Team CSC-Saxo Bank has chosen the nine riders that will start for the team in this year’s edition of Vuelta a España, which begins on Saturday in Granada.

The nine riders are Carlos Sastre, Jurgen van Goolen, Michael Blaudzun, Karsten Kroon, Matti Breschel, Iñigo Cuesta, Juan José Haedo, Alexandr Kolobnev, and Volodymir Gustov.

“We have a strong and broad line-up for the Vuelta and we have good cause for high expectations with Carlos Sastre as captain. In my opinion the key riders for this race are on top form and we have several potential players in various phases of the race,” said Scott Sunderland, who along with Team CSC-Saxo Bank’s other sports directors has selected the nine riders for the final big stage race of the season.

“With riders like Cuesta, Van Goolen and Gustov, Carlos will get some solid support in the mountains, where the race might well be decided. We have great experience in the shape of Michael Blaudzun, who will be doing his last big stage race of his career and is no doubt highly motivated. In Matti Breschel and Juan José Haedo we have two great closers, who’re able to do really well in the finales and maybe take some of the pressure off for the others with a victory early on in the race. Karsten Kroon and Kolobnev are experts in neutralizing attacks and especially Karsten will play a central role in protecting Carlos in the peloton if necessary. Alt in all it looks like we have an exciting Vuelta ahead of us and we look forward to seeing our guys in action,” Sunderland added.

Bjarne Riis was not available for comment.