Alberto Contador closing in on Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver and Christopher Froome at the Vuelta a Espana 2012
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha has extended his lead after the Vuelta a Espana stage 9 classifications.
The cyclist succeeded during the stage 6 of the race and has capitalised on his performance throughout the first nine stages of the event.
He has given a tough competition to the Tour de France runner up, Christopher Froome and has now extended his lead to 53 seconds after the stage 9 classifications.
Froome however is not Joaquim’s only fear as one of the most successful stage race cyclist; Alberto Contador is only 7 more seconds behind the British rider.
Contador is marking his return to professional cycling and has missed almost all the important cycling events of the year.
Vuelta a Espana is his only Grand Tour race of the season and he seems focus to secure an overall victory at the event.
On the other hand, Joaquim also seems desperate for a Grand Tour overall victory after his close finish at the Giro d’Italia 2012.
He bagged two stages at the Italian Grand Tour and was looking good for an overall victory at the race but could not match the likes of his Canadian opponent, Ryder Hesjedal who secured the first Grand Tour victory for his nation.
Rodriguez secured an overall victory at the La Fleche Wallonne, second overall at the Tour of the Basque Country, sixth overall at the Tirreno-Adriatico and secured the eighth overall position at the Clasica de San Sebastian 2012.
While commenting on his stage 9 performances, the Spaniard cited, “I had to attack because I knew that in the worst of circumstances they would just bring me back to the main group”.
“I was just very lucky to have someone like Philippe Gilbert with me”.
“It was a very stressful finish, because everybody was very fresh at the finish and very emotional for me, too”.
“Because I knew the Montjuic park as a bike rider very well when I used to do the [now defunct] Subida a Montjuic hill-climb when I was a young pro”.
Only time will tell, if Rodriguez continues his winning momentum for the coming stages of the race and manages to register an overall victory at the third and the last Grand Tour race of the season.
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