"It's much more fun not to have such a strong rider" - Joaquim Rodriguez excited by open nature of Vuelta a Espana in absence of Pogacar, Vingegaard & Evenepoel
Cycling
Although the Red Jersey may have eluded Joaquim Rodriguez during his career, nine stage wins ensured 'Purito' wrote his name into Vuelta a Espana folklore and left an indelible mark on Spanish cycling in the process.
With the 2024 edition of the Vuelta a Espana taking on the first summit finish test on stage 4, Rodriguez is excited by the open nature of this Grand Tour, especially given the somewhat dominant wins for Tadej Pogacar at both the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France earlier this year.
"It's clear that without Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard or Remco Evenepoel it's a bit more open," explains the 45-year-old Spaniard in conversation with Marca. Although the star power may be diminished by the aforementioned absentees, the racing will be more exciting Rodriguez believes. "In terms of the spectacle it's much more fun not to have such a strong rider."
In terms of favourites though, Rodriguez somewhat understandably opts for three time Red Jersey winner, Primoz Roglic. "I have no doubt that he can be the big favourite for this Vuelta a Espana," 'Purito' predicts. "The only doubt I have is that he has not raced for a long time after his fall and injury in the Tour de France, we'll see how he does today."
'Purito' wore the Red Jersey for 19 days in his career without ever winning La Vuelta (best result being 2nd in 2015 ed.)
As one of the most loved figures in Spanish cycling during his career, Rodriguez also casts an eye on the current generation, headed up at this edition of their home Grand Tour by Carlos Rodriguez, Enric Mas and Mikel Landa.
"There are no doubts about Carlos Rodríguez because he is one of the riders who has worked well for this Vuelta a España and he is a very good possibility for the podium. Enric Mas came out of the Tour de France in very good shape, and above all he was furious for not having been able to compete in the general classification that he likes to ride, and I think that in this Vuelta a España he will find himself again, and the issue of Mikel, well, we all know it: all or nothing. I hope we meet a Mikel Landa again like we met in the Tour de France, because he is possibly the bravest of the three," Rodriguez assesses of the trio.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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🇪🇸 And with that, we are in Spain! The riders start their first stage on Spanish roads, and with it, the first real climbs. 💪 😌⛰️ ¡Ya en España preparados para un etapón de montaña! 🚴♂️ Salida neutralizada de la etapa 4⃣ #LaVuelta24
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