Team Sky's dominance of cycling's Grand Tours is likely to come to an end at the Vuelta a Espana, but who will take their crown remains unclear.

Sky have opted to leave Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas at home to race the Tour of Britain, meaning Michal Kwiatkowski will be their most senior rider on duty in Spain.

While an adept one-day specialist and trusty lieutenant, Kwiatkowski has never been in contention for a general classification title.

And Sky producing another surprise like they did with Thomas at the Tour de France looks unlikely, especially with a string of other riders vying for success.

Thibaut Pinot, Nairo Quintana, Vincenzo Nibali, Simon Yates and Richie Porte have all threatened to step out of Sky's shadow in the past - now the Vuelta may finally be their chance to shine.

Nairo Quintana (Movistar)

For the second Tour de France in a row Quintana failed to live up to the hype, his position as pre-race favourite disappearing all-too quickly. A win on stage 17 helped him secure a top-10 place but he was never in contention for the yellow jersey. With a route that includes nine summit finishes, the Colombian will be hopeful he can flourish and claim a second title in Spain.

Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida)

Remarkably the ‘Shark of Messina’ is part of Bahrain-Merida’s team despite fracturing vertebrae in a crash on Alpe d’Huez at the Tour. Understandably, that ended Nibali’s challenge, but he is fit and raring to go at the Vuelta. Nibali has competed in the race five times over his distinguished career, winning it once and finishing on the podium on another two occasions.

Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott)

It was a case of so near and yet so far for Yates at the Giro, as his lead disappeared on stage 19 when Froome's sensational solo break turned the GC on its head. While Froome flourished, Yates toiled and slipped back to 21st overall as his Grand Tour dream vanished. He will look to reignite it in Spain and has twin brother Adam – who suffered similarly at the Tour – for support over the next three weeks. 

Richie Porte (BMC Racing)

Another injury ended Porte's Tour hopes but the Vuelta gives him the chance at redemption, while also setting him up for the World Championships in Innsbruck later this year. Just finishing will be viewed as a success for Porte, given the problems he has suffered at Grand Tours, 2018's broken collarbone coming after he fractured his pelvis 12 months earlier. It will be Porte’s last major race with BMC, though, after the Australian snubbed the new-version of the team for 2019 to sign for Trek-Segafredo.

Thibaut Pinot (FDJ)

Pinot's year has been hampered by the fatigue and pneumonia he picked up during the Giro d’Italia, the problems forcing him to miss the Tour de France. He finally returned to action at the Tour of Poland and finished third in the GC, behind Kwiatkowski and Yates. This will be his third Vuelta, the Frenchman having claimed seventh place in 2013 before failing to finish the following year, abandoning the race after stage 11.