Madrid – Two-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador has been selected in the nine-man Spanish team for the road World Championships in Florence later this month.

The 30-year-old Saxo Bank rider is joined by last year's bronze medallist in the elite road race, Alejandro Valverde, and Joaquim Rodriguez, who finished fourth behind Valverde in the recently completed Tour of Spain.

Contador is one of only two members the team not to have riden in the three-week long tour having taken a break following a disappointing third-placed finish in the Tour de France back in July.

Jose Herrada, Jonathan Castroviejo, Samuel Sanchez, Egoi Martinez, Dani Moreno and Luis Leon Sanchez make up the rest of the squad chosen by national selector Javier Minguez.

Luis Leon Sanchez and Castroviejo are the two nominated riders for the individual time trial.