Froome, Cavendish set for Vuelta return

The two riders suffered agony at the Tour de France with Mark Cavendish dislocating his shoulder on stage one and Froome suffering a double fracture of his hand on stage five.

However, both men have been named by race organisers on Wednesday in the preliminary start list.

Their participation is still not certain, with Cavendish in particular still suffering from the injury he sustained in Yorkshire, but the signs are positive.

"I'm back riding again but I still can't pick up my daughter because of the shoulder," Cavendish was quoted as saying by the Sun.

Two-time Vuelta winner Alberto Contador will not compete due to a broken leg sustained at the Tour de France.