Conor Dunne buried himself in the Vuelta last year to survive. Aqua Blue Sport also won a stage, but now it is confirmed they are not being asked back to the race (Photo: Karen M Edwards)
There is to be no repeat of the dream Grand Tour ride for Aqua Blue Sport this year as it has not been invited to the Vuelta.
The move was anticipated and stickybottle understands the team was told as early as the end of last year it would not be getting an invite to return.
Instead, two Spanish teams who have made the step up from Continental to ProContinental level this year have been invited to make their Grand Tour debuts.
They are Burgos-BH and Euskadi Basque Country-Murias. Those two squads join a third Spanish team, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, and French team Cofidis-Solutions Crédits as the four wild cards this year.
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Those four will be joined by all 18 WorldTour teams, who are automatically invited to ride the three week race.
While the snub of Aqua Blue Sport was anticipated, it still comes as a disappointment for the team.
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It did incredibly well in securing an invite last year during what was its first season in the pro peloton. And during the race it went on the attack and also won stage 17 via Stefan Denifl.
The fact the team has not been invited means it will not ride any Grand Tour this year.
It did not really expect an invite to the Giro, which starts next month. But it was very hopeful of an invite to the Tour de France. It did not secure one.
The fact the Vuelta has invited two Spanish teams that have moved up to ProContinental level is not unusual.
Grand Tours often favour cycling interests in their own countries, and that extends to the choice of wild card invitees.
Stefan Denifl on his way to a Vuelta stage win for himself and his team last year (Photo: KarenMEdwards)
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