“We have the best general classification riders we can put together, we have all three of them here, and that is going to be a bit of a challenge,” Stephens acknowledged.

“It’s an exciting challenge for us all to focus on, but at the end of the day the team is our leader and all three riders have always fully committed to that.

“We did it at the Vuelta last year with Simon and Esteban and in the final the race is sorted out on the road. Despite finishing with a top 10 himself, Simon was selfless in his support of our podium finish.

“The aim is a team result in Madrid, who it is, it doesn’t matter.”

The Orica-Scott team also boasts Sam Bewley and Svein Tuft, who will be key figures in the team time trial and on the rare flatter stages, while Jack Haig and Carlos Verona will serve as climbing domestiques.

Chris Juul-Jensen and Magnus Cort Nielsen complete the line-up, and Stephens admits given the quality of the riders on the startlist, just a podium finish would be a huge achievement.

“Looking at the quality of rivals, if we were able to repeat what we did last year and get on the podium in Madrid that would be a really fantastic result,” he concluded.

Orica-Scott for 2017 Vuelta a Espana

Adam Yates (GBR)
Simon Yates (GBR)
Johan Esteban Chaves (COL)
Sam Bewley (NZL)
Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN)
Jack Haig (AUS)
Chris Juul-Jensen (DEN)
Svein Tuft (CAN)
Carlos Verona (ESP)