Cannondale-Drapac enjoyed the customary parade lap around Madrid to celebrate a successful Vuelta a España. Without a sprinter among the seven-rider squad in Spain, the team’s goal was to arrive safely at the finish and soak in the incredible atmosphere upon completion of the final Grand Tour of the season.

Andrew Talansky recorded a career-best Grand Tour finish in fifth place on the general classification. Davide Formolo accomplished a similar feat in ninth overall. The duo were supported by a team that showed loyalty, tenacity, strength and smarts over three weeks of racing.

“You can have the best form of your life. But if you don’t have the right team to support you, you’re not going to get a chance to show it,” Talansky said. “The final selection on a stage like yesterday, stage 20, we have four guys out of less than 20, when teams like Sky and Movistar have less. That just speaks to the depth and the strength of the team.”