Ventoso seeks Andalucia stage win

Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Carmiooro NGC) awaits the start of the final stage.

Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Carmiooro NGC) awaits the start of the final stage. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Francisco Ventoso (Carmiooro NGC) has recovered from a knee injury suffered during the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria three weeks ago and is looking for a stage win and a boost in form at the upcoming Vuelta a Andalucia.

The 27-year-old Spaniard has been training in Benidorm, Spain to escape the flooding in his home region of Cantabria and looks forward to going head-to-head with the sprinting talent at the Vuelta a Andalucia, citing Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil) and Chris Sutton (Team Sky) as the riders to watch.

"The second and third stages are good for sprinters, but where I have a clearer opportunity is on the demanding last day," said Ventoso. "If I make it over all the difficult mountains I can contest the sprint in a smaller group."

The Vuelta a Andalucia's 161.4km final stage features three categorised climbs, including the first category Puerto de El Torcal 46 kilometres from the finish.

"Another objective is to use the Vuelta as a return to the rhythm of competition in order to face Milano-Sanremo with strength. I do not rule out training after some stages if time permits to adapt to the mileage of the Classics."

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