After missing out last year, South African Stefan de Bod is set to make his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a Espana tomorrow. Photo: Hikari Media
South Africa’s Stefan de Bod will make his Grand Tour debut after being named in the NTT outfit for the Vuelta a Espana, which gets under way in Irun, Spain, tomorrow.
The 23-year-old South African, who grew up in Worcester in the Western Cape, was unable to enter the Spanish race last year after having visa problems, but is now relishing the chance to achieve a long-cherished dream.
“I am really looking forward to this Vuelta a Espana after the frustration of missing my first Grand Tour start last year,” said De Bod, who won his second Tour of Good Hope title in 2018 before going on to win the U23 version of Strade Bianche in Italy.
“It’s exciting to be on the start line and I just hope that the race will not be disturbed by Covid-19 any further and that we can race to end the season on a high.”
De Bod will be joined by two fellow South Africans in the eight-man team in Nicholas Dlamini and Reinardt Janse van Rensburg.
They are both eager to make an impact in the last major race of the 2020 season.
“It’s been a tough year for everyone and the fact that we still get to start the Vuelta is awesome,” said Dlamini, who will be riding in his second Grand Tour.
“I gained a lot of experience from last year’s race and I look to use all that to get the best out of myself for the team.”
Janse van Rensburg said he was ready for the challenge.
“As a team we will be looking to make the most of it, searching for opportunities and fighting for stage victories,” he said.
The 75th edition of the Spanish Grand Tour, shortened to 18 stages in this Covid-19 affected season, will conclude with the final stage in Madrid on November 8.
The first three stages of the 2020 race – which were set to take place in the Netherlands – were removed because of the country’s pandemic regulations. The tour will now cover a total distance of 2 883km.
It will be the shortest distance of the event since 1985, which consisted of 19 stages and covered 3 474km.
Jumbo-Visma has opted for a two-pronged attack for the title in naming reigning champion Primoz Roglic, second overall at last month’s Tour de France, and Tom Dumoulin, who placed seventh, as co-leaders.
