"I expected a bigger lead" - Is Jonas Vingegaard happy going into final La Vuelta week?

Jonas Vingegaard managed to enjoy a calmer day at the Vuelta a Espana today into Monforte de Lemos, but he will not be relaxed heading into the final week of the race. With only 48 seconds over João Almeida, a single bad day could bring down to earth his first overall win at the Spanish Grand Tour, and the Dane is honest that he would like to go into the final days of the race with a bigger lead.

"I expected a bigger lead heading into the second rest day. It's not much, but I'm happy as the leader, and I hope to hold this margin until Madrid," the Dane told Eurosport after this Sunday's stage. After plenty of mountainous days, and lots of strong performances from UAE at both individual and collective level, there are good reasons for the race leader to be tired.

This week they have faced the steep walls of the Basque Country, the mythical Angliru and another high mountain stage in the Asturias finishing atop La Farrapona. What we've been able to see is that in the high mountains, he and João Almeida look virtually tied, and on the road they have been inseparable since the climb to the Estacion de Valdezcaray.

In the final week we've got an explosive stage in Galicia finishing on the Castro de Herville, an individual time-trial and two tough summit finishes at El Morredero and Bola del Mundo... Plenty ground to make the difference, for each side. "There are still very tough stages ahead and anything can happen. There's still the time trial, stages where there could be some echelons, and the Bola del Mundo."

However Denmark could enjoy a triumph this Sunday as Mads Pedersen thrived from the breakaway, and of course Vingeggard was asked about his friend, who leads the points classification ahead of him.

"Of course I know Mads Pedersen. We've been talking a lot in the group, or at the Vuelta and other races. He's a good guy, and honestly, I'm happy he won. He deserves it, and I congratulate him. I wanted to save my legs a bit today".