MADRID, Spain -- The three-week Tour of Spain begins in Vigo this Saturday but last year's first three will be missing because of proven, or suspected doping offenses.
Evans is bidding to be Australia's first winner of a major three-week tour race.
Cadel Evans is just one of the riders hoping to impress in a race which ends on September 23, and the Aussie all-rounder could realistically do so in the absence of some high-profile contenders for the race's gold jersey.
While Evans has only four high-mountain stages in which to put his superb climbing skills on show, he will be hoping that those notable absences play in his favor.
Reigning champion Alexandre Vinokourov was sacked by his Astana team following a positive test for homologous blood doping during the Tour de France.
Spanish ace Alejandro Valverde -- who finished a valiant runner-up to Vinokourov last year -- has also been forced to stay at home for what could turn out to be a controversial end to his season.
The Caisse d'Epargne team's all-rounder was due to line up as a favorite, but existing suspicions over his links to the Spanish doping affair dubbed 'Operation Puerto' have increased in recent days.
Valverde has been banned from racing in next month's world road cycling championships by the International Cycling Union (UCI), who suspect he could be involved in the affair, which erupted when Spanish police uncovered a doping network said to be run by Spanish sports doctor Eufemiano Fuentes.
Last year's third place finisher, Andriy Kashechkin of Astana, is also out due to a recent positive test for blood doping. A day before the Vuelta was due to start, Kashechkin was sacked by Astana following confirmation of a B sample.
Another notable absentee is Spain's Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, who has been fighting off claims that he has been linked to a doping affair dubbed 'Operation Puerto' in Spain.
Their absences leave the way open for Tour de France runner-up Evans to lay his claim to a first three-week Tour title for Australia.
Spaniard Carlos Sastre, one of the most consistent if not spectacular riders in the peloton, will be hoping this will finally be his year to stand on the top step of the Vuelta podium in Madrid.
Another Spaniard, Oscar Pereiro, will be hoping to take up team-mate Valverde's mantle having proven his credentials before -- notably with his runner-up place in the 2006 Tour de France. E-mail to a friend 
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