Alberto Contador on Vingegaard's chances of winning the Vuelta: "He is the best in the world, but he would have arrived with more guarantees if he had prepared 100%"
Cycling
Alberto Contador does not rule out that Jonas Vingegaard is one of the great favorites to win the Vuelta a España 2023 because of his status as the world's best sprinter at the moment after winning the last two Tours.
"We are talking about the best in the world in stage tours because the best is the one who wins the Tour de France and he has won it in the last two years and the previous one he was second, if he is not able to do it he is not able to do it anyone else so a rider of his quality cannot be discarded."
However, for the rider from Pinta, having raced the Tour de France means that he has not been able to prepare as well for the Vuelta a España, something that could work against him in terms of preparation:
"If he had prepared exclusively for the Vuelta, would he have arrived with more guarantees? Sure, because he would have seen even the curves of the sprint stages," 'El Pistolero' continued. "He could have dedicated himself to watching the climbs, the time trials. But, this way, he will have seen some key points, but you don't prepare it with the same care as if you come exclusively for the Vuelta a España".
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With respect to Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard's teammate at Jumbo-Visma, he does believe that he will be at 100%, since for Contador to race the Giro and the Vuelta in the same year is "ideal":
"The Giro and the Vuelta are done well. You do an intense start of the season until the Giro, then you do a complete 'break' and start working to arrive in optimal conditions and you have time to see the stages and to arrive prepared. For me it's ideal and psychologically it's very good".
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Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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Estas actitudes le hacen daño al ciclismo. La imagen de Vingegaard y la de Jumbo es de mafia. Es inaceptable. No se puede bloquear una carrera así "porque lo digo yo". Hay lluvia, sí, pero es ciclismo y cada uno hace la carrera que quiere. #LaVuelta23
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