Stop the presses!!

Too late, you say? Yesterday's article is already online praising the potential of this upcoming Vuelta but disappointed that it will be going without an injured Alberto Contador? Well, then, it's out of date already: The Spaniard has announced he WILL be riding the years final Grand Tour as he looks to make up for his lost Tour de France.

Speaking in a video message he released today, the two time winner of the Vuelta said that he has "been riding my bike for last ten days, and yesterday was the first day I could climb a mountain pass without knee pain, and that excites me, motivates me and led me to take the decision that I will ride the Tour of Spain."

What his condition is given the time he has had off and the fact he is coming back from an injury will remain to be seen, but having Contador there is a big boost for the race. He mentioned his target for now is merely stage wins but known the talent that Contador is, if he can remain somewhat in the mix over the first half of the race there is little reason to doubt he cannot find good form in the later half of the race to take it to his rivals.

Nairo Quintana will remain the favorite given he is healthy, fresh and has been targeting this race for some months, but right now only perhaps Vincenzo Nibali is missing from making this the ultimate showdown of the sports top names with a potential eight former Grand Tour winners taking to the start line: Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, Cadel Evans, Nairo Quintana, Damiano Cunego, Ryder Hesjedal, Alejandro Valverde, and defending champion, Chris Horner.