Vuelta for Beltrán

By Shane Stokes

Discovery Channel's Spanish rider Manuel Beltrán was, like so many of his compatriots generally are, relaxed and open at yesterday's start of the Tour de Suisse. The friendly rider says that he is once again aiming to do two Grand Tours in 2006 but that the Vuelta rather than the Tour de France is on his schedule.

"This year my programme is the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España," he said. With two Tours it is okay, I am happy. I have done two big Tours each season for a long, long time – in my twelve years as a professional, I have done 20 of them."

As regards his goals for the Tour de Suisse, Beltrán said he'd work that out depending on his form. "I did the Giro and now I am not sure what my condition is like. I hope that I will have good legs in the climbs, starting with the fifth stage. But I don't know…I will try to do the best possible race that I can do."

"I will be one of the GC riders for the team but Janez (Brajkovic) is a good guy. He is young, but he can go fast in the climb and the time trials too, so I think he will do a good race."