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Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) finishes third overall in the Vuelta (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

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Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)

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Alberto Contador (Saxo-Tinkoff) at the start of the Brussels Cycling Classic (Image credit: Photopress.be)

Spain is sending a team of top winners to the UCI Road World Championships next week, with Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez backed up by Alberto Contador. National coach Javier Minguez said that the difficult 272km long course is good for his team.

Rodriguez not a Grand Tour podium finisher for first time since 2011

Valverde claims another podium spot in the Vuelta a Espana

The three captains will be supported by Jonathan Castroviejo, Jose Herrada, Samuel Sanchez, Egoi Martinez, Dani Moreno and Luis Leon Sanchez. The reserve riders are Jesus Herrada, David Arroyo, Angel Vicioso, Juan Antonio Flecha and Xavier Zandio.

Minguez said that it would be “very complicated to control the race, since the road is very narrow and hinders team work.” In the finale, he said, “only the very best will survive.”

Castroviejo and Sanchez will ride the time trial.

Spain's last World title was in 2004, when Oscar Freire won it for the third time.

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