Daniel Martinez still backing Primoz Roglic to win the 2024 Vuelta a Espana: "There are still the hardest stages"

In the seventh stage of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, Daniel Martínez crossed the finish line in 44th position, in a secondary group that came 17 seconds behind the race leader. In the general classification, the Colombian Red Bull - BORA -hansgrohe rider is now 9:44 behind, although he is less than 5 minutes behind his team's leader Primoz Roglic.

After crossing the finish line, the 28-year-old Colombian climber was taking a cold water bath to loosen up his muscles. In an interview for the TVE microphones, he explained why he was doing that and talked about the team's tactics both during stage 7, during the race as a whole and how they can cut into Ben O'Connor's 4:45 lead in at the top of the general classification standings.

"Yes, on days like today that are too hot, it's best to come here to recover to lower the body temperature a bit in these bathtubs," he said, getting into the water. "Let's just say the intention has been to be there, move the chips around a bit and do the best I can today," he said of Red Bull - BORA's idea on stage 7. "I don't know, there are still the hardest stages left so well, we'll see," he finished talking about the chances of taking time off the red jersey.

Although Dani was second in the last Giro d'Italia, being the first of the mortals after an absolutely huge and inhuman Tadej Pogacar, it seems that in La Vuelta the goal is to be Roglic's luxury gregario and he will not fight for the overall. Even his BORA teammates Aleksandr Vlasov and Florian Lipowitz are better placed than him. The Russian is 13th at 5:51 and just over 1 minute behind the Slovenian, while the German is 8th at 5:35 and 50 seconds behind his leader.