INTERVIEW | Nelson Oliveira 11th on Vuelta a Espana opening but promises to go for a stage win: "It would be a dream. I've already won once, it's not impossible"
Cycling
Nelson Oliveira started another Grand Tour of his career in the city of Lisbon, in an excellent individual effort, finishing the stage in 11th place, just behind João Almeida and 20 seconds behind the day's winner, Brandon McNulty.
Speaking exclusively to CyclingUpToDate at the end of the stage, the Movistar Team man was happy: "The sensations were good and it was nice to have the vibrant support of the people here in Lisbon at the start of a Grand Tour. I'm very proud to be racing here in Portugal". As for his time in the time trial, the Anadia native said: "I wanted to do better, but someone was better than me".
The possibility of getting away in the early stages to try and give the Portuguese a cheer and even maybe try to get to the red jersey through an escape, since he finished the day quite close to the lead:
"We have to think about the team's own tactics and see where we go from here. We have to think about the team's own tactics and see what the team proposes from now on, we have two stages here in Portugal that are for sprint finishes, we have to be patient. There's still a lot between now and Madrid, but we'll see," he concludes. "It would be a dream. I've already won once, it's not impossible."
Just in
Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter today!
Popular news
Latest comments
- The same thing was said when Tadej announced that he would ride the Giro: "he goes to Il Giro because he knows he can't win the Tour". Always negative speculations. Maybe Primoz, near to the final of his career, simply wants to try this experience.
maria2024202419-12-2024 - If Valentino Rossi could never win during his period of dominance, and massive personality, then Pogacar not winning isn't a massive surprise. Cycling isn't a Premier League global sport......only one event reaches the mainstream every year - and that's not good enough.wipperman9519-12-2024
- I don't think it's only a British thing; the biggest talents aren't usually drawn to CX. Where are all the top Italian, French, Spanish, Slovenian CX riders? Apart from Belgium, and Netherlands, it's not really a target for up and coming cyclists - as there's no career unless you move to Belgium. Other countries can't support a proper professional series, like an international sport should be able to do. Lets not forget, since 2016, British riders have won plenty of World championships; with Pidcock, Richards, Tulett & Backstedt all winning more than one..... And, there was a time when Belgium didn't rule the roost in CX; that was Switzerland, but since the advent of XC MTB, their top off-road talents race there instead of CX - and the 2nd raters not good enough for XC MTB, race CX.wipperman9519-12-2024
- "25-34 are only 13% of USA Cyclings membership" Wow. I own a bike shop, and that number comports both with what I see in the business as well as on the road and trails, but it's somehow hugely demoralizing to see it quantified. Thirteen percent?verve82519-12-2024
- What super dutch talent are we talking about?awp18-12-2024
- Yes, 25-34 are only 13% of USA Cyclings membership.awp18-12-2024
- I will take the old days when you could track your teams across 8 years. Can't imagine a new fan finding it easy.Sweep18-12-2024
- Pick better parents and/or better doping agents.
ChoppyWarburton18-12-2024 - The bike industry situation is the same as the future Dutch talent pool discussion , it’s a fakely perceived problem due to an exceptional period that’s come to an end.Mistermaumau18-12-2024
- It's all a part of the fun. Sometimes it takes a few races before you can tell who's who and what's going on.
santiagobenites18-12-2024