The Andalusian cyclist, who already knows what it is to beat Pogacar y Vingegaard In a stage of the tour, analyzes his sensations in a race where he hopes to give his best version, without giving up anything.
Ask. How do you get to the tour?
Answer. This year I have gone from less to more, but in recent months I have not had any setback or complication in preparation. I get in good shape, I think so. I have been able to do everything in my hand and, in that sense, I am satisfied. Now we just have to expect the tour.
Q. The first week is demanding. How does it face it?
A. It will be a complicated first week, very tense. But we will try to survive as we can and, from there, our land will come, where we hope to be more comfortable.
Q. Taking into account the level of runners such as Pogacar, Vingegaard or Evenepoel, what will be the strategy of the ineos team? In the turn they were very offensive …
A. Yes, we can be aggressive if the circumstances allow it, but before rivals so strong it often makes no sense to try if you do not have the necessary legs. We will see day by day and try to show our best version at each stage.
Q. Do you have a defined objective or do you prefer to go stage to stage?
A. Obviously I want to do my best in the general and get the best result. But saying a specific position is very difficult because it does not depend only on me. The important thing is to get to Paris knowing that I have given everything.
Q. You already know what it is to beat Pogacar and Vingegaard on the mountain, as he did in Morzine two years ago. What is the recipe?
R. winning them is easy to say: you have to get to the goal before them (laughs). But of course, that is very difficult. They are very very strong. You have to be in an excellent condition and that they have a bad day. Even so, we will try.
Q. How do you see the duel between the two two?
A. Everyone gives Tadej, but we know that Jonas transforms when the tour arrives. Both teams dominate the race and that marks the development of each stage. Our idea is to stay as close as possible to them and, if at any time a door opens, try to take advantage of the opportunity
Q. Fans see, next to Enric Mas, like the Spanish Baza for the general. Do you think so?
A. I hope yes. I have done all the best I have been able to, I think I arrive in good condition, but you never know what can happen in the tour. It is a very hard race and any detail counts.
Q. What opinion deserves the tour of this edition?
A. The truth is that I like it. The hardness is there, the ports too. It is true that the first week does not adapt so much to my characteristics, but the goal is to get well placed when our land begins.
