After Chris Froome’s departure from the Vuelta a Espana, the team has taken on multiple goals. The best of those goals, is to keep Mikel Nieve high on the GC, where he now sits sixth after 14 stages.

“I’m in good shape, I was very pleased with how it went in Andorra for me,” Nieve tells Cyclingnews. “These three tough days will tell me more about how I’m going.”

Asked if he would sign on the dotted line for any particular result in Madrid, Nieve is not willing to do so. “I’m not giving myself any particular target. Just as high up on GC as possible.”

The 31 year old Basque is a great climber and has finished in the top ten overall in both the Giro and Vuelta, along with stage wins in both.

“Following Froome’s abandon we’ll go on, you have to do that when the leader goes, we’ve got a good team and we’ll keep going till Madrid. I’ll do what I can. Chris was coming here to win the Vuelta, my role is to be one of the guys in the battle.” - but not necessarily to be going for the victory- “and see what gives.”