Spain — The Garmin-Transitions team rolls into the final grand tour of the season, the three-week Vuelta a España, with a talented lineup including sprinter Tyler Farrar—on a roll after winning the recent Vattenfalls Classic—and fellow American Christian Vande Velde (pictured) who is looking to put injuries and bad luck behind him and finish the season on a high note.
Both Farrar and Vande Velde were forced to abandon the Tour de France with injuries sustained in crashes. Vande Velde broke three ribs in a Stage 3 crash and Farrar fractured his wrist and eventually dropped out of the race on Stage 12. While Vande Velde, who also crashed out of the Giro d’Italia in May, says his form isn’t where it typically would be for a three-week tour, he’ll be looking for stage wins and to ride well in Spain. Farrar, too, will be looking to add to his tally of grand tour stage wins.