Alejandro 4th on the finish line in Cabarceno
Alejandro 4th on the finish line in Cabarceno
He remains the second overall 20” behind Contador
Alejandro finished stage 13 of the 69th edition of the Vuelta a España in 4th position while the overall ranking is unchanged on the eve of three difficult mountain stages thatcould be decisive for the final classification of the Spanish stage race.
Alejandro’s quotes:
“It was another fast stage from the very start. The break took a while to get formed and they weren’t allowed much room in the finale, either – that meant we always rode at the breakaway’s pace, really, really fast. We finished way ahead of schedule and spent a lot of energy. Our team worked in the beginning of the stage because so many people had gone on the break, with two separate groups, and we didn’t have anyone in. Others took responsibility later on. At the end, I really contested the stage, but couldn’t control everything: it was one attack after another… and I had to stick to our own fight between the GC guys.
“These three stages coming up, more than frightening us, they make us excited, since I think my legs are responding well. I hope to feel tomorrow as good as I did today. Any of the three stages can end up being crucial and all three are demanding. We must stay focused and try not to lose one single second, and if it’s possible, to gain them on the others. We might be probably looking to each other when it comes to the GC fight, at least in the beginning, because the main thing for all of us is not losing any terrain. I never climbed to La Camperona; some people compare it to Ézaro and it’s longer than that, but to be harder, it had to contain slopes over 30%, and it’s not so hard though it really is.
“I want to send a big hug from the whole team to the Pinarello family, especially Fausto, after the passing of Giovanni Pinarello. May he rest in peace.”
Tomorrow: stage 14: Santader-La Camperona (200,8 km)