Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) has insisted that although the spotlight at the start of the Vuelta 2016 is very much on himself, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Chris Froome (Team Sky); in his opinion Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) is as much as a key overall favourite for the final grand tour of the season.
So far, Valverde, having raced and completed the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, has played down his overall goals in what will be his third Grand Tour of 2016. However, whilst Contador’s track record in the Vuelta is hugely impressive - three wins from three starts - in the current peloton Valverde’s level of experience in the Spanish Grand Tour is second to none.
The Spaniard took part but abandoned his first Vuelta way back in 2002, won by Kelme teammate Aitor Gonzalez -before Contador had even turned professional. Since then Valverde has racked up one overall Vuelta victory in 2009, two second places overall, three third places, a fourth and a fifth place, with his worst performance seventh (and the points jersey, and a stage) in 2015. Although there is the huge question mark over whether he will still be able to perform so well when racing his third Grand Tour in one season, Contador clearly feels that such a glittering Vuelta palmares means that Valverde’s rivals underestimate him at their peril.
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“If we’re talking about favourites, then Valverde has to be in there,” Contador insisted.”
“He was very strong in the Tour, he’s won the Vuelta before, the route suits him far better than it does me, it’s got a lot of summit finishes where Valverde can take time in the time bonuses. In fact, I think of all the favourites, the route is best suited to Alejandro.”
As could be expected after his victory in the Vuelta a Burgos, regarded as Spain’s main warm-up race for the Vuelta, and given his own palmares, too, Contador refused to rule himself out for the overall win. But he was keen, too, to emphasise that as well as Valverde, both Froome nor Quintana were present with more serious ambitions than they were revealing.
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