Bahrain Victorious Requests Santiago Buitrago’s Leadership for the Vuelta a España
In a pivotal pre-race development, Bahrain Victorious has officially entrusted Santiago Buitrago with a leading role in the upcoming edition of the Vuelta a España, following the confirmed absence of Damiano Caruso due to ongoing health concerns.
Scheduled to kick off this Saturday, the Vuelta a España begins with a promising 186.7-kilometer stage from Torino-Reggia di Venaria to Novara. The opening day is tailored for sprinters, offering a chance to seize an early lead in the chase for the points classification jersey. Riders will face a third-category climb, a bonus sprint, and an intermediate climb, setting the stage for the three-week battle across Spain.
As per tradition for the Grand Tours, the teams were unveiled during the presentation ceremony held on Friday in Turin, Italy. For Bahrain Victorious, however, it was not an entirely celebratory moment. The team had to make a last-minute adjustment after Caruso’s withdrawal, replacing him with Finlay Pickering, a promising talent from the United Kingdom.
The final eight-member roster now includes:
- Antonio Tiberi (Italy)
- Santiago Buitrago (Colombia)
- Nicoló Buratti (Italy)
- Román Ermakov (Russia)
- Jack Haig (Australia)
- Mathijs Paasschens (Netherlands)
- Finlay Pickering (UK)
- Torstein Træen (Norway)
Among the names, Tiberi and Buitrago stand out as the experienced backbone of the squad. Tiberi, known for his time trial and sprint abilities, will aim to lead during the early flat stages. However, once the race transitions into high-altitude terrain, the leadership mantle is widely expected to shift to Buitrago, especially given his climbing prowess and history with the team since 2020.
The Colombian was recently seen in action during the 2024 Tour de France, where he bravely finished the race despite suffering a serious crash on June 11 during Stage 7. Though he concluded the race in 40th place overall, his resilience and mountain performances reasserted his status as a dependable GC contender.
While Bahrain Victorious initially plans to support Tiberi through the flat and transitional stages, the strategy remains flexible. Once the peloton hits the Spanish mountains, Buitrago is expected to take on the team’s leadership responsibilities—an approach that reflects both his climbing strength and tactical maturity.
With the grand tour spotlight now turned toward the Iberian Peninsula, Bahrain Victorious is determined to make an impact with its newly designated leaders, ready to adapt and challenge for stage wins and possibly a strong overall classification result.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
