Roglic bullish about chances in wide open Vuelta after Giro third
What looks on paper to be a wide open Vuelta a Espana will begin today with a team time trial around the salt marshes of Torrevieja on Spain’s Costa Blanca.
Unlike 12 months ago, when Simon Yates – fresh from his crushing disappointment at the Giro d’italia, where he rode to within three days of victory – was about to embark upon a race which would ultimately yield his first grand tour victory, there is no clear favourite.
Jumbo-visma have arguably the strongest team, particularly now that Richard Carapaz has pulled out of Movistar’s line-up, and their Slovenian rider, Primoz Roglic, has been installed as the bookmakers’ favourite.
Steven Kruijswijk, fresh from a podium finish at the Tour de France, is also in the Dutch team’s line-up. Roglic, who has never raced the Vuelta before, insists he will be going all out for the win, having finished third at the Giro d’italia in May. “The podium is a nice place, but I’ve already done that at the Giro,” he said. “I want to fight as hard as possible to win.” A typical Vuelta route packed with climbs, but also featuring a tough 36.1kilometre time trial just over the border in Pau mid-race, should suit the former ski jumper. Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde (both Movistar), Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana), Rigoberto Uran (Ef-education First) and Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-scott) will all hope to have a say. British fans, meanwhile, will follow Tao Geoghegan Hart’s progress with interest. The Londoner heads to Spain as joint leader for Ineos alongside Wout Poels.