Sastre: Don't rule out Vinokourov

By Shane Stokes in Lugo

It's not just Vinokourov who think he can be a threat on GC - CSC rival Carlos Sastre also feels it is possible for Vino to be a factor in the final overall shakedown. "I said he is rider to take into account and he will be more dangerous as the Vuelta goes by," he told Spain's Onda Cero radio at the stage eight finish line. "I think he will be fighting in the top positions during the third week."

Today's stage started just before ten o'clock in an effort to maximise the available television coverage and viewership. That mean the riders had to be up early in order to eat and travel to the start. Sastre was asked for his views on this.

"I will be thankful when I lie down in bed, it's the same thing whether it's 2 or 6pm," he answered. "If all the stages were at the same start time, I think it would be better for everyone. But these changes where one day you wake up at 10am, the next at 7am, are uncomfortable for us.

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