Cervelo TestTeam has announced its pre-selection roster for the final Grand Tour of this year, the 2010 Vuelta a Espana. The Vuelta a Espana 2010 will start in Sevilla/Seville on August 28 at night with a 13 kilometer team time trial through the dark streets of the city.

The complete 2010 Vuelta a Espana course is 3,352.6 kilometers long and features two individual time trials and no less than eight mountain stages.

"Our team is very motivated and hungry to achieve the best results possible in the Vuelta a España 2010. It will be the home race for several of our riders and certainly, beside the World Championships, the highlight of the late season,2 Cervelo TestTeam sports director Philippe Mauduit (FRA) told Roadcycling.com

Mauduit added "Our goal for the Vuelta is to have a stage win and go for the podium with Carlos Sastre (ESP) who already finished three times on the podium (second in 2005 and 2007 and third in 2008). The course is ideal for him and we will bring a strong team to support him."

Xavier Tondo has shown impressive riding and great initiative this season as have Stefan Denifl and Oscar Pujol. It should be interesting to follow their performances in the 2010 Vuelta if they are part of the final Cervelo test team roster for the Vuelta. However, Tondo fractured his collarbone in the beginning of August.

Carlos Sastre has recovered from his back injury and Thor Hushovd has had the time needed to gain optimal form after his collarbone fracture.

Cervelo TestTeam's pre-selection roster for the 2010 Vuelta a Espana / Tour of Spain includes:
Carlos Sastre, 35, Spain
Stefan Denifl, 22, Austria
Roger Hammond, 36, United Kingdom
Thor Hushovd, 32, Norway
Oscar Pujol, 26, Spain
Xavier Tondo, 31, Spain
Brett Lancaster, 30, Australia
Iñigo Cuesta, 41, Spain
Philip Deignan, 26, Ireland
Theo Bos, 26, The Netherlands
Xavier Florencio, 30, Spain

Of these 11 riders nine riders will be selected for the final Vuelta roster. Roadcycling.com predicts that Xavier Florencio as well as Theo Bos or Inigo Cuesta will be left out of the final roster.

Check out our pre-season interview with Philip Deignan who won a stage in last year's Vuelta.