The number of Kiwi riders in the final grand cycling tour's been halved from the provisional start list of the Vuelta a Espana

Shane Archbold was originally named in the Deceuninck-Quickstep line-up but has been struggling with ill health so has withdrawn.

Patrick Bevin was listed to ride for CCC but he has been left out - he'll leave the team at the end of the year to link up with Chris Froome in the Israel Start-Up Nation outfit.

Dion Smith and George Bennett are still set to roll out on Wednesday - Bennett's backing up off the Tour de France.