"I feel very lucky to have so many people cheering me on" - Carlos Rodriguez hoping home support can fire him Vuelta GC as race reaches first rest day

The first rest day of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana has arrived and for Spanish GC hopeful Carlos Rodriguez, things have been solid but not spectacular so far at his home Grand Tour.

Ninth in the general classification, Rodriguez is exactly 6:00 down on the Red Jersey of Ben O'Connor, but just 2:07 behind 2nd overall Primoz Roglic and as such, a first Grand Tour podium is still very much within sight of the INEOS Grenadiers leader, who has finished in the top 7 of all three of his previous Grand Tour efforts.

"First week completed of this Vuelta," begins a rest day reflection posted to Rodriguez's official social media pages, with the Spaniard delighted by the warm reception he has received on home roads over the last nine stages. "Thank you very much for the support these days, and especially yesterday. I feel very lucky to have so many people cheering me on, it is certainly special. I hope to make you enjoy these remaining weeks."

With finishes of 6th (Vuelta a Espana 2022), 5th (Tour de France 2023) and 7th (Tour de France 2024) on his palmares already, Rodriguez will definitely be looking up the general classification in the coming weeks and with the race entering territory that should favour the 23-year-old, a podium is within sight, as is the White Jersey for Best Young Rider. Currently, Rodriguez sits 2nd in that classification, but with the relatively untested Florian Lipowitz only 33 seconds clear of the Spaniard, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Rodriguez in white when the race reaches its conclusion in Madrid.