Analysing Ineos Grenadiers’ Vuelta a España team

Former Tour de France winner and Giro d’Italia runner-up Geraint Thomas leads the line for the British team as he looks to mount a podium challenge but there’s incredible strength within the eight-rider team, with Laurens de Plus, Egan Bernal, and Thymen Arensman all included. There’s no spot for the departing Pavel Sivakov but Filippo Ganna has made the cut and will be instrumental in the opening team time trial, while there are spots for veterans Jonathan Castroviejo, Omar Fraile, and race debutant, Kim Heiduk.

Geraint Thomas

Age: 37
Vuelta a España pedigree: One start, back in 2015.
Rider role: GC leader
Rider analysis: Despite a lack of Vuelta a España experience Geraint Thomas will head into this year’s race as a genuine contender for the podium. There are certainly more explosive riders on the startlist, but Thomas’ experience and durability should keep him in contention as riders inevitably fall by the wayside. Much will depend on the Welshman’s motivation at this point in the season but if he’s at his best, and with a more than respectable entourage around him, then another Giro-like performance could be on the cards. It won’t take long to see where the Welshmans’ form currently sits, with a tough day to Arinsal on stage 3, while his lukewarm form at the Tour de Pologne - TT aside - shouldn’t be overanalysed at this point. The 37-year-old has finished on the podium in the last two Grand Tours he’s started and is still, arguably, Ineos’ best three-week racer heading into 2024.

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Geraint Thomas rode the 2015 Vuelta a España in support of Chris Froome, whose bid for the red jersey was curtailed by a crash

Filippo Ganna

Age: 27
Vuelta a España pedigree: Making his Vuelta debut.
Rider role: Stage hunter and domestique
Rider analysis: Since recovering from a bout of COVID-19 the Italian has been in fine fettle, picking up a cluster of wins throughout the summer and claiming a respectable silver in the time trial at the UCI World Championships. Ganna will be a vital part of Ineos’ engine room during the opening team time trial, in which the British team is likely to vie with Jumbo-Visma, UAE Team Emirates and Soudal Quick-Step for the victory. A mid-race individual TT will provide the 27-year-old with the chance to add to his tally of six Grand Tour stage wins, and a first outside of Italy, but overcoming Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) may prove a bridge too far. The Italian’s versatility could see him infiltrate breaks if Ineos find themselves off the pace in the GC standings but protecting Thomas on the flats will be key during the first-week skirmishes.

Egan Bernal

Age: 26
Vuelta a España pedigree: One start, with 6th overall in 2021.
Rider role: Climber and super domestique
Rider analysis: Bernal’s continued rehabilitation sees him race back-to-back Grand Tours for the first time in his career but the Colombian’s scope at the Vuelta remains somewhat unclear. The former Tour de France winner was functional, but far from spectacular in July, and it remains to be seen as to whether he’ll ever regain the fitness and form he once had. That said, the Vuelta creates the opportunity for Bernal to improve on his Tour result of 36th overall, and even the chance of hunting for stage wins if he’s let off the leash. He’ll be expected to ride as a foil for Thomas in the mountains, and if he can provide dependable support he could even find himself riding into a top-15 overall almost by default. De Plus and Arensman will be Thomas’s go-to wingmen but Bernal will be expected to offer robust support and demonstrate improvements from his July performance. A stage win would be a momentous occasion for him on a personal level.

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This will be the first time that Egan Bernal has ridden back-to-back Grand Tours

Laurens De Plus

Age: 27
Vuelta a España pedigree: One start in 2018.
Rider role: Super domestique
Rider analysis: De Plus finished a highly credible 10th at the Giro d’Italia and was instrumental in Thomas’ podium after Tao Geoghegan Hart’s untimely abandonment in May. The Belgian looks back to his best after a difficult spell and with a new deal set to be announced in the coming weeks the 27-year-old heads into the Vuelta with his confidence and form on the rise. Taking on a similar role to Wout Poels from Sky/Ineos days gone by, De Plus will be expected to remain in contention on the tough mountain stages, cover any gaps, and potentially mark any threatening moves from Thomas’ key rivals. He’ll be measured against riders such as Wilco Kelderman (Jumbo-Visma) and Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates) in the mountains.

