PARIS, Aug 16, 2011 (AFP) – Italian rider Vincenzo Nibali will be back to defend his Tour of Spain crown after being named on Tuesday in the Liquigas team for the final major tour of the season, which starts on Saturday.

The 26-year-old – third in this year’s Tour of Italy – will be strongly supported by in-form Slovak rider Peter Sagan, who won the recent Tour of Poland.

Nibali’s priority in the event, which begins with a team time-trial in Benidorm, will be to retain the title, while 21-year-old Sagan is looking to collect some stage wins.

“Nibali has had a very encouraging preparation for the Vuelta and he showed in the Tour of Poland that he is making good progress,” said sporting director Mario Scirea.

“Regarding Sagan, his form is good but one mustn’t forget that he is only 21 and has never competed in a race that last three weeks.”

Team:
Valerio Agnoli (ITA), Francesco Bellotti (ITA), Eros Capecchi (ITA),
Damiano Caruso (ITA), Mauro Da Dalto (ITA), Alan Marangoni (ITA), Dominik Nerz
(GER), Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), Peter Sagan (SVK).