Although Jakob Fuglsang has stated that he intends to target the Tour de France next season, Astana manager Alexander Vinokourov says that the young Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez will be a team leader for a Grand Tour next season, and insists that injury and illnesses have masked the 23-year-old's true potential.
Lopez raced a truncated season after breaking his leg in a training accident a year ago, but still scored stage wins in the Tour of Austria and Vuelta a Burgos before taking out two stage wins and the best young rider classification in the Vuelta a Espana.
"Miguel is a very talented cyclist with great potential," Vinokourov told El Tiempo. "In addition, he is still very young and he has so much of his career ahead of him. Unfortunately, so far, some health problems, injuries have not allowed him to fully show his potential. But, this season already showed what high level can reach."
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The result confirmed to Vinokourov that Lopez has the potential to win a Grand Tour.
"He has everything he needs to do so: talent, perseverance, fighting spirit, climbing skills and a strong time trial, he just needs time and experience," Vinokourov said. "He already did the Vuelta a España, and, speaking of the Giro and the Tour, he has to try at least to make his debut in these races.
Astana is waiting until the route for the Giro d'Italia is unveiled on November 29 and later the course for the Vuelta a Espana before deciding on the race programme for Lopez, but assured that he will lead the team in a Grand Tour next year.
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