Van Garderen to return to cycling at Vuelta a Espana

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) Tejay van Garderen will return to racing at the Vuelta a Espana after an illness forced the American cyclist out of the Tour de France with a podium finish in sight.

BMC Racing Team general manager Jim Ochowicz said Wednesday that van Garderen and Samuel Sanchez will headline his team at the season's finale grand tour beginning Aug. 22.

It will be the first time van Garderen has started the Spanish race since 2010.

One of three American riders in this year's Tour, Van Garderen was third overall when he was forced to abandon in the final week.

His decision to race in Spain also means van Garderen will miss the USA Pro Challenge, a race he has won the past two years. That race in Colorado begins Aug. 17.