On Sunday, the World Championships will start in Zurich and more and more countries are announcing their selection for the races. Spain is counting on big climber names with Enric Mas, Pello Bilbao and Mikel Landa, but Juan Ayuso and Vuelta revelation Pablo Castrillo will also be there.
Spanish national coach Pascual Momparler is taking a real climbing team to Switzerland, which is not so strange, considering that the riders have to overcome some 4,500 vertical meters in the road race. Enric Mas, Carlos Rodriguez and Mikel Landa already rode the Tour and the Vuelta this year, but can recharge their batteries for the World Championships.
The three climbers have not yet managed to collect too many credentials in the one-day races over the years, although Mas and Landa have stood on the podium of the Lombardia. Furthermore, Pello Bilbao is something to look forward to. The experienced climber showed on Sunday that he is in good shape. Bilbao came second in the GP de Montreal, behind Tadej Pogacar.
The eight-man selection also includes two World Championships debutants: Juan Ayuso and Pablo Castrillo. The latter managed to impress in the past Vuelta by winning two mountain stages in a great way. As the ultimate reward, Castrillo can now prepare for his first World Championships as a professional. The last two riders who can pack their bags for the trip to Zurich are punchers Roger Adria and Alex Aranburu.
The country will probably not play a significant role in the time trial race though where the job will be up to the current national time trial champion David De la Cruz and Raul Garcia Pierna to defend the Spanish honor.
