We ran there in early April (won two stages and was second in the general), and the day before the return trip I started feeling bad, with throat pain. Already at home, I got the fever and I spent several days sickwith mucos, phlegm … between that, the wear of the competition there, the jet lay And the long return journey cost me enough to turn the body.
Hence its absence in Vallea and Lieja-Bastoña-Lieja arrow …
I decided with the team that it was best to rest, take advantage to recover well and Prepare the return to Spain. On the dates on which I had to have competed in Belgium I was in Altea completing A good block of long trainingin good weather. It is something that, normally, you cannot do very often for a season, and that surely has been good for me.
But can he not harm him at the exit of the return after almost a month without putting a dorsal?
It is true that both the arrow and the Liege They would have come well to test the bodyacquire career rhythm and compare my shape with that of the rest of the cyclists. But, Finally we opt for not forcing and for being training at home, or in Alicante in this case. We will see now what my level is.
Face a very important phase of the course, right?
Yes, May is an intense and special level. The return to Spain is already an important objective, but it is that LI will be in two house races like Itzulia and Durango. I really want.
Your perspectives
What idea will this Sunday start in Barcelona? Do the general? Go to stages?
I would be very excited to get a good position in the general. But The level will be very high and we will also have Ane in the team (Santesteban)which will choose to get up in the classification. I will go day by day, seeing whether or not I am trying to stay there or if I have to run differently, which is sometimes the best and the most logical. We will have to let the passage of the stages and my sensations define the objectives, also taking into account that in the collective we are interested in adding UCI points.
He asked him about the general because last year was 16th in the Giro and 24th in the Tour. Not bad at all.
At first I have those two races on the calendar and I would like to improve in both my classifications of 2024. The return, meanwhile, did not run it last season, but I already tell you that I usually like to try a good general.
-I look at the tour and see that, beyond the initial team chrono, the land is varied.
There are everything: more flat stages, others with mountain … To me the best can come to me are the fifth and the lastend up high in Lagunas de Neila and Cotobello. They are the hardest.
SHEET OF THE TURN TO SPAIN 2025.
He spoke to me before how the return of El Salvador was twisted, where he did well in sports. What balance does its season to date?
From El Salvador I returned with a bittersweet taste, because There were days when I did not find myself quite wellespecially with the theme of allergies. In others I had very good feelings, but I stayed with the thorn of not having taken the general And not having better legs in the classic penultimate that we ran there, one that ended up climbing to a volcano (it was fifth).
And of the previous races in February and March what does it tell me?
Well, I didn’t have the best possible start. What happens is that I took it as normal, because It is always difficult for me to find an optimal formespecially because of what I was saying about the allergies. I usually go to more As of Mayso I hope to progress now.
What calendar?
I have already advanced it more or less: return, Itzulia, Durango … the intention is to be later in the Pyrenees Tour (He won a stage and the general in 2024). And on paper yes that I will also run around and touralthough there are always changes in plans for diseases, injuries or falls.
He signed a great 2024 and in October he renewed with the work Kutxa until 2027. Do you feel now that he has another status in the squad?
Well, depending on the race, the same yes, Especially for the mailot theme (current champion of Spain), which makes you more visible and leads others to take you more into account. But I also tell you that, if I had run it, in the Liege For example, they would not have watched me much (laughs). I think that, In the World Tour teststhe wheels to follow are others.
