Two-time Vuelta winner hoping to add a third victory with the help of former Tour champion
Two-time race winner Denis Menchov will lead the Geox-TMC team into the Vuelta a España, which starts with a team time trial in the Costa Blanca resort city of Benidorm on Saturday. Having missed out on an invitation to the Tour de France, the Spanish Professional Continental team has had to base its season around the two other Grand Tours. Menchov finished eighth in the Giro d’Italia but, even though both of its major sponsors are Italian, as a Spanish team its home Tour is just as important.
“For our team the Vuelta is without a doubt one of the most important events of the season,” said Sports Director Joxean Fernández Matxin. “I think it’s going to be a tough, selective race right from the very first stages.
“We’re lining up for the start with a competitive, highly motivated squad,” he explained. “Our point man will definitely be Denis Menchov, who has already made it to the highest step on the podium twice in his career, in 2005 and 2007. We can also count on Carlos Sastre, another great specialist in stage races, winner of the 2008 Tour de France and second place in the Vuelta twice, in 2005 and 2007 - in fact, right behind Menchov – and third once, in 2008.
Riding by their side will be important riders like Juan Josè Cobo and David Blanco,” Matxin added, “who proved in the recent Vuelta a Burgos that they’re in peak shape. And let’s not forget [Fabio] Duarte, [Mauricio] Ardila, [Matthias] Brändle and [Dimitryy] Kozontchuk, who will be tasked with supporting their captains and helping out when they can, or going for it and standing out when they get the chance.”
Although he rode for Spanish team Banesto for five years, Menchov won both of his Vueltas as a member of Rabobank. 2011 is the Russian’s first year with Geox-TMC, and a third victory in the race is his big target.
“After the Giro d’Italia I underwent a precise training regimen to prepare for the Vuelta, to get here in the best possible shape,” he exlained. “This is a race I really love, and in which I’ve already obtained two prestigious victories; of course, I’m starting out with the objective of obtaining the maximum result, although it won’t be easy.
“The route is gruelling and I’ll be going up against some very competitive rivals,” he added. “Fortunately, I’ll be able to count on the support of some excellent riders. I think our squad is well equipped to put in a good race.”
One of the riders that Menchov will be counting on will be 2008 Tour winner Sastre. The Spanish veteran had a disappointing start to the year, and health problems meant that he was only able to manage 30th in the Giro, but third place in the Österreich-Rundfahrt in July shows that his form should be better in the upcoming Vuelta.
“I’m happy with the work we’ve done these last few weeks,” said Sastre. “For me the Vuelta is a very important event. I feel like health is on my side, as compared with the first part of the season, when I had several problems.
“I’ve finally found the momentum I’ve been striving for, both in training and during races,” he explained. “This is essential for me to take on a three-week race. I’m hoping I can close out the season in the best way possible.”
Another rider hoping to see his season improve in the Vuelta is Fabio Duarte. The 25-year-old Colombian was forced to pull out of the Giro d’Italia with a knee injury – having achieved the team’s best result in the race, with second place on stage five to Orvieto – and has not been able to race since.
“I’m very happy that the team has placed their trust in me by deciding to call on me for the Vuelta,” said Duarte. “My season got off to a good start – at the Giro del Trentino I even managed to clinch a nice victory. I felt like I was in good shape for the Giro d’Italia, but unfortunately I had to pull out for a problem with my knee resulting from a fall, which forced me to sit things out for a long time.
“Now the problem finally seems to be resolved,” he explained. “These last few weeks I’ve managed to train, even intensely, and I feel ready to take on the commitment of a three week race.”
Geox-TMC team for the Vuelta a España:
Mauricio Ardila, David Blanco, Matthias Brändle, Juan Josè Cobo, David De la Fuente, Fabio Duarte, Dimitryy Kozontchuk, Denis Menchov and Carlos Sastre.