Christopher Froome “continues to be a threat” for Joaquim Rodriguez’ Vuelta a Espana podium spot
Tour de France runner up, Christopher Froome was a pre-race favourite for the Vuelta a Espana overall classifications and Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver still fears that his third spot in danger with the Team Sky cyclist right behind him.
However, Froome has ruled himself out of the Vuelta a Espana podium spot after his deteriorating performance in the final week of the event.
“I find it a compliment he might be worried about me but I haven’t even looked at the GC to be honest,” Froome briefed to Cyclingnews.
“I don’t think he really needs to be worried, he’s riding away from me on every climb”.
“Maybe [Juanjo] Cobo [Valverde’s Movistar teammate, who battled against Froome for the Vuelta lead in 2011] has been telling him some horror stories from last year, how I chased him all the way to Madrid!” he joked.
Froome was ideally placed at the fourth position with under 2 minute’s deficit from podium after the stage 16 classifications.
He finished 4 minute and 58 seconds behind the race leader during the stage 17 of the race and could not secure any better than the 32nd spot.
The 27-year-old remained at the fourth overall position but he is now over 7 minutes behind the third overall spot.
Christopher Froome dropped from the first overall position to the third spot with Alejandro Valverde Belmonte jumping from third to the second overall position.
Christopher Froome cited that his chances to find a podium spot after the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana are not bright, unless someone from the top three makes a silly mistake.
“Obviously if there’s an opportunity, now that the three of them [Valverde, Rodriguez and Contador] will be watching each other, I’ll take it,” he voiced.
The first overall spot is now occupied by none other than the winner of 17th stage, Alberto Contador Velasco of Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank.
The Spaniard is ideally placed to claim an overall victory at the race since his heroic performance during the 187.3 kilometre hunt to Fuente De.
It is only his second race this year after the fourth overall spot at the Eneco Tour earlier and an overall victory at his home Grand Tour can really make up for the lost time for Contador.
Tags: