"It’s difficult to win a stage. But the important thing is that we are trying" - Carlos Rodriguez backs INEOS to end Vuelta a Espana slump in coming days
Cycling
The INEOS Grenadiers haven't managed to taste success as of yet at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana. On stage 12, both Oscar Rodriguez and Jhonatan Narvaez got themselves in the breakaway, but sadly they couldn't bring home the win as glory went to Equipo Kern Pharma's Pablo Castrillo.
"I’m happy to see Pablo Castrillo win," INEOS Grenadiers leader Carlos Rodriguez reflected in his post-stage interview afterwards, full of praise for his young compatriot, who according to rumours, may become a teammate for the 2025 season and beyond, with Rodriguez also paying not to the sad passing of Equipo Kern Pharma founder. "Also in a special day with the death of Manuel Azcona. I think it was hard for them and for the team, and I’m happy for them to get the stage win."
For the INEOS Grenadiers however, the wait for a win goes on. "It’s difficult to win a stage, everybody knows that," Rodriguez assesses honestly. "But the important thing is that we are trying, and hopefully one day, we will get there."
In fact, the team's best hope might be Rodriguez himself with the Spaniard sitting 6th overall in the general classification and leading the Best Young Rider classification, as such wearing the White Jersey. "It was a good day. I was feeling good, and I managed to arrive with the others in the end, so I’m happy,” concludes his stage 12 assessment.
..... "But the important thing is that we are trying, and hopefully one day, we will get there." Not the kind of comment you would expect from a team that still thinks it's among the top teams. Those days are long gone.
When Kern Pharma can win a stage while the most expensive team finishes 5th
There is no way on Earth that INEOS is more expensive than UAE. So when Kern Pharma can win a stage while the most expensive eam finishes 3rd and the next most expensive finishes 5th is more accurate. I think in reality we will find that Pablo Castrillo is a WT rider in 2025.
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