Isle of Man cyclist Mark Cavendish starts the Tour of Spain today (Saturday).
The Vuelta is the third and final grand tour of the summer, the others being the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France.
There are 21 stages and the first, the team time trial, takes place in Benidorm.
Cavendish is named in an HTC Highroad squad which doesn't include his two lead-out men, Mark Renshaw and Bernie Eisel.
The 'Manx Missile' won three stages and the Sprinters' Jersey in his debut at the event last year.
Classic TT: Nathan Harrison fronts star-studded Formula One class
Dunlop and Hickman also among strong field for this year's meeting
Classic TT: 2026 Historic Junior seeded riders confirmed
John McGuinness MBE at forefront of the field
Athletics: 2026 IoM Marathon & Half-Marathon Championship awaits this weekend
It will also be first race of No Rest For The Wicked series
Snooker: Isle of Man gets set for 2026 Home International
Two Island teams of four to face UK & Ireland counterparts