Utrecht, in the center of the Netherlands, looks fancy and full of bikes on its streets, as the 77th edition of La Vuelta a España kicks off today. It was a Spanish round that would be a platoon fight against Slovenian Primoz Roglic, who had won the previous three rallies and started as favorites to win their fourth consecutive title.

La Vuelta 2022 has a leading role in Alicante, both in the peloton and away. Promising Juan Ayuso (Xàbia) and sprinter Manuel Peñalver (Torrevieja) Caja Rural from the UAE Emirates team will arrive in Alicante on Tuesday, 30 August, for the 31st kilometer individual time trial between the Costa Blanca capital and Elche.

Just 19-year-old Ayuso, along with Carlos Rodriguez, is the great hope for the present and future of Spanish cycling. The Xàbia cyclist said, “My approach is to go day by day. I competed in Giro sub’23 for a maximum of 10 days, let’s see how I feel. I prefer to think more right now. I want to finish with a good taste in my mouth. I don’t know what to expect from me, but I’ll try to be the best.”

Peñalver dreams of scoring his first professional victory at La Vuelta. Volta a la Comunitat fled in his hometown of Torrevieja in Valenciana, and Julián Palomar told the blog “Alicante con el plato grande”, “I have a victory on my legs this year. Much better if I buy it at La Vuelta. I want to go calmly because victory will come. The idea is to go from day to day. Without pressure, but with determination, try to be ahead and achieve a good result. Nobody is eating anybody here, we are all equal and we must go to war without fear ».

Quintana’s resignation. Colombian Nairo Quintana’s resignation over the “tramadol thing” cast a shadow on the party, but the bike rides and this Vuelta offers incentives to have a good show on the 3,280km divided into 21 stages by the endpoint. in Madrid on September 11. 10 high finishes, 2 time trials, one for teams and one for individuals and opportunities for everyone mark the course.

Roglic is the opponent to beat. Before the absence of the current kings of world cycling Vingegaard and Pogacar, Roglic will be the contender to beat. Slovenia is aiming for a fourth wound despite the consequences of her spinal cord injury in the Tour. But Roglic isn’t coming for a walk. “If I’m here to win, I’m ready,” he says.

applicants. Among the applicants is Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, an Olympic gold medalist on the road. Australia Jai ​​Hindley, Giro pink jersey. Portuguese Joao Almeida. The winner in 2018 is British Simon Yates or Colombian Miguel Ángel López. Not to forget the star Quick Step duo of double world champion Julian Alaphilippe and Belgian pearl Remco Evenepoel.

Farewell to Valverde. Alejandro Valverde will be one of the main protagonists. He will say goodbye to La Vuelta at the age of 42. He’s not here to fight for the general classification, but he dreams of saying goodbye to a stage victory. Mallorcan Enric Mas will remain the eternal Spanish contender alongside the always unknown Mikel Landa. Future names make their debut: Spanish champion Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos), 21, and Alicante-born Juan Ayuso (UAE), 19, ready to “proudly” face the pressure of being in the league. hobby’s focus