Tour de France winner Chris Froome has confirmed he will race at the 2015 Vuelta a Espana.
The 30-year-old Team Sky leader secured a second Tour title in July, and now plans to ride a second Grand Tour of the year, starting less than a month after he crossed the line in Paris.
The 21-stage 2015 Vuelta – the 70th edition of the race – is scheduled to take place from August 22 to September 13.
Froome emerged victorious at the Tour de France last month after a turbulent three weeks. He was abused by roadside spectators, was called a ’doper’, had urine thrown at him and was spat on as allegations were made about his performances.
The Kenya-born rider raced in last year’s Vuelta after crashing out of the 2014 Tour, using the race as a comeback event, and it was felt that the event helped prepare him for the winter program which set up his Tour victory.
He has twice finished runner-up in the Vuelta – in 2011 and last year, when he lost out to Alberto Contador.
Colombian Nairo Quintana – runner-up in the 2015 Tour – is expected to provide Froome’s stiffest competition among a strong field which will include Vincenzo Nibali, Alejandro Valverde and Tejay van Garderen, although Contador will not return to defend his crown having already ridden the Giro d’Italia – which he won – and the Tour this year.