After looking through the potential stage winners and hot prospects riding in this year's tour of Spain, we now conclude with the riders that will battle it out for top spot in the GC standings (general classificaion) . The 2014 Vuelta A Espana is poised to be one of the most tightly contested grand tours in years, with some of the most illustrious and recognised riders all battling it out to win the red jersey.
Perhaps the favourite to win this year's race is Movistar's Nairo Quintana. The young Colombian already has this year's 'maglia rosa', or pink GC jersey in the Giro d'Italia to you and I, as well as two individual stages and the young rider classification jersey in the same competition. Quintana returns after winning the Vuelta a Burgos earlier this month, showing that his form has not dipped since taking a break after his successful racing in Italy. The 24 year old is renowned for his outstanding climbing ability, giving him a strong chance in the eight summit finishes in this year's competition. As well as facing stiff competition from other teams around him, Quintana may be joined in the hunt for the red jersey by 2009 Vuelta winner, and Movistar team-mate, Alejandro Valverde. Valverde skipped the Giro, but had a satisfying Tour De France, in which he finished fourth. The 34 year old Spaniard will be Movistar's plan B, but Quintana insits that he will support his colleague if he proves to be the stronger rider. It looks very encouraging for the Spanish team either way.
Another Colombian, Rigoberto Uran, will also be ambitious, hoping to get the better of his Colombian compatriot, after both he and Quintana had a well fought battle in the Giro earlier this year. Uran is one of many capable Colombians that now feature in world cycling, as the increasing sight of them rise in an effort to dominate the grand tours. The Omega Pharma-Quickstep rider is inferior in climbing abilities to Quintana (he still finishes there or thereabouts in summit finishes), but what he lacks in ascending, he makes up with his time trialling competence. Again, there are better riders out there, but the competitive edge of the 27 year old is a primary feature that goes for him in his desire to finally win a grand tour.
Chris Froome had a disappointing Tour De France, fracturing his left wrist and right hand, before he had to withdraw less than half way through the race. Last year's Tour De France winner will be looking to add to his one stage win at the Vuelta (2011), hopefully in a big way. Despite injuring his hands in July, Froome's injuries are said to have healed completely. He is still looking a little shaky however, as he crashed in a training ride today. Fortunately for him, he came out unscathed. The summit finishes will play to Froome's strengths as he is one of the strongest in this field, alongside Quintana, Rodriguez and Contador. After winning two stage races this year in the tour of Romandie and the tour of Oman, the 29 year old will be focusing on sealing a victory in his first grand tour since last year.
Team Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez is another of many contender's to win this year's race. The Spaniard made the Vuelta his priority after he crashed out of the Giro in May. Rodriguez was involved in Katusha's team in France, but only to fine tune his condition as preperation. Rodriguez, despite being at the ripe age of 35, is probably the most suited to the terrain the peloton are up against. Winning the mountain classification in 2005's Vuelta a Espana, and holding the polka dot jersey in this year's Tour De France for 5 stages, the Katusha man will fancy his chances, perhaps starting breakaways as shown in the Tour De France earlier this year. The Spaniard will not only know that he'll have the home support, along with Alberto Contador, but he knows that he finished third in both 2010 and 2012 and then fourth last year. He has the same problem as favourite, Nairo Quintana however. The three time trials may be his downfall, as he is likely to lose precious time to riders that are adept in all parts of the race.
Unfortunately for Lampre-Marida, 2013 Vuelta Champion, Chris Horner has withdrawn from this year's race due to medical issues. The Vuelta could well have been Horner's last grand tour, at 42 years of age, but the American isn't lacking motivation, and is likely to continue.