Svein Tuft predicts teammate Esteban Chaves will wear the Vuelta’s red jersey
The Langley, B.C., rider figures GC favourites who also rode the Tour likely to fade
On Tuesday’s first rest day of the 2016 Vuelta a España, Svein Tuft reflected on the Spanish Grand Tour. It’s the Langley, B.C., rider’s second Grand Tour of the season, second appearance at the Vuelta and 10th Grand Tour of his career.
“The Vuelta is a different beast from the other two Grand Tours,” the Orica-BikeExchange cyclist said. “It has a very relaxed atmosphere, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less easy. We’ve spent a lot of time in Galicia where the roads are like a constant roller-coaster ride and very grippy to say the least.”
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The mountains of Spain are steep. The organizers have done the riders no favours when they designed the route. On Stage 3, the peloton climbed the Mirador de Ézaro. In the three days preceding the rest day, the race featured summit finishes. Tuft thinks the course will punish some the big-name riders. “The usual suspects have been flexing their muscles in these first 10 stages, but I have a feeling that some of those efforts in the red zone will start to take their toll, especially on the guys who have been going for GC in the Tour de France.”
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Tuft is a powerful rider on the flats and, quite strategically, is in the gruppetto when the road tilts upward. Still, he has an important role to play in helping Orica-BikeExchange’s own GC hopeful early in each stage. “Our little Colombian Esteban Chaves is biding his time. His form is getting better by the day. Don’t be surprised to see him take the jersey,” Tuft said. “This, of course, keeps the team’s motivation and spirits high. We are riding as one; everyone is committed to the cause. We head into the Pyrenees this week, so there should be some fireworks ahead.”
