Sam Bennett has been named in a Bora-hansgrohe line-up for the Vuelta that is designed to support him in the sprints but also mount a general classification challenge.
Bennett, the 28-year-old Irishman with 11 wins already this season, is the clear leader for the sprints.
Rafal Majka and Davide Formolo are the proven general classification riders in the selection.
Sam Bennett is reunited with Shane Archbold for their first Grand Tour together since the 2016 Tour de France.
Back then they were riding for the same team, though called Bora-Argon 18 at the time, when Bennett crashed hard in the opening sprint.
Archbold helped him limp over the line that day. But then the Kiwi had a massive fall of his own later in the race.
He mangled himself on stage 17; tearing his flesh and breaking his pelvis.
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However, Archbold remounted and finished the stage though he was unable to start the next day.
After his crash Archbold spent about 15 months away from racing due complications from his injuries before stints at Irish teams Aqua Blue Sport and EvoPro Racing.
He started this season with EvoPro Racing before getting a call back up to WorldTour level mid season from Bora-hansgrohe.
Last week Archbold won a stage of the Czech Tour and now he's in a Grand Tour line-up again with Bennett; the duo having soldiered together as far back as their An Post days in 2013.
Archbold is clearly in great form and will be a key lead-out rider for Bennett in Spain, as will Jempey Drucker.
Also in the Vuelta team are: Felix Großschartner, Gregor Mühlberger and
Pawel Poljanski.
Bora-hansgrohe Vuelta team 2019
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