B)
Ben Hermans (B)
Samuel Sánchez (Sp)
Dylan Teuns (B)
Tejay van Garderen (USA)
Danilo Wyss (Swi)