But given the scenario of these first two weeks of the Vuelta and his small failure this Saturday, this stage will be even more difficult for him. On the one hand, there is this ninth day in red to negotiate. It starts to matter a lot when you know the impact that the many protocol ceremonies and the demands on the recovery of a runner in a three-week race can have. There is also the stress which rises, as we approach Madrid and assert ourselves as the favorites for the final victory. And finally, there is the concern: that linked to his fall on Thursday, first of all, which inevitably left some traces (“I hope that I will have completely recovered from this fall after the day of rest”, explains the main interested party) and, of course, that linked to the signs of weakness displayed this Saturday, on the slopes of the Sierra de La Pandera.
Since the start of this Vuelta, the Brabançon has been looking for its limits and it is now time to find an answer to the two main questions about it: that linked to the high altitude, this Sunday, and that concerning the recovery and management of a third week of racing, starting on Tuesday. The “less good blow” displayed this Saturday will make things worse since, even if it were only to be the fruit of a “day without” as he hopes, this fault will logically excite his main opponents. Starting with Roglic, who has smelled the smell of blood and who dreams of winning a fourth consecutive Vuelta….