World time trial champion Tony Martin is currently on the course at the Vuelta a España, and said before the stage that he was determined to try to fight for the win. However he underlined that the nature of the profile would make things tougher for him.
“It took us a lot of time to get to the course of the time trial but once we found it, I thought the course is pretty tough. It’s half a mountain time trial and half a time trial for specialists. I’d have preferred a flatter course,” he said. “But I’m having a good progression for the World’s, which is my main goal.”
Martin wants to see where he is at this point in time but isn’t riding only for that reason. “This time trial at the Vuelta will help me as a test of condition but I always go for the win when I race against the clock. I’m very motivated and I’ll do everything to win. The course gives a good chance to guys like Chris Froome but also Bauke Mollema.”
Another who could well challenge is Garmin-Sharp rider Andrew Talansky. He is currently fifteenth overall, four minutes off the race lead, and riding well in his second Grand Tour. His Garmin-Sharp team manager Jonathan Vaughters believes he is a dark horse for today’s victory; given that he recently won the Tour de l’Ain and earlier this year was just fractions of a second off beating Bradley Wiggins against the clock in the Tour de Romandie, he’s got the potential to break through.
“Even before knowing the course, I know it suits me,” he said. “I’ve been explained what it’s all about. There’s a nice hill and several technical portions. I think it’ll be a good one for me.”