Vuelta a España winner might depend his title
One day after appearing at the launch of the 2012 Giro d’Italia, Juan José Cobo has ended speculation about his future by confirming that he will remain with the Geox TMC team for one more year. The Spaniard jumped to prominence this year when he won the Vuelta a España and, if he returns to that form next season, should be in the running for some major victories.
Cobo’s decision was communicated during the presentation of the Criterium de Alcobendas, according to Marca. He lined out his ambitions for 2012 there, and will target the biggest race of all. “My plans are to ride the Tour and then, depending on my remaining strength, I will participate in the Vuelta a España as it would be an honour to line out with dossard number one.”
Cobo has already ridden strongly in the Tour de France, winning the Hautacam stage in 2008. He was actually second across the line, but Leonardo Piepoli later tested positive for CERA and was disqualified. The entire Scott – American Beef team left the Tour before the start of stage 12 after the news emerged that Riccardo Riccò had tested positive.
Cobo would hope for a happier time in next year’s race, although his team will need to secure a UCI ProTeam licence to be sure of taking part. It applied for one for this year but was passed over for it due to a lack of ranking points, and had to be content with invites for the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España. Geox-TMC’s successful re-signing of him will help its prospects of chasing the licence.
Cobo will be one of several big names competing in the Criterium de Alcobendas on Saturday. Also confirmed are Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD), Vincenzo Nibali and Peter Sagan (Liquigas Cannondale), José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar) and others. Oscar Freire (Rabobank) had been due to take part, but has now withdrawn his intention to ride.
The triple world champion is known to have been chasing a new contract for next season and, apparently, is still without a team for 2012.