Carlos Sastre went into the Vuelta a España as one of Geox-TMC’s leaders but already finds himself six minutes 48 seconds off Chris Froome’s lead in the race. However, with team-mates Juanjo Cobo and Denis Menchov lying eighth and thirteenth overall respectively, the experienced cyclist says the race is still open and anyone who is willing to take a risk could win it.
Sastre was speaking on the first rest day yesterday, something that the riders and staff enjoyed after ten hard opening stages to the last Grand Tour of the year.
“The rest day came just at the right moment, after ten very gruelling days and before a very important week”, said the 2008 Tour de France champion.
“After quite a long trip [Monday] and arriving at the Monforte Parador Hotel very late, we made the most of the day to sleep a lot, train a couple of hours and rest all afternoon. That has been the most important thing, resting,” he said.
“At this point of the race, the classification is more open than ever, given that in many cases the differences are a question of seconds and there are a lot of riders from different teams who are just a few seconds away from each other in the general classification”.
Geox-TMC had a less than desirable start to the Vuelta when its team finished second last in the opening team time trial in Benidorm, conceding 43 seconds to winners Leopard Trek. Sastre then lost a further 20 seconds on the first road stage when the race split after finishing on a slight incline. Since then he has conceded time in other places and must now ride in support of his other team-mates.
He believes it’s important to gamble in the days ahead. “The only way to win the Vuelta a España or any other race will be to somehow take some risks. But I think that the Vuelta is more open than ever before and there are what I think are ten very difficult days ahead of gruelling competition”, concluded Sastre.
Menchov, who has won the race twice before was also optimistic about making up time, even if he is disappointed to have lost time to some of the favourites.
“We are well placed but we have people like [Vincenzo] Nibali or [Bradley] Wiggins ahead. There is still half the race ahead and I for my part will see that every day I get better. If circumstances are favourable we have a lot to say and surely I will be able to fight for the general.”
The Russian also added that they have a numerical advantage with two riders currently in the top fifteen. Cobo is one minute 47 seconds back with Menchov two minutes 35 off the red jersey.
The latter won the race twice in the past. He was moved from second to first overall in 2005 when Roberto Heras was disqualified for EPO use; two years later, he triumphed again. He also won the 2009 Giro d’Italia; were he to recover his losses and triumph in this Vuelta, he would keep up his pattern of winning a Grand Tour every two years.
The race continues today with a tough 171 kilometre stage finishing at the Manzaneda ski station. It’s a course that’s sure to test the legs after yesterday’s rest day.