“I still think the best is yet to come” - Misfiring INEOS rider vows more to come at Vuelta after Tour de France heartbreak
CyclingWednesday, 02 September 2026 at 10:30
Carlos Rodríguez heads into the second week of the Vuelta a España facing a reality different from the one he likely imagined before the race. The Spanish rider from INEOS arrived at the Grand Tour after missing both the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France, and this opening week has not brought the level needed to fight for the front of the general classification.
The disappointment, however, has not changed his attitude. Rodríguez has accepted that his individual chances are now different and has begun to focus his efforts on working for Oscar Onley, his Netcompany INEOS teammate and the current leader of the young riders’ classification. The Spaniard admits he has not yet contributed as much as he hoped, but remains confident his best version can surface in the coming days.
The second week also offers a special incentive. The Vuelta will arrive in Almuñécar, his hometown, on stage 13, a day Rodríguez is eagerly awaiting. Family and friends who have supported him since his first pedal strokes will be there. Racing in front of them will be an extra motivation at a time when he needs to rediscover sensations and confidence.
In an interview with Ciclo21, the rider from the Costa Tropical shows the quiet belief of someone who knows his quality and the form he can reach in the third week. Out of the fight for the overall, he tackles a home Vuelta with all chips placed on giving his fans a reason to cheer.
Carlos Rodríguez, corredor de NetCompany INEOS.
A first week below expectations
Rodríguez does not hide that the Vuelta start fell short of his expectations. He hoped to be in a competitive position and play a bigger role, but his sensations have forced him to reset his goals. “Obviously, there was a moment when I didn’t feel at the level I expected, and it was a big disappointment,” he admits.
The challenge has not been purely physical. The Netcompany rider believes the head has weighed heavily in these first days. “I think it’s been a bit tough both physically and mentally. The main obstacle has been mental, but the mind controls the legs,” he explains. It is a reflection of a rider trying to rebuild confidence while searching for the performance he knows he can deliver.
Despite the setback, Rodríguez is keen not to turn the first week into a wholly negative balance. The team atmosphere and the support from fans have allowed him to enjoy a race that still holds special meaning for him. “To be honest, I haven’t been where I wanted to be. Apart from that, the race has been great,” he acknowledges.
Adapting to the circumstances is also part of the learning process. Rodríguez understands that a Grand Tour does not always allow individual goals to be met and that reacting to difficulties is part of any rider’s development. “This first week I’ve been learning to manage different situations and how to face them,” he explains, convinced that this experience can help him both in the coming days and in the future.
At the service of Oscar Onley
Rodríguez’s situation has led him to take on a different role within Netcompany. With Oscar Onley emerging as a leading contender in the young riders’ classification, the Spaniard has found fresh motivation in supporting his teammate. The Briton has become one of the team’s main cards, and Rodríguez wants to help him hold his position.
“It’s been great to have someone coming in for a good result and someone we can rely on,” he says of Onley. The Spaniard also concedes he can do much more for the young rider: “I want to support Oscar even better in the next part of the race, as so far I haven’t been very decisive.”
That shift in priorities does not mean Rodríguez has given up on his own chances. The second-week route offers several stages where he could regain prominence if the legs respond. Among them are stages 12, 13, and 14, three days he himself highlights as especially important for his ambitions.
“Stages 12, 13 and 14 will be important,” he explains. Rodríguez believes stages 12 and 14 could give him opportunities to chase a result, while stage 13 has a completely different dimension. It will be his home day, a return to the roads of his youth and to many of the people who have accompanied his sporting journey.
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A stage circled in red
The Vuelta’s arrival on home roads is one of Rodríguez’s big stimuli this edition. Stage 13 starts in Almuñécar, his birthplace, and the rider hopes to enjoy a day that goes beyond the strictly competitive. “It’s great to have the local crowd and to race on the roads from my area,” he says.
The presence of family and friends will make the day even more special. “My family and friends will come to see me and cheer me on from the roadside,” he says. They are people who stood by him long before he turned pro and who will now see him compete in one of the calendar’s biggest races almost on his doorstep.
Rodríguez also does not want the stage to be seen solely as a celebration. Although the profile may look less demanding on paper, he warns it could turn into a far trickier day than expected. “I think it’ll be harder than it looks on the profile,” he argues.
🔥 Stage 13 | Etapa 13 🔥
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) December 17, 2025
🚩 Almuñécar > Loja 🏁
🚴 193.2 km
🇬🇧 A day for sprinters who handle the climbs well 💪
The stage will start from the hometown of the Granada-born cyclist, Carlos Rodríguez of the INEOS Grenadiers.
🇪🇦 Día los velocistas que pasen bien las… pic.twitter.com/m4LECi1KLC
The key now is to steadily recover sensations and seize any opening. Rodríguez still believes he can show a much better version of himself and tackles the second week hoping a change of scene also brings a change in performance. “I still think the best is yet to come, so I’m really looking forward to it,” he says.
On that path, the Andalusian combines two aims: to try to regain his individual prominence and, at the same time, to put himself at the service of an Onley who is one of Netcompany’s main trump cards. The Vuelta still offers room to change the course of his race and, above all, to enjoy competing again in front of his own crowd.
“I hope I can keep pushing and enjoying it, even suffering,” he sums up. It is a statement that defines the moment for Carlos Rodríguez who, far from giving up, enters the second half of the Vuelta intent on rediscovering the rider he knows he can be.
Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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