Cannondale-Drapac has Down Under feel for La Vuelta

US-registered WorldTour team Cannondale-Drapac has rebounded from a lacklustre team time trial in the opening stage of the 72nd edition of La Vuelta a España with two top 15 results in the following two stages.

First, Australian Simon Clarke (Cannondale-Drapac) finished 12th on Stage 2 behind general classification contender and former GreenEdge teammate Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott), then Canadian and Tour Down Under top-5 finisher Michael Woods finished 10th on Stage 3.

While Woods, 30, is making his Vuelta debut in his second Grand Tour start of the season — and career — the race marks the ninth Grand Tour for the 31-year-old Clarke.

Clarke’s experience is invaluable to Cannondale, and team will look for the 2014 Herald Sun Tour winner to lead its nine-man squad, which includes five Vuelta rookies.

“This is Simon’s ninth Grand Tour and he’s going to be our road captain,” said team sports director Juanma Garate. “He’s smart, and he can read the race well.”

For Clarke, he welcomes the responsibility of shouldering the captaincy.

“I like the Vuelta because of its relaxed approach,” said the 2012 Vuelta stage winner and KOM. “It gives you a chance to really enjoy the race. 

“My personal goal is to target various stages throughout the Grand Tour and also to help look after and nurture the young guys that will be doing the Vuelta as their first Grand Tour,” Clarke continued.

“It’s important to make sure they have a bit of guidance to help them through in the best way possible.”

However, there is another Aussie connection in Spain, as Tasmanian Will Clarke — no relation to Simon — is making his own Grand Tour debut.

Will Clarke, 32, was a last minute addition to the roster following an unexpected illness to teammate Davide Formolo (ITA).

“I’m super happy to get the call-up for the Vuelta,” said Will Clarke. “It was one of my goals for the year. I have never raced for three weeks in a row, so I’m just looking forward to going through the whole experience. Everyone says once you have done a Grand Tour, it raises you to a new level.”

The former Leopard Trek (2011) and Argos-Shimano (2013), who returned to the WorldTour after three years riding with Drapac before the UCI Professional Continental team merged with Cannondale this season, joins New Zealander Tom Scully in primarily serving as a lead-out to team sprinter Tom van Asbroeck (BEL).

But the 2012 TDU stage winner, who is recovering from a recent crash at the Colorado Classic, will take his opportunities when he can.

“Personally, I would like to get in some breakaways and be active in the race to support my teammates,” he said. “I think as a team we are fully capable of stage wins, so coming away with that is the aim. 

“I’m still pretty sore from my crash in Colorado. My arm and hip are a bit swollen, with stitches in my knuckle. It’s not ideal, but as a bike rider, I think we all have these moments, and you become stronger by pushing through them.”

The “Big Horse” is not the only former Drapac rider who made the jump and is making their Grand Tour debut. Fellow Australian Brendan Canty, 25, is also on the roster.

“I wasn’t too sure if I was going to get to start in a Grand Tour this season, and I wouldn’t have been surprised if I didn’t, but it was always in the back of my mind that the Vuelta could be the best possibility,” said the 2016 Tour of Austria stage winner. “I’m very excited to be given the opportunity and look forward to seeing how the race unfolds. 

“I’d like to make it to the finish in Madrid as a start, but more importantly, I hope to be able to make valuable contributions towards the teams’ objectives throughout the three weeks.”

Scully was equally surprised to receive selection.

“When I heard I was going to ride the Vuelta, at first I was excited, then I started to get a bit anxious, but now I am motivated that it’s actually going to happen,” said the 27-year-old Kiwi. “Just completing a race of this distance and duration will be valuable for me to grow as a rider. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in helping out the team and take any opportunities that might come up.”