Alberto Contador on Vuelta a Espana finale: "Remco Evenepoel is candidate number one"

Alberto Contador is a three-time winner of the Vuelta a Espana, and having a very vocal voice within cycling he has talked about Remco Evenepoel who may be on the verge of winning his first Grand Tour in Spain.

Talking to Vive le Vélo Contador has said: "Remco Evenepoel is candidate number one. It won't be easy to keep control, but Remco can maintain a good pace even in moments of crisis or a dip. And I think his lead is enough. That overall victory will give him a moral boost. And then he has to think about new goals in the future. The Giro is important, but the Tour is even more important."

The Vuelta is still underway however, and Evenepoel will have two more stages in which he will have to defend the red jersey against Enric Mas. Without Primoz Roglic alongside the task is slightly easier, and the Belgian has shown the legs yesterday that he needs to get through the final week. Fatigue can be decisive however, and he will need to keep a high level throughout this final weekend.

"Remco is a completely different rider than me," Contador pointed out. "He can time trial incredibly well. I was also able to defend myself well, but I never won a time trial. Remco is impressive in that field and he also does very well in the classics." That versatility has been key for his lead at the Vuelta, and he will hope to maintain it all the way into Madrid.