"Even among the climbers I heard riders complain" - La Vuelta 2024 went too far in quest for brutality according to Intermarché - Wanty sprinter

The parcours of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana was an especially brutal one, even in terms of Grand Tour cycling. Was it too tough though? Is that even possible in a sport where riders fight in a survival of the fittest? According to Intermarché - Wanty's Arne Marit, this Vuelta did indeed go too far.

“This Vuelta was really tough. In the first week it was still okay with two sprint stages. Then followed twelve days without a chance of a sprint," says Marit, whose best result of the Spanish Grand Tour came on stage 3 with a 4th placed finish as Wout van Aert took the win, and an 8th placed finish a couple of days later on stage 5 where Pavel Bittner was victorious, in quotes collected by Het Nieuwsblad.

"Apparently it was the Grand Tour with the most elevation in fifty years," continues the 25-year-old Belgian. "I know a woman in the organization from the period when I raced in Spain as a youth rider. She said at the start on Sunday: 'See you next year'. Well, in itself I would like to return, but then with less elevation and more sprint opportunities. This edition was exaggerated. Even among the climbers I heard riders complain about the number of climbs. Do a survey in the peloton and you will not hear many positive signals. During the first week it was also ridiculously hot.”

Overall though, Marit leaves the Grand Tour relatively content with his and his team's efforts. "We finished in the top ten several times in this Vuelta," he concludes. “I always hear that you come out stronger after a Grand Tour. After the Giro last year, I have now also completed the Vuelta. I am putting the bike aside for a few days and taking one day off to prepare for Isbergues. Despite the tough Vuelta, I am still quite fresh, which I proved in the time trial on the final day. I rode at a steady pace, but never went over the limit and still finished 59th. I never got into trouble uphill in the Vuelta. In the Giro, I only had a margin of five minutes on the time limit a few times. Now I have never had to count. In the coming weeks, I will try to embellish my season a bit. After my long period of inactivity, the tank is not empty yet.”