Says Contador is clear favourite for the Vuelta, but Schleck’s participation is boost for race
The 1988 Tour de France winner Pedro Delgado has made his predictions for this year’s race, saying that he believes that the nature of the course as well as the results of recent events point towards two riders as being far ahead of the other contenders in terms of their chances.
“It is a very strange race,” he told VeloNation in a video interview, referring to the three individual time trials, which will mean riders face over 100 kilometres against the clock. “The number one for me is Wiggins. I think that he very good in this moment. He has a good team around him, so for me he is the number one.”
However while Wiggins has been the most dominant of the contenders this year, winning Paris-Nice, the Tour de Romandie and the Critérium du Dauphiné, Delgado believes that another rider with slightly quieter preparation can also shine and fight for yellow.
“Cadel Evans has the experience,” he said, referring to last year’s winner and the rider who will begin as defending champion in Liège. “In this case, I think it is a battle with Cadel Evans and Bradley Wiggins in the Tour de France.”
Delgado was in Dublin yesterday in order to promote the Leinster Loop cycle, a charity event which will take place in Kildare on Sunday August 19th, and raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Research Institute and St Laurence's Community Complex. Delgado is not due to take part, but rather was present yesterday as a guest alongside the event’s sporting ambassador, Stephen Roche.
Roche and Delgado had a superb head-to-head twenty five years ago, scrapping it out for the 1987 Tour de France title. While Roche eventually came out on top, Delgado returned twelve months later and dominated the race.
The Spaniard’s palmares also includes two victories in the Vuelta a España, namely 1985 and 1989. His experience there as well as his current role as a Eurosport commentator gives him an insight into what to expect; he sees the race as being a big showdown between two riders, namely Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck.
Watch the video below for his thoughts on the two races...