“I had to go back, maybe 2026 would have been too late”

A decade of the last victory in the general of a Spaniard in the Tour of Italy has passed. He got it Alberto Contador, But that appointment raised Mikel Rural. The Basque, at that time Cyclist of Astana, dynamited a career in which his partner Fabio Aru It was second. Now, in the middle of 2025, perhaps in the penultimate year of his career, that of Murgía He is a candidate again to be in the drawer.

What is special for the Italian turn?

It is the race in which I exploded as a big laps corridor. Every time I return there I return with a smile, although I have also had hard moments. I think it’s a very special career.

Why did you decide to return?

It was time to return to this turn. I had not been going for several years. The last time I did it on the podium (it was 3rd in 2022 after Hindley and Carapaz) and it was time to return. If not, maybe in 2026 it may be late.

It may be my last chance to get on the podium in a bigLanda, the brand

Do you think this is the biggest race?

The three are special. Yes that the turn has achieved, as good Italians who are, sell well and make a different race. More passionate.

That they are not Pogacar and Vingegaard had something to do with?

No, in my case, no. If they are not they will be others. Moreover, I would prefer sometimes they are because they can exploit the race more and help me leave rivals behind that I could only.

Doesn’t the temptation to forget the general and go find stages? Doesn’t they give him freedom in his team or is it his desire to continue fighting the classification?

I think the team needs a runner for the general. If I answer from the beginning I will do the usual. If something happens, which can always happen as a fall or not find yourself well, the chip will be changed. But, for now, the body does not ask me in this race to do something else.

I love seeing battallites as the indurain stage in ApricaLanda, the brand

Those who know him point out that one of his strong is the head.

Sometimes I have already thought about it, that I endure sticks like nobody because they spend years and remain at a good level here. Each corridor has its strong and maybe the head is one of mine.

Do you think any ‘outsider’ will come out and surprise?

There may be surprises. The turn has always been very capricious. The first week it seems that one will win, but the second week appears another corridor and in the last one the corridor that takes it comes. This turn has complicated stages at the beginning, even if it is not of great mountain.

Ayuso said in brand that his best memory of the turn is one in which he was the protagonist in 2015, who won accountant and where he was on the podium. It was the last Spanish victory in a great.

I feel old when listening to that (laughs). But it is also good for kids who have grown that turn and be now with them giving him a little war.

Do you see the Spanish of the UAE as the great favorite to conquer the ‘Maglia’?

I see him that he has given one more step. He is very mature taking responsibility for races and breaking them.

Do you really believe that the bad streak can be broken?

Hopefully. It can be a great opportunity for Juan and for Spanish cycling.

Do you see Roglic, the main favorite, with a margin of improvement?

I think margin of improvement is little left. Roglic, in addition, is a corridor that has been with a very high level for five years. I see that it has improvement, but you never know.

What other names occur to you as candidates? Do you think the Bernal, Yates and Company can also be there?

They are cyclists who have always been or have been there. Maybe with a blow of luck or experience we can surprise veterans.

As for local idols, Tiberi seems to be the one that has the most options. What cyclists were excited?

Regarding living near them I would say to Nibali. Pantani I saw it on TV. Then they are Coppi and everyone else. But Vincenzo is one of the ones that has marked me the most, of those who have impressed me the most. Sometimes without being the strongest or the best has been able to gain very different races among them. It is a very special cyclist.

Do you feel that it can be the last possibility of getting into the drawer in a large one?

You never know. But I start thinking. To the tour, for example, I will go to help Remco (Evnepoel) so it is impossible for him to be. And, in Lavuelta, in principle I will not be. So, without thinking about next year because the thing will get more complicated because I will be a greater year and people will press more, it may be the last chance.

Did something change in your preparation for this course?

I have done a little the usual. I have not changed anything. I have rested in winter and then I have been resting little by little. I knew we were going to turn and tour and, to maintain that freshness, they told me to start late so I happy to take more advantage of the house.

In its roller hours preparing the objectives, is cycling?

In the roller I always see cycling. Sometimes I see current stages, but I usually like to see battalls from another era. I think the one that I have seen the most who loses indurain in Aprica that Chiappucci wins. That stage was spectacular with Pantani out there, with Indurain and Chiappucci and many others …

Do you get well that Landani is nicknamed?

Well yes. It is a shame not to climb as fast as he did, flying. But, inside the pussy, I carry it with pride.

At the moment, one of the sports moments of the year was the Milan-San Remo. What do you think? Will there be another better momentary for the turn?

It was very pretty. You can even mark a before and after. I don’t know if it will be a race for Sprinters after what we have seen this year. I think other runners can be encouraged to participate and try from the Cipressa. I think he will mark a before and after.

To end. It gives you rage or pride to have coincided with the great cracks of the ‘Big Six’?

A pride. They are people who are changing cycling a bit. And, although they can be depriving you of victories, they will mark an era.