Degenkolb to lead Giant-Alpecin at Vuelta

The Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix winner will spearhead the German team's Vuelta squad - but where is Marcel Kittel?

John Degenkolb will lead Giant-Alpecin at the 2015 Vuelta a España, but Marcel Kittel will miss another major race. Source: AAP

John Degenkolb will lead Giant-Alpecin in the Vuelta a España in an attempt to repeat his points competition victory from last year's race.

The team said that Degenkolb would be looking to "make the most of the sprint opportunities" during the Spanish Grand Tour, with a squad designed to support his ambitions and develop younger riders. Tom Dumoulin will also target the race's 38.7km time trial on Stage 17 and classics-style stages.

“Our main goal is to go for stage success with John, as we targeted at the Tour,” said coach Christian Guiberteau. “With Koen [de Kort], Luka [Mezgec], Zico [Waeytens] and Tom [Dumoulin] we have a strong lead-out for John.

"With Lawson we are working towards the longer-term development, and will not target specific GC ambitions but rather we aim to help him learn how to behave as GC rider," he added. “We have shown at the Giro and Tour that we are ready to take any opportunities as they come and on the in-between stages we will look to profit from the breakaway opportunities."

A rider noticeable by his absence is star sprinter Marcel Kittel, however. This means Kittel will not have raced a single Grand Tour this year, having been dogged by illness earlier this season. He has returned to racing, with his most recent victory being the points jersey in the Tour de Pologne.

Giant-Alpecin's Vuelta squad

Lawson Craddock (USA)

John Degenkolb (GER)

Tom Dumoulin (NED)

Johannes Fröhlinger (GER)

Thierry Hupond (FRA)

Koen de Kort (NED)

Luka Mezgec (SLO)

Tom Stamsnijder (NED)

Zico Waeytens (BEL)