A professional since 2005, Koen de Kort is a mainstay of the Skil-Shimano squad. A veteran of the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France, the Dutchman makes his Vuelta a España debut this year, and recounts the experience for Cyclingnews. Putting in the hard miles at the front leading out Marcel Kittel and infiltrating breakaways, de Kort and the distinctive Skil-Shimano colours will be prominent in Spain.