Saunier Duval looking for its first Vuelta

By Iker Rioja

Joxean 'Matxin' Fernández stated yesterday in an interview with EFE Radio that the main goal of Saunier Duval-Prodir in the Vuelta a España is to improve last year's fifth position. The three-week races starts this Saturday.

"Marchante has prepared for the race very well," reckoned Matxin. "The first week will be decisive, with the first mountain stage and the time trial. Nevertheless, there will be little gaps between the best riders, so we will have to wait until the third one [week] to clear things up".

Matxin believes that Cadel Evans, Denis Menchov and Oscar Pereiro are the strongest men in the race.

His young rider Arkaitz Durán talked about the team's ambitions in the race. "I'm excited, it's my first Grand Tour ever", the 21 year-old Basque explained to hometown radio Cadena Ser. "I'll try to help José Angel [Gómez Marchante] but I will also go for escapes. It's always nice to wear the leader's jersey, but seen this year's route I think it's better to wait since we would be working hard from the very beginning."