Spanish former pro hints at Pablo Torres as "the new Indurain, the new Contador, the new Perico..."

Spanish cycling has been experiencing a drought of victories in grand tours since the retirement of Alberto Contador. In fact, since the Spaniard won the 2015 Giro d'Italia, no one has managed to raise his arms in the final days of the Giro, Tour or Vuelta. Enric Mas has managed to finish on the podium on three editions of La Vuelta, but has not managed to make the leap to the top step of the podium and seeing the stiff competition.

On the other side is Juan Ayuso, a tremendously talented young rider for UAE Team Emirates but also one who has extreme pressure on his shoulders from the Spanish audience, teaming up with other huge leaders such as Tadej Pogacar, João Almeida and Adam Yates whilst having to carry the high expectations that past generations have created for their Grand Tour riders.

So, today, and thinking more in the medium term, Pablo Torres could be the great Spanish hope to return to shine in yellow by what we saw in the last Tour de l'Avenir, where he beat the record of the mythical Colle delle Finèstre at the mere age of 18.

Speaking to Marca at the last presentation of the Vuelta a España, former Spanish sprinter Miguel Ángel Martín Perdiguero believes that Torres is the future of Spanish cycling and makes it very clear with his comparison: "It's clear to me that Pablo Torres is the new Indurain, the new Contador, the new Perico... he's the future of Spanish cycling. These are results". Needless to say that this will be the pressure that UAE will avoid putting him under, but he is in the right team surrounded by other big stars that will carry the spotlight for several years still.

Perdiguero spoke about the controversy of the new Spanish coach, criticizing the ways of José Viciozo: "Both [Óscar] Freire and [Alejandro] Valverde and anyone who has raced so many World Championships and has had good results in that race can do well," he argues. "What I don't see so well is to play with them as has been done. If one tells you one thing, it has to be done. You can't do the damage that is being done to these names."