After being awarded a wildcard for the Giro d’Italia earlier this week, the Q36.5 Pro Cycling team received an invitation to La Vuelta a España on Friday.
According to the team's press release, team general manager Doug Ryder was nearly speechless with excitement.
“I’m absolutely thrilled about this invitation. La Vuelta has been a key goal for us this year. With a strong group of Spanish riders and staff, the energy within our team is electric.
"Although this will be our first time competing in La Vuelta as a team, 15 of our 25 riders have experience in the race, with some securing stage podiums, victories, and even wearing the iconic red leader’s jersey. It is a tough undulating and mountainous race which suits us.
There is also an individual and a team time trial to tackle. I have no doubt that we will make an impact from the opening stage in Piemonte, Italy, all the way to the grand finale in Madrid,” said Ryder.
Together 15 of the team's riders amass a total of 36 Vuelta starts dating all the way back to 2013.
Tom Pidcock raced the Vuelta in 2021, aged 22 and being one of the youngest on the start line. His best result was a fourth place on stage 14 but now four years later, the team leader has big ambitions for his second Grand Tour of the season.
Pidcock said, “It’s very exciting that we’ve received an invitation to ride La Vuelta! I haven’t checked all the stages yet, but I do know there is one stage finish in Andorra. That’s where I live, so it’s definitely something to look forward to. This year’s edition also features the iconic climbs of Angliru and Bola del Mundo.
"I did my first Grand Tour four years ago in Spain and have great memories of it. Back then, everything was new, but this year, I go in with a lot more experience and higher expectations—especially with the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team by my side,” said Pidcock.