Recent days in the Vuelta a España have all been for the climbers and time trialists, but the sprinters finally have another chance to shine on today’s 167.3 kilometre stage to Pontevedra.
Unsurprisingly, many of the big sprinters were convinced before the start that they had what it takes to win. A bit of swagger is certainly a helpful thing in this wing of the sport, given the risks that are taken and the jostling for position.
Vuelta debutant Peter Sagan is hoping that he gets to land his second Grand Tour stage win. “I hope it’s really a good finish for me,” said the stage six victor. “In the past few stages, there were too many hills for me to try and win a second time at the Vuelta. But in the grupetto, I was going much better than Marcel Kittel.”
Another past stage winner believes that he has a shot. On day two Chris Sutton triumphed, and with the Sky Procycling team on a confidence high, he thinks that it’s possible to earn more success for the team. “Why not winning again? Now we have Bradley Wiggins as the race leader,” he said. “We’ve shown how much we can race as a team. Chris Froome, for example, was still totally committed to the interest of the team even though he had the red jersey yesterday. I’m sure the work will put me in a good position again today.”
Italians Daniele Bennati (Leopard-Trek) and Alessandro Pettachi (Lampre ISD) are trying to land their first victories in this year’s race. “On paper, this is a good stage for me. Let’s hope that I’ll have the legs for winning. I feel good,” said the former. “We’ll control the race with a few other teams who want a bunch sprint finish as well. Wagner and Vigano will set up the sprint for me.”
Petacchi has had a quiet race thus far, with eighth place on stage seven being the closest he has got. He sounds like things are improving, though, and he wants to seize the available chances. “I’ve passed the climbs of the previous days in a good shape. I’ve seen today’s course on the map only but it looks like the hill preceding the finish is less hard that the one of stage 2, and there isn’t the same kind of dangerous descent before,” he said. “So I’m up for winning.”
Saxo Bank SunGard rider JJ Haedo placed sixth on stage seven. He says that the race is going well for him, in terms of resisting fatigue, and hopes that this will make the difference. “I hope to go well. Today for sure it’ll be a sprint. My legs are still as fresh as they were in Benidorm.”