Spanish national coach Alejandro Valverde leaves an in-form rider at home for the World Cycling Championships

Spain has announced its teams for the upcoming World Cycling Championships on the second rest day of the Vuelta a España. Following Belgium’s lead, National team coach Alejandro Valverde, who himself became world champion in Innsbruck in 2017, is counting on climbers Enric Mas—who currently leads the Vuelta a España—and Juan Ayuso.

Mas hopes to win the Vuelta a España this week, but he’ll also be competing at the World Cycling Championships in Montreal two weeks later. The Mallorca native has a strong track record in fall races. In 2022, for example, he won the GP Emilia and finished second in the Tour of Lombardy, while he also performed well at his last World Championships—in 2024—when he placed eighth.

Ayuso is the other team leader. The Lidl-Trek rider hasn’t raced since the Tour de France, but he’ll be back in action this week in Canada with the one-day races there. Last season, he finished eighth at the World Championships in Rwanda. Carlos Verona will be there as his guardian angel, while Raul Garcia Pierna will take on that role for Mas.

Spanish champion Marcel Camprubi, Giro stage winner Igor Arrieta, top prospect Markel Beloki, and sprinter Ivan Romeo round out the team. The latter—like Pablo Castrillo—will also compete in the time trial.

Notable absences include, in particular, Alex Aranburu, who won the Bretagne Classic just last week. Veterans Ion Izagirre and Pello Bilbao, in their final year, will also not be participating.

In the women’s race, Spain has a potential winner in Paula Blasi. The winner of the Amstel Gold Race and the Vuelta is supported by Mavi Garcia, who finished third at last year’s World Championships, Mireia Benito, Usao Ostolaz, Sara Martin, and Sandra Alonso.

Men's Elite
Juan Ayuso
Enric Mas
Carlos Verona
Ivan Romeo (also time trial)
Igor Arrieta
Marcel Camprubi
Raul Garcia Pierna
Markel Beloki
Pablo Castrillo (time trial only)

Elite Women
Paula Blasi (also time trial)
Mavi García
Mireia Benito (also time trial)
Usao Ostolaz
Sara Martín
Sandra Alonso