For its eightieth edition, the Vuelta celebrates an event: its first start from Italy. Turin will host it, completing an enviable triple: after various Giro passages and last year's Tour, it becomes the only Italian city that has hosted all three grand tours. Three and a half days in Piedmont, with a sprint start rarely seen before, then a quick passage through France before returning to Spain, where the race will concentrate in the country's upper half. Traditional route, short stages, and plenty of climbs: eight mountain stages, around ten summit finishes, a 24-kilometer team time trial in Figueres upon returning home and a 26-kilometer individual time trial the penultimate day, with a couple of opportunities for sprinters on the first and last day in Madrid. Major names like Pogacar, Evenepoel, and especially Roglic are missing, along with Van der Poel and Van Aert. Pidcock, Philipsen, and Pedersen are at the start. Italy, absent from the winners' list for a decade (Aru, 2015), is well represented with classification contenders, Pippo Ganna and Viviani's return, and Ciccone aiming for the only mountain jersey he's missing. Here are the ten faces that could reach Madrid in red.

Jonas Vingegaard. He wins because he has an ideal course for a climber like him, because a couple of years ago he left the race to his most loyal teammate Kuss, because without Pogacar, no one seems able to challenge him. He doesn't win because he also spent a lot of energy at the Tour and will find fresher rivals here.

Joao Almeida. He wins because he's strong on every terrain, because he always finished in the top ten in grand tours, because he's won all the short races this season. He doesn't win because he arrived at the Tour in top form and after the crash that forced him to withdraw, it will be hard to return to that level.

Juan Ayuso. He wins because he's Spain's great hope, because after a disappointing Giro he wants to make amends, because he must keep at least one promise. He doesn't win because he struggles to handle coexistence with strong teammates and with Almeida the problem risks resurfacing.

Felix Gall. He wins because he has the maturity and awareness to be a protagonist, because he can keep pace with the strongest in the mountains, because consistency is his best weapon. He doesn't win because his fifth place in the fastest Tour ever has depleted his precious energy.

Antonio Tiberi. He wins because he has a Giro to redeem, because he's proven himself in Spanish climbs as a stage race rider, even if he'll have to do without the experience of that longevity phenomenon called Caruso. He doesn't win because the days requiring explosiveness will make him suffer.

Egan Bernal. He wins because his comeback to the highest levels seems complete, because the course winks at him, because he now combines self-confidence with good legs. He doesn't win because after the accident he seems to have something less compared to those fighting for the podium.

Giulio Pellizzari. He wins because he has the terrain to express himself at his best, because the Giro confirmed he's ready for a great result, because at 22 he has audacity and no fear. He doesn't win because it's his debut and Red Bull might ask him to help one of the team's leaders.

Ben O'Connor. He wins because he's a rider who terrifies everyone on climbs, because he came close a year ago, because he has one of the best-equipped teams. He doesn't win because he'll be more controlled and because he always has a day when he wastes all the good he's done.

Mikel Landa. He wins because he must reclaim what bad luck took from him at the Giro, because in the mountains he remains dangerous for everyone, because as a classification rider he's more reliable than many others. He doesn't win because consistency is crucial and he always has one bad day.

Matthew Riccitello. He wins because he's a talent who climbs well, because at 23 he already has a couple of grand tours in his legs, because in short stage races he has shown he can finish high. He doesn't win because performing well in one-week races is different from doing so in three-week races.