Much has been made of how the ongoing protests and stage suspensions in the Vuelta a España is affecting the GC battle with the partial cancellation of two key hilly stages, to Bilbao and Castro de Herville, removing two potential scenarios for showdowns in the overall.
But dig a bit further down into the overall classification and there are others in the Vuleta peloton rueing the loss of arguably an even more serious opportunity – their chances to secure a contract for next season.
Lotto rider Eduardo Sepulveda, still looking for a team for 2026, tells Cyclingnews that other circumstances, like the proposed Intermarché-Wanty-Lotto merger, have also compounded the difficulties of his finding an employer for next year. And now, the ongoing uncertainty over whether the Vuelta will even finish in Madrid means yet more chances to shine, potentially going up in smoke.
Sepulveda is suffering the indirect consequences, too, of the fusion of his current team, Lotto, with Intermarché-Wanty in 2026. Factor in the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Arkéa-B&B Hotels, and the job market is looking increasingly challenging.
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