Vuelta a Espana 2013 - The Major Contenders
The 2013 Vuelta is just a week away, and so is as good a time as any to analyse this year's main contenders. The defending champion Alberto Contador will not be at this year's race, but the two men who joined him on the podium, Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez will be. Add to that Sky's Colombian duo Sergio Henao and Rigoberto Uran, and men such as Giro d'Italia champion Vincenzo Nibali and the evergreen Samuel Sanchez, then this year's race should be one of the most open in years.
Firstly, Alejandro Valverde. The Spaniard was impressive at this year's Tour de France, sitting in second place until the crosswinds of stage 13 caused him to lose ten minutes, and take a supportive role to the young Colombian Nairo Quintana. He comes into the Vuelta in good condition, having completed a similar programme last year, when he managed a second place at the Vuelta. With Contador not present, he will be quietly confident that he can go one better, and claim his second title at the Spanish grand tour.
Vincenzo Nibali is the Italian favourite coming into the race, and is coming off the back of winning the Giro d'Italia this May, where he dominated proceedings. He has been quoted before the race saying that he is "no Superman" but he must be confident, in 2010 he managed a podium in Italy, before taking victory in Spain. He may be up against tough opposition, but he has proven to be one of the best grand tour riders of his generation, and has been tipped by many to be standing on top of the podium come Madrid.
Joaquim Rodriguez is still on the quest to win his first grand tour, and his next tilt at the Vuelta will be an attempt to cancel out the dissappointment of last year, where he came so close to victory, before a Contador ambush caught him napping on a medium mountain stage. It's a course that suits him once again, with minimal time trial kilometres being cancelled out by a ridiculous amount of mountain top finishes, Rodriguez's specialty. His form is good, having finished third in the Tour de France, and if he has recovered well, he should be a major player at this year's race.
Rigoberto Uran is riding his last grand tour for Sky before he moves to Omega Pharma-Quickstep, and the perfect leaving present to his team would be a victory. He finished runner up to Vincenzo Nibali at the Giro d'Italia this year, and after sitting out the Tour, he will chomping at the bit to get his name on the lips of the cycling world, especially after he has been overshadowed by countryman Nairo Quintana this July. His conditioning should be good, and he will have the help of another Colombian - Sergio Henao.
Henao has already stated his motivation for the Vuelta, and will want to improve on his previous best at the race of 14th. He is shaping up well, having finished fifth at the Tour de Pologne, and will want to continue improving for not only the world championships next month, but for his future with Sky, which is certain to include a leadership role at a grand tour in the not too distant future. As for his chances? I think he may play a supportive role to Uran, but that does not limit his chances, Sky have a good ability to promote two men up the field in a three week race.
Samuel Sanchez has to be the last serious contender. He will want to be prominent at this year's race, possibly working to save Euskaltel, who are struggling to secure funding for next year. He has not been a serious contender at a grand tour since his fifth at the 2011 Tour de France, but a return to home soil will not do him any harm, and the lack of time trialling kilometres will only be a good thing when up against men such as Vincenzo Nibali and Alejandro Valverde.
Add to these men returning Italian giant Ivan Basso, and young dynamic Colombian Carlos Betancur, and this year's Vuelta is well and truly set for one of the best general classification battles for years, even without a certain two time winner and defending champion.