Even though the route of this year’s Vuelta a Espana favours Joaquim Rodriguez less then in previous editions of the Spanish event, the Katusha leader plans to go on the attaca in one of the upcoming three mountain stages in order to challenge race leader Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo) and his currently strongest contender Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).
As arguably the weakest time trialist among serious general classification contenders in the Vuelta, Rodriguez was expected to chase bonus seconds in the opening week of the season’s ultimate Grand Tour. The 35-year old Spaniard lacked form to perform in line with those expectations, but hopes to go on full offensive in the upcoming Asturian triptych as his condition is visibly increasing.
Desperately wanting to finally triumph in the three-week event after almost countless near-misses, though, the Katusha leader took the pressire off his shoulders as he claimed that race leader Contador and second in the general classification Valverde are biggest favorites to win the 69th edition of the Vuelta a Espana.
“Two riders are ahead of the rest, in regards to both time advantage and strength: Contador and Valverde,” Rodriguez said after the 12th stage in Logrono.
“I do not give up, though. The race is loaded with mountain stages and the situation changes every week, hopefully it’s going to change in my favour. Upcoming weekend will be more difficult and I hope to attack. The team is strong and they’re working at the front because I feel fine. I’ll try to do something whenever an opportunity arrives.”
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Axel HAUSCHKE 48 years | today |
Kin San WU 39 years | today |
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