Gesink ready for redemption in Vuelta

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Having withdrawn from the Tour de France after suffering a broken wrist in a crash during stage nine, Robert Gesink will be out for redemption when he starts the Vuelta a España in Assen on August 29. De Telegraaf reports that the Dutch rider will lead Rabobank's push in the year's third grand tour with the team announcing a preliminary lineup yesterday.

An exciting development is the grand tour debut of Lars Boom, the talented former cyclocross world champion who many believe will feature in the sport's biggest events in the future.

Six Dutch riders have been chosen for the event by team managers Erik Breukink and Adri van Houwelingen, with Gesink the captain and Boom making the squad in addition to Koos Moerenhout, Tom Leezer, Bram Tankink and Pieter Weening.

There are three places remaining on the team's race roster, to be selected from four riders, including experienced Spaniards Oscar Freire and Juan Manuel Garate, Colombian domestique Mauricio Ardila and German stalwart Paul Martens.

Despite recently breaking his wrist in the Clasica San Sebastian, the team is confident Garate can recover in time for his home grand tour. Rabobank will announce the remaining three riders after the Tour of Limousin, which ends on August 21.