Colombian rider Nairo Quintana and Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, second and third respectively in the Tour de France, will participate in the Vuelta a Espana starting on August 22, their Movistar team confirmed on Monday.
Quintana, runner-up behind Britain’s Chris Froome in the Tour de France last month, will be competing in the three-week race which concludes on September 13 for the third time.
The 25-year-old finished 36th in his first participation in 2012, but was forced to pull out last year after a fall having worn the leader’s jersey for a day.
Valverde, 35, won the race in 2009 and has reached the podium in the last three editions – second in 2012 and third in 2013 and 2014. – Agence France-Presse