Alberto Contador and the rest of the Tinkoff-Saxo team are on the Canary Islands on training camp. Because of the training camp, he couldn’t make it to the Vuelta a Espana presentation, but has followed the news and seen the route.

In contrary to Mario Aerts and Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador thinks that the route follows the last two years format of hardness.

“I think that it has followed the format from the recent years, which has given a spectacular Vuelta and that is what people want. It is a Vuelta for the climbers. It is true that there are many summit finishes and they will play an important role, especially if you take a look on the bonus points, which have been very important for the outcome in the last couple of years,” Contador said.

The time trials doesn’t seems to worry the Spaniard, who says that they won’t make a big difference.

“The first time trial is not very decisive. The second one is certainly one for the climbers, because it starts with a climb and after the climb you have 10 km flat road, but they won’t make a big difference. You never know.”

Asked about whether or not he likes the route, he says that if he has the form, it would be a nice route.

“If I have legs, of course I like it. You must be aware that it will be the second big tour after the Tour de France that I want to do at one hundred percent. I don’t know how good my performance at the Vuelta will be after riding the Tour.”

When Contador takes a look on the 2012 Vuelta a Espana, which he won, he thinks that there are fewer summit finishes, but they are longer in this year’s route, which make it just as hard as 2012.

“If you take a look on the finishes you will see that there a fewer than 2012, but they are longer. That is a big motivation factor for me, because when the finishes are short with a high percentage, the riders with a good acceleration can set me off. But, as I said, it depends on the legs.”

Tinkoff-Saxo has been on the Canary Islands since the 8th of January and Contador is feeling well. He has chosen his normal preparation, as the preparation last season didn’t turn out well.

“I am here enjoying the lovely weather and I am in a calmer, more organized preparation than last year. Things are going pretty well, I have to keep working, doing my best and I hope that it would be noticed during the season.”