Madrid (AFP)
The double threat of Covid-19 and snow looms over the Tour of Spain transformed into an obstacle course for aspirants to the red jersey.
Starting with Primoz Roglic, beaten in the Tour de France and winner of the 2019 edition, who sets off with the favorite number on Tuesday in Irun in the Basque Country.
In addition to the uncertain and volatile health situation, illustrated by the virtual closure of Madrid, where the Vuelta is due to end on November 8, there is a negative impact on the weather.
Postponed by two months and shortened from its three initial stages planned in the Netherlands due to the pandemic, the 75th Tour of Spain is already trembling with cold.
One week before the big start, snow covered Tourmalet (2.115 m above sea level), the scene of the arrival of the sixth stage on Sunday and the first moment of truth of this Vuelta.
Enough to thicken the fog around the last three-week race of the year.
Still in progress, the Giro has lost two of its favorites, Simon Yates and Steven Kruijswijk, on positive tests for the coronavirus.
And as a precaution, their teams, including Jumbo, that of Roglic, withdrew from the Tour of Italy.
A situation for which the Tour of Spain must prepare.
To avoid the risks, nine climbs will be closed to the public, including the seven arrivals at the top.
- Roglic's revenge? -
The recipe, applied during the Tour de France where the virus circulated the most, had allowed it to pass between the droplets.
The two events have in common that they are organized by ASO, via its Unipublic subsidiary in the case of the Vuelta.
What to hope for a similar scenario in the Iberian Peninsula?
Not in the general classification, must think Primoz Roglic.
The Slovenian champion, stripped of the yellow jersey on the eve of the arrival of the Great Loop in Paris after eleven days in the golden fabric, has a painful memory to relegate to the cellar of his thoughts, before returning his bike to the garage for good in 2020.
With two luxury teammates, Sepp Kuss and George Bennett, and Tom Dumoulin as co-leader, "Rogla" can once again count on an Avengers-style team around him.
"Our team is at the start with two favorites for the final victory, including the defending champion, says sporting director Grischa Niermann. We can be sure that the other teams will be watching us."
First and foremost, Ineos.
The former Team Sky, overtaken by the men in yellow and black in France, travels to Spain of the winner of the Giro 2019 Richard Carapaz as leader, accompanied by the man at the four Tours de France, Chris Froome, who is competing there for his last race in the jersey of the British team.
- A decisive first week -
Beyond the Jumbo-Ineos duel, the astonishing Alexandr Vlasov can create a sensation in a Vuelta used to unexpected winners (Aru in 2015, Horner in 2013).
The 24-year-old Russian, one of the revelations of this season (podium in the Tour of Lombardy, victories in the Tour d'Emilie and the Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge) moved to Spain after his retirement from the 2nd stage of the Giro.
At home, Movistar has a card to play with its Spanish leader Enric Mas, surprising 5th in the Tour de France, who will be supported by veteran Alejandro Valverde.
And if - even more than usual with this condensed calendar - the Vuelta has to turn at the consoling point of the Great Loop, why not imagine Thibaut Pinot to illustrate himself, after the disappointment of the Tour, where a fall from the first day has ruined his ambitions.
There will be no delay in the ignition in Spain.
A summit finish opens the Tour of Spain with a final climb of 5.3 km and 7.7% average gradient in Eibar from Tuesday.
“The first three stages are mountainous, even observes Grischa Niermann. So we will have to be strong from the start. The 6th stage then arrives. In my opinion, this is the queen stage, with its arrival at the Col du Tourmalet. .) In my opinion, the most important week of the Vuelta will be the first week ".
© 2020 AFP