Former two-time Vuelta a España champion Chris Froome (Israel-Premier Tech) named Remco Evenpole (Quick Step-Alfa Vinyl) as his favorite to win this year's race.

The Vuelta was the site of Froome's meteoric success in 2011, when he won ahead of teammate Bradley Wiggins and Dutchman Bauke Mollema and went on to win four Tour de France races.

However, Froome developed COVID-19 at this year's Tour, forcing him to retire in the third week, and as a result, he said at a press conference on Thursday, he struggled to handle the hard training for the Vuelta.

Still, after the Tour de France, where the Israel Premiètec team took two stage wins, Froome expressed optimism that he could make an impact in the second half of the Vuelta and help Mike Woods in his quest for GC.

"The Tour went very well for us and it was a shame we didn't make it to Paris. I was one of many athletes who contracted COVID and it affected me pretty badly, I had symptoms for 10 days and struggled to train hard afterwards."

Froome said he had seen people with COVID try to return to racing too soon and "didn't want to push it," and that his illness "really disrupted" his plans for the Vuelta.

"Unfortunately, having developed COVID, I'm a little unsure of where I'm at right now.

"Certainly, I would like to be more present on the big mountain stages, targeting them. But it all depends on how the first part goes."

For Froome, his 21st Grand Tour and eighth Vuelta will be a voyage in the dark, but he said he has high hopes for what the Belgian rider, 15 years his junior, can accomplish in his Vuelta debut.

"He has the level to be a contender for the championship.

"The challenge for him is similar to Mike [Woods], managing the peaks and valleys of three weeks. Whoever does the best will be the winner."

"But there are some very strong people who have won this race many times. It will be an exciting race.

Froom himself has an enduring relationship with the Vuelta, and he spoke passionately about the nature of the race, its appeal, and the fact that he will also be challenging at Evenepoel.

"I love what the Vuelta tests people," he insisted. The GC contenders in the Vuelta are brutal, and there are so many mountain stages." The GC contenders in the Vuelta are brutal, there are so many mountain stages, and it's a heated battle in really hot conditions.

Froome is also happy to be back in Utrecht, where the Tour de France started in 2015 and where he crushed his opponents with his second overall win despite a relatively poor first TT, finishing 39th.

"I have nothing but good memories here," he said. I hope to have a similar experience in the Vuelta. I hope to have the same experience in the Vuelta. I think it's good to travel outside of Spain and France for the Grand Tours."

"I'm looking forward to the Vuelta."

"I have nothing but good memories here.

If good memories are one element in the back of Froome's mind, another in the collective consciousness of Israeli premier tech is the fight for relegation to the World Tour and how the last Grand Tour of the year will affect that.

But Froome insisted that the relegation fight had little impact on their strategy, as the goal was to fight for the win anyway, even though no one was aware of it. 'That bridge has been crossed,' he said. Now we just have to enjoy the race to the fullest."