Carlos Rodriguez is preparing to face his second Tour de France with the INEOS Grenadiers team. In an exclusive chat with MARCA, the young Spanish cyclist demonstrates a mix of calm humility and undiminished ambition as he prepares for one of the biggest challenges of his career.
Rodriguez is optimistic about his preparation. "I feel good. Everything has gone well on the way here, the training has gone well and I'm looking forward to doing well. I don't know what the result will be, if I'll be able to win again, but what I do know is that I'm going to give everything I have inside," he says, underlining his commitment to give his best in every stage.
Team Objectives.
The INEOS Grenadiers team has clear aspirations for the Tour. "We start with the objective of winning. It's very complicated, but we aspire to do it," says Rodríguez, aware of the difficulty of competing at the highest level. After his outstanding performances at the last Tour and in the spring races, he knows he will be more closely watched by his rivals. "I'll be more watched, but if you want to win you have to push. There's no surprise factor anymore, but to win you have to keep squeezing your legs," he says with determination.
Rivals and Strategies.
UAE Team Emirates is one of the strongest teams in the competition, but Rodriguez prefers to focus on his own performance. "They have a very strong team, but we don't just worry about them. We concentrate on doing our best, which is what depends on us," he explains. As for his main rival, Tadej Pogacar, he recognizes his strength: "He arrives well for sure. It's obvious that it's going to be difficult to keep up with him, but we're going to fight for it".
New Season and New Challenges.
With a new contract in hand, Rodriguez assures that his focus remains the same. "A race comes and one is focused on the competition and not on what may come after. I face it the same way I did last year," he clarifies. As for the recovery of his teammate Egan Bernal, he expresses his admiration: "I'm very happy to see how he's approaching the level of the Egan we're used to. It's impressive what he has fought for and how he has progressed."
Reflections on Competition.
Rodríguez also talks about other big names in cycling. On Geraint Thomas, who comes to the Tour after coming third in the Giro at 38, he comments admiringly, "To be a pro and have the body for it. He's one of the best in the world." Regarding Jonas Vingegaard, another strong contender, he says: "He's a top world rider and I think that even if he's not at 100% he's going to be in front and at a very good level."
Memorable Moments and Future Aspirations.
One of the highlights of the spring was his victory in the Itzulia after negotiating with Juan Ayuso. "Juan and I have a good relationship, we've known each other since cadets and if we can help each other... hopefully we can both profit," he mentions, open to collaboration in future competitions. As for his experience with the Netflix series, he reveals that although it is not his preference, he understands its importance: "It's a little weird. For me, because I'm a little more private, it's not my favourite thing to do, but I know it's a thing to do and I don't mind."
Pressure and Adaptation.
Although INEOS is not as dominant as in the past, the pressure is still on the team. Rodriguez feels that it is handled adequately: "The team is doing well. That pressure exists, but it is not directly perceived. Good work on the part of the coaches who don't make us feel that burden on our shoulders."
Future Goals: Olympic Games and World Championship.
Rodriguez expresses his interest in participating in both the Olympics and the World Cup. "I would like to be in both. With three places in the Games I don't know if it makes sense and if I'm the ideal rider for that field. The World Cup of course I do want to be with the national team and live that experience representing my country." The Zurich circuit is particularly attractive for him: "Of course if I'm well and I have the opportunity to go it's an important goal."
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