Calapaz and Landa Lead Movistar in Tour of Britain

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Calapaz and Landa Lead Movistar in Tour of Britain

Giro d'Italia champion Richard Kalapas will make his debut at the Tour of Britain, organizers have announced, with Movistar teammate and debutant Mikel Landa also on the start line for the race, which starts in Glasgow on September 7.

Neither has raced in the UK before, but both will lead Movistar's strong team in the eight-day stage race. Andrei Amador, Carlos Barbero, Eduardo Sepulveda, and Carlos Verona will make up the rest of the six-man team.

Aside from Clasica San Sebastián, this will be Landa's first race since finishing sixth in the Tour de France. Carapas, meanwhile, is in England after being forced to sit out the Vuelta a España a week before the start of the race after sustaining bruising in the criterium.

This will be his last race with Movistar. Kalapas signs a three-year contract with Team Ineos, while Landa moves to Bahrain-Merida.

The 2019 Tour of Britain will not have the summit finishes that have been frequent in recent years, such as Hayter, Heartside Fell, and Winlatter Pass, but some tough stages will provide an opportunity for teams with many Movistar climbers to make an impact on the race will be.

Stage 4 heads east to west on the Pennine, finishing on the Kendal hill where stage 2 finished in 2016. Stage 7 will also finish atop the hill in Burton Dassett Country Park.

Movistar in the Tour of Britain (September 7-14): Andrei Amador, Carlos Barbero, Richard Carapaz, Mikel Landa, Eduardo Sepulveda, Carlos Verona.

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