It’s the seventh day of the Vuelta and today the riders head from Jódar to La Alpujarra, a stage of 191.1 kilometres. Although the peloton already had to cover some tough climbs on the way to the previous finishes, the first big mountain still has to come. With the Alto de Capileira the riders have to climb 19 kilometres to the finish.

BART DE CLERCQ (24th at 2’43”) is keen:

“I’m looking forward to the longer climbs because the explosive climbs in the end don’t suit me that well. On a final climb like today's your position is less important. My condition feels fine. That will hopefully be confirmed today and on the first stage after the rest day, with the queen stage in Andorra.

"It won’t be easy to follow the real top riders, but it’s my goal to maintain a good position behind them. Further down the Vuelta, when the time gaps are bigger, I might join a breakaway and take back some time.”