Today, Domenico Pozzovivo finished 3rd on the 2nd stage of the Vuelta a España. The small 53 kilo AG2R La Mondiale rider went on the offensive on the first Vuelta a España mountain top finish. The transalpine rider showed, if it needed to be, that he wants to play a leading role on this Vuelta.

Pozzovivo at the finish line:  “Yesterday, on the team time-trial, I noticed that my feeling was pretty good. I had a little doubt at the start this morning because it was today the first stage that finishes on a bump. I felt well throughout the race and  I was well-supported by my teammates. I stayed into the bunch on the climb but I suffered in the flat part with a crosswind. The last part of the ascent was a little steeper and I saw that three riders attacked so I tried to stay with them. We looked each other in the last kilometre and this is where I tried my luck. The last 200 meters were a little bit easier and thus in the favour of Nicolas Roche and Daniel Moreno who are faster than me on this kind of final. I’m glad after this stage, even if I don’t win. I save some time on my competitors and it’s a great morale booster!”

This year’s Vuelta a España route has no less than 11 summit finishes, so Pozzovivo will definitely be going for the stage win again. He will be an interesting rider to follow in the mountains based on today’s promising performance.