"I didn't do the time trial that I would have liked, but the Vuelta has just started" - Carlos Rodriguez not losing Red Jersey hope just yet at Vuelta a Espana

Carlos Rodríguez finished the time trial of the first stage of the Vuelta a Espana 2024 in 49th position, 46 seconds behind the day's winner, Brandon McNulty. The INEOS Grenadiers rider spoke to the race microphones after crossing the finish line.

"The truth is that it was difficult to stay in position, I was struggling to push and stay on the bike, which was not easy, but well, I have to be happy to have reached the finish line safely. The truth is that I didn't do the time trial that I would have liked, but the Vuelta has just started," he began about his feelings in the time trial. "The wind was very strong and it was from the side. Not favourable conditions for cycling but well it would be the same or similar for everyone."

"I'm not a weather man to predict when it's going to be better or worse the truth is that in the team we had seen a time when it looked like conditions were going to be good but you never know what it's going to be like in the end," he said about the possibility of having gone out at a different time.

"I'm not entirely satisfied with the time trial that came out, but that's the way it is. The Vuelta has just started and there's a long way to go," Rodriguez concludes. "Even when we did the reconnaissance at noon it was a bit sideways, but not that much. Now it's at the limit for cycling."