Rojas, also in the Vuelta?

By Antonio J. Salmerón

The young and promising Caisse d'Epargne sprinter José Joaquín Rojas expressed to Spanish newspaper El Faro de Murcia that "after having a rest, I will try to convince my directeur sportif to include me in the Vuelta a España roster."

The 21 year-old Spaniard's morale has been lifted after fighting against Petacchi, McEwen and other top-level sprinters in the Giro d'Italia. "I showed myself that I can be among the top sprinters." Rojas left the Giro d'Italia during the tenth stage, "because the high mountains were too much."

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"I began to compete in February, in Mallorca, and since then I have not stopped. I needed to have a rest, but now I am thinking about the second part of this season. If you feel well, why stop?" Rojas added.

He won the first stage of the Vuelta a Murcia. "It was great, because I was at home. But what came after that was fantastic also, the April classics. I finished Paris-Roubaix in 26th, after having been in the escape group from the beginning. I think that I can do better next time," the Caisse d'Epargne rider said. The Vuelta a España will have a stage finish next to his home, in Torre Pacheco (Murcia), September 14. "This 13th stage comes by Cieza, where I live. In fact, there will be a Meta Volante (intermediate sprint) there. I will be very motivated to take that one," Rojas commented on the subject.