Quick Step targets the Vuelta

After the Quick Step team's somewhat disappointing Tour de France, the Belgian squad will be looking for a better run in the Vuelta a España, which begins Saturday. The team's Tour was hampered by the absence of sprinter Tom Boonen, who tested positive for cocaine in an out-of-competition control and was excluded from the race. Boonen, fresh from two wins in the Eneco Tour, will be ready to contend for the stage wins in Spain.

Boonen's lead-out train will include of Kevin Van Impe, who was not selected for the Tour de France, and 23-year-old Wouter Weylandt, who will be riding his first Grand Tour.

For the overall classification, the team will have Spaniards Carlos Barredo and Juan Manuel Garate. World Champion Paolo Bettini will be in the hunt for stage wins as well, and will be tuning up for the defence of his rainbow jersey in Varese at the end of September.

Quick Step for the Vuelta: Tom Boonen, Kevin Van Impe, Wouter Weylandt, Carlos Barredo, Juan Manuel Garate, Paolo Bettini, Andrea Tonti, Matteo Tosatto, David Vigano.

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