Interview with stage winner Nacer Bouhanni of FDJ
Was that your goal to win a stage when you lined up at the Vuelta?
Yes it was my goal to win a stage as soon as possible to take pressure off my FDJ.fr team. We’ll be more relaxed from now on. It’s important. I won the only bunch sprint I took part in at the Eneco Tour. It gave me the confidence after not riding for more than a month after the French championship [2nd behind his team-mate Arnaud Démare]. I trained well before the Eneco Tour. I knew the form was coming. Shall there be other opportunities to win at the Vuelta, I’ll go for it.
Is the green jersey also a goal for you after winning the points classification at the Giro?
My next goal is a second stage win. I’ll focus on that. We’ll defend the green jersey but this was only stage 2. I’ll also try and do the intermediate sprints and this distinctive jersey could become a goal later on. But I won’t be obsessed by the points competition.
It’s a historical week-end for the Bouhanni family as your younger brother Rayane became the junior French champion for road racing. How close are you guys?
Rayane’s national title is kind of my most beautiful victory of the year. Usually I struggle to fall asleep after winning and it happened to me last night. My brother is very important for me. His win yesterday has increased my desire to win as well today. I’m very happy.
Race leader Alejandro Valverde (Movistar): “It’s always exciting to get the leader’s jersey. But tomorrow there’s a small hill in the finale. It remains to be seen whether we ride for the stage or if we let the jersey go. I got the jersey today rather than one of my team-mates just because I stayed in the first positions to avoid gaps. But I’d have preferred one of my guys to take the red jersey. When I jumped into the bus, they told me: ‘what are you doing here? You’re the race leader!’ Now I’m not seeking time bonus in particular. In cycling, I love to win. Shall I win a stage, the time bonus will come along. It won’t change my future if I win the Vuelta or not, or if Nairo Quintana wins. It’s almost decided. I want to stay with the team.”
Roberto Ferrari (Lampre-Merida, 3rd): “I’m more or less happy with the top 3. Bouhanni had something extra today. It was all done at the last curve but we were up there. I think I can try to win in the next few stages. I’m not far off.”
Jasper Stuyven (Trek, 4th): “This is my first Grand Tour. I’m just happy with my first result but it’s nothing special yet.”
Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural, 5th): “I’m quite satisfied but only one sprinter can be really satisfied, it’s the one who raises his hands up in the air. There are a few classy sprinters here, so my position is kind of a nice one. The finale particularly suited Bouhanni with a few curves. We all know that he’s very agile.”
Breakaway rider Valerio Conti (Lampre-Merida): “I only did what the directeurs sportifs told me to do. I made the first breakaway of the Vuelta. It wasn’t an easy one to make as it was an uphill start. We rode well together until the peloton caught us with 20km to go. They caught us when they wanted to. Two or three days before the start of the Vuelta, I was maybe going to be a starter. Only the day before, on Friday morning, I was told to pack my bag and come to Spain but my bag was already ready. It’s better to start my first Grand Tour in those conditions, with no pressure. I ride with the race number 1 on my back but I’m not the great champion that Chris Horner is. For sure, I won’t win the Vuelta, at least not this year. I’m only 21. I’d like to finish the three-week race but I don’t know how my physique will react.”
King of the Mountains Nathan Haas (Garmin-Sharp): “I saw on the road book that the first three KOM points were after just ten kilometers so I planned to make the first breakaway in order to crest the summit in first position. Therefore my race lasted for ten kilometers. Our team is here for riding GC with Dan Martin and Ryder Hesjedal. Because of the side wind, it was more important for me to stay with my leaders. This is my first Grand Tour so this is my first distinctive jersey in a Grand Tour. It’s an honour but I won’t try to keep it tomorrow.”
Pictures copyright of Unipublic/Graham Watson