Danish rider pleased with overall position; tips Froome, not Wiggins, for final victory
Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) started the fifteenth stage of the Vuelta a España, between Avilés and the legendary Angliru, in fifth place overall, just 58 seconds behind race leader Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky). The Dane, who has long been tipped for greatness, is content with the way that the race has gone so far, but hopes that his experience in another discipline of cycling will stand hom in good stead as he tackles the super-steep slopes of the final climb.
“I hope it’s a day for the former mountain bikers like me but in the last six kilometres,” he said on the start line in Avilés. “The legs and the head will do the talking, not the background as a mountain biker or not. I’m happy with where I stand on GC but I’d like to have more distance to the riders who are behind me on GC.”
Like many of the riders of the Vuelta peloton, Fuglsang will be using special gears for the Angliru, with a minimum 36X28 – a ratio unheard of in normal races – available for the slopes that reach a maximum of 23.5%.
While Fuglsang trails Wiggins by 58 seconds it is the British champion’s teammate, who sits just seven seconds down, that Fuglsang is tipping for the final victory in Madrid.
“I think Chris Froome is the hot favourite for winning the Vuelta,” said Fuglsang. “He looks stronger than Wiggins in the climbs.”