'The Vuelta a España will be the usual horrendous race, the toughest stage race of 2017'

Fabio Aru expects a hard race over the next three weeks

Fabio Aru in action at the 2015 Vuelta a España

(Image credit: Watson)

Race winner in 2015, Fabio Aru (Astana) says that the 2017 Vuelta a España will be the "usual horrendous race" and the "toughest stage race of the 2017 season".

Aru begins as one of the favourites alongside the likes of Tour de France champion Chris Froome (Team Sky), Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) and Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) when the race starts on Saturday in Nîmes, France.

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