Important point for both their chances
He’s had an at-times tough Vuelta but Rabobank’s Robert Gesink believes that his form is on the rise prior to today’s big showdown on the Cuitu Negru climb.
“I felt like a normal person,” he said of yesterday’s stage, where he finished in the chasing group 35 seconds behind Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), race leader Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank Tinkoff Bank), and in the same time as Chris Froome (Sky Procycling).
“I tried on the way to Lagos de Covadonga to get slightly ahead before the top riders, so that I would be in a better position to hang on. But that didn’t really work – Contador had the same plan and sent riders forward to drive the pace.
“I could keep going myself, my pace was good. Froome had some difficult moments, I heard. That’s good for me.”
This morning he was feeling hopeful. “On paper, it might be a good stage for me. Yesterday, I felt much better than the day before. I feel that my shape is improving. Hopefully it’ll keep going better and better.”
As for Froome, he struggled on the final climb but limited his losses. He said today that he slept nine and a half hours last night; he hoped this would stand to him on the last climb. “This morning I feel well rested and in a much better shape than yesterday morning. I’m ready for the fight.”