Joaquim Rodriguez worried about the Vuelta a Espana time trial
After a close finish to his Giro d’Italia campaign, Joaquim Rodriguez has done exceptionally well to occupy the first overall position at the Vuelta a Espana overall classifications.
The Spaniard achieved the first overall position after the stage 4 classifications and has shown splendid skills to retain the top spot throughout the week.
However, Team Katusha cyclist has shared his concerns about the Individual Time Trial 39.4 kilometre stage 11 of the race.
Rodriguez has noted that he is all set to defend his overall lead but he might lost crucial time considering Christopher Froome and Alberto Contador’s time trialling abilities.
He is leading the stage 10 overall classifications with a total gap of 53 seconds over Christopher Froome of Team Sky Procycling and Alberto Contador of Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank further 7 seconds behind at the third position.
“I’m going to fight, I think I will lose between 2:30 and three minutes,” Rodríguez told Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
“This time trial isn’t as flat as the one [in 2010], it’s harder than we think. That time trial [in 2010] was one of the worst I did in my life”.
“I’m taking this Vuelta very calmly, day by day. It’s not like in previous years where I was over-thinking everything.
“Let’s see what happens in the time trial. We could end up all being very close overall. Or Froome or somebody could get two minutes and the party will be over”.
The 33-year-old rode exceptionally well at the second Grand Tour race of the season, the Giro d’Italia but fell 16 short of Ryder Hesjedal of Team Garmin-Barracuda.
The Canadian secured the first Grand Tour victory for his country while Thomas De Gendt of Team Vacansoleil-DCM, Michele Scarponi of Team Lampre-ISD and Ivan Basso of Team Liquigas-Cannondale securing the third, the fourth and the fifth positions in the
respective order.
Only time will tell, if Rodriguez manages to continue his current winning momentum at the coming stages of the race as his competitors are pretty much capable of seizing any opportunity that may come their way.
The stage 11 of the Vuelta a Espana 2012 is scheduled on August 29th, 2012 between Cambados and Pontevedra which is expected to bring some changes in the overall classifications category.
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