In recent years, Spain has invariably been one of the strongest blocks at the World Cycling Championships. This year the Spanish selection looks less impressive on paper.
Alex Aranburu has been designated as the leader, the Spanish cycling federation announced on Wednesday. The 25-year-old Aranburu finished sixth in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and seventh in Milan-Sanremo this spring and won a stage in the Tour of the Basque Country.
He will be joined on 26 September by Ivan García Cortina (Movistar), Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers), Imanol Erviti (Movistar), Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar), Gorka Izagirre (Astana), Roger Adria (Kern Pharma) and Antonio Jesús Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi).
Carlos Rodriguez will also ride the time trial on September 19 between Knokke-Heist and Bruges.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) is not among them. The 2018 Innsbruck world champion will therefore not crawl onto the World Cup podium for the eighth time. The 41-year-old Murcian is still recovering from a collarbone fracture sustained last month in a fall in the Vuelta.