Thymen Arensman

Age: 23
Vuelta a España pedigree: Three starts and sixth overall in 2022.
Rider role: Super domestique and a possible back-up if Thomas falters.
Rider analysis: Even at the tender age of 23 Arensman has built up an impressive Vuelta back catalogue, with a stage win and sixth overall in last year’s race the obvious highlights. He has already proved that those results were no fluke, with a corresponding sixth overall at this year’s Giro d’Italia, and he heads into his second Grand Tour of the season as a darkhorse for the GC. On paper, Thomas starts as the leader but should the Welshman concede any significant ground in the early mountain stages it will be fascinating to watch as to whether the British team shifts focus towards Arensman, or stay the course. The course looks well suited to the Dutch rider, and with an exodus of the GC riders leaving the team at the end of the season, it’s only natural that Arensman sees this as a chance to stake his own leadership credentials heading into 2024. At the very least he’ll be the last line of defence for Thomas in the mountains. He might hope that Bernal can raise his game so that any domestique duties are shared between a greater number of climbers.

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Thymen Arensman became an invaluable teammate to Geraint Thomas in the Giro d'Italia

Jonathan Castroviejo

Age: 36
Vuelta a España pedigree: Four starts.
Rider role: Domestique
Rider analysis: One of the most loyal and respected domestiques in the modern peloton, Castroviejo heads into his 18th Grand Tour as one of Ineos’ most important and yet underrated riders. He might not have the raw power to match the best climbers but the veteran Spaniard is so consistent and dependable that it’s entirely understandable that despite his advancing years he, like De Plus, has been awarded a contract extension. Castroviejo will be integral on the flat and in the mountains, while his role in the TTT can’t be forgotten either, having won a sixth national TT championship earlier this summer. Without a huge amount of cover on the flats, Castroviejo will wear a number of hats during this year’s race, and will likely race as the team’s road captain. He rarely has a bad day, and every team probably wishes they had a Castroviejo in their ranks.

Omar Fraile

Age: 33
Vuelta a España pedigree: Two-time king of the mountains winner, heading into his eighth Vuelta.
Rider role: Domestique
Rider analysis: Fraile has developed from a once mercurial talent into a domestique powerhouse within the Ineos stable. Like Castroviejo, he too is going back-to-back on the Grand Tour front having competed at the Tour de France earlier this year, and, like Castroviejo, has been awarded with a new contract. With Pavel Sivakov off to UAE Team Emirates and left at home to watch the Vuelta on TV, Fraile will take on the mantle of providing extra cover in the mountains. He’s probably more versatile and consistent than Sivakov, and the littering of punchy finishes will provide the Spaniard with the hostile terrain on which he should thrive. The Spaniard will be a bridge between Ganna and the pure climbers.

Kim Heiduk

Age: 23
Vuelta a España pedigree: Making his Grand Tour debut.
Rider role: Domestique
Rider analysis: With Jhonatan Narváez crashing out of the Worlds and sustaining a major injury, Michał Kwiatkowski targeting a clutch of one-day races, Ethan Hayter still returning from time out, Magnus Sheffield injured, and Luke Plapp left at home, the final spot on Ineos’ team goes to Kim Heiduk. The German will be making his Grand Tour debut at the age of 23 and is certainly a surprise call-up in some quarters, but his responsibilities at the Vuelta will revolve around serving the team. Anything else would be a bonus for a rider who has yet to make his mark at WorldTour level.

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Under the watchful eye of Geraint Thomas, Kim Heiduk will make his Grand Tour debut in the Vuelta

We’ll be showing live and on-demand coverage of all 21 stages of this year’s Vuelta a España from Saturday, August 26 to Sunday, September 17, plus daily expert analysis on The Breakaway. Head over to GCN+ now to check the start times of each broadcast so that you don’t miss out on a moment of the action! As always, territory restrictions will apply.