Alexander Vlasov was determined to compete for the general classification of the Giro, but illness and a forced retirement from the Grand Tour of Italy breathed new life into the season. He is back in force – second in San Sebastián and in the general classification of the Vuelta de Burgos.
We spoke with him about the Vuelta a España project, which will take place from August 26 to September 17. The stage race will consist of 21 stages, the total distance will be more than 3.1 thousand km.
“It’s like restarting the season,” said Vlasov. – I rested, I started to train at home, then I went to altitude in Andorra, I spent 20 days there and then I flew to San Sebastian, from there in Austria up to altitude and then to the Vuelta Burgos. A lot of preparation went well.
– How does the general manager feel when he is forced to leave the Grand Tour? Is it difficult to restart?
“I got sick and I knew there was nothing you could do about it. It was impossible to continue. There was more than half of the season to come, it was possible to go to the Tour de France or the Vuelta. So it didn’t really let up, there were a lot of great races coming up, for which there was enough time to prepare well and start the season from scratch.
– When did the option with the “Tour” completely disappear?
– We discussed and decided that it made more sense to prepare the Vuelta well. I didn’t want to force it, you can get sick again in this context. We needed a good period of preparation. In our team, they approach all of this adequately, forcing is not an option.
Have you watched the Tour on TV?
– Yes, I looked. I like this. I watched the rest of the Giro and fell asleep on the sofa. Under the “Tower” I could not fall asleep, because it was interesting. The Giro was accompanied by many events: gatherings, illnesses, weather conditions, demonstrations, shortening of the stage.
– Most of the powerful Tour company headed for the Vuelta.
– It’s fun to run with all the strongest. If you show the result, then in such a business it is more valuable. On the Vuelta after the Tour, the line-up is often different, even if the majority of the strongest generals leave – it’s still at the end of the season.
– Are you captain? How do you judge the composition?
Yes, I will be the captain. There will be our young Sian Eitdebrooks. We will see if he goes to the “general” or not, but in the mountains he will stay with me for sure, the guy is strong. Lennard Kemna and Emanuel Buchman arrive. Good team for the mountain.
– Were you satisfied with yourself at Vuelta Burgos? On the one hand, it is perfectly elaborated, on the other, you are the second.
— When you start with Primoz Roglic, second place is a good result. Satisfied. In the last stage with the uphill finish, in the company of Roglic and Adam Yates, I felt good.
– We said it before the Giro, Italy is the country where you started your professional career. You have a special relationship with her. How do you feel in Spain?
“I’ve always liked racing there because of the weather. The roads are also more or less numerous, with short steep climbs. On the Burgos, it felt. Anglira will be at the Vuelta, I was already second there. I would still like to prove myself on this climb.
– Do you like to start the Grand Tour with a team race or is that “good”?
– “Such.” One of the most stressful and nervous disciplines. It is important to travel as one mighty train. If only one person is strong, it can make things worse.
– Did you want to go to the World Cup? Or is the trail not yours so much that it wasn’t worth trying?
– I once went to Yorkshire, I don’t really want to go there anymore for races with such specificities. It’s definitely not my story. Watching this is interesting, cool – it’s raining, turning, up and down, the track is technical. I don’t ask anyone, everyone says it’s just horrible how it all happened. For a runner of my specialization, it is better to look at this from the side.
“You’re in no rush to get neutral status.
– I’m starting for the team. If there is another track profile at competitions where this status will be needed, then maybe we will see.
– Are you already thinking about the Olympic Games?
– It would be prestigious to participate, but the track is not mine – what is the “coupage”, what is the “group”. But it would be nice to try.
– Three Vuelta favourites?
— Jonas Wingegaard. As I read his trainer promises he will be in the same cool shape. So he’s number one on this list. Roglich – let’s see what kind of roster they have in the squad. Additionally, the UAE squad features Juan Ayuso and Joao Almeida.
– What is the tactical alignment for the Grand Tour?
— Driving a team race well, avoiding losses from the first week, not shaking too much, but also not wasting time. Then there will be Turmale, Angliru, the scene after him is a very serious band. There are a few other good ones too. But Tourmalet is the first serious test.
Want to ride a cool Grand Tour stage? You have not yet.
– I wanted this for a long time, but I go to the “general”, which means that everything is subordinate to this goal. For the rest, how
– Do you think there will be an open battle in the Vuelta?
– The end of the season, a different motivation depending on the progress of the races. The Vuelta is therefore always more unpredictable.
Source : MatchTV
I’m John White and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. My specialty is covering sports news, which I’ve been doing for over 6 years now. During this time, I have worked as an author with Athletistic, a popular online news website focusing on sports topics.
