Predicts Wiggins will lose time; praises efforts of teammate Sørensen; hints at riding next year
Giro d’Italia winner Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-SunGard) was present on the start line of the thirteenth stage of the Vuelta a España, in Sarria, this morning. Contador, who won the Vuelta in 2008, as part of a Giro-Vuelta double when his then Astana team was not invited to the Tour de France, but has not ridden since as he has concentrated on taking Tour wins. The Spaniard won the Giro in May this year, and hoped to add the Tour later on, but was unable to show the same form, largely thanks to a number of crashes in the first week.
Contador offered his opinion on the coming stages, as well as tipping the rider that he feels will take the final red jersey in Madrid.
“Some people think that the Puerto de Ancares can be decisive,” he said. “I don’t know this climb but it’s too far from the finish. The next two stages will be more important, I think.”
Having defeated him into second place in his home Tour, Contador expects Italian defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) to take his second title in the race.
“The classification of the Vuelta is very open,” he noted. “Nibali is the favourite. Sooner or later, Wiggins will lose time. The Angliru will be the most important stage, it’s adapted to ‘Purito’ [Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) – ed] and it will be interesting to watch. ‘Purito’ gives colour to the Vuelta.”
Having sat out the race as he concentrates on the Tour de France, Contador now says that he will consider riding the Vuelta in the future.
“I might do the Vuelta next year,” he said. ‘It’ll depend on how I come out of the Tour de France. When I come to a race, I only want to do it for the win.”
Much of this, of course, will depend on the verdict reached by the Court for Arbitration in Sport (CAS) in November over his clenbuterol positive in the 2010 Tour, which may mean that he will be suspended.
As well as enjoying the hospitality of the race organiser, Contador has also visited his Saxo Bank-SunGard team, complimenting teammate Chris Anker Sørensen on his aggressive performance so far.
“Contador told me that he’s been impressed by what I did at the Vuelta so far,” said Sørensen. “It’s nice to see him again. It’s very motivating. For today’s stage, I heard it’s on small roads, left and right all the times. A lot of people are eager to go in breakaways.”