Italian Domenico Pozzovivo hopes to shine at the Vuelta a Espana, which begins in Marbella on August 22nd. The Ag2r La Mondiale leader will be one of the top contenders et did not hide his ambitions for the Spanish race.

"My goal is the top five," he told Cyclingnews in Lyon during the Tour de l’Ain. "Considering the big names on the start list, it would be a great achievement. I'd also like to win a stage in similar circumstances as Fabio Aru did it last year. Stage 11 to Andorra seems to suit me the most with the difference in altitude and the uphill finale. But two or three other stages please me as well. Technically, the course hasn't changed much from the past few years, except the individual time trial that is more for specialists than two years ago when I got my best result ever against the clock: third [in the 38-km stage 11 in Tarazona] behind the two best time triallists ina history [Fabian Cancellara and Tony Martin]."

This year, he quitted the Giro d’Italia because of a head-first crash. Indeed, he crashed hard on a high-speed descent Monday during the third stage of the Giro d’Italia. Pozzovivo did return at the Tour de Suisse and registered second place on the queen stage of the race. Now, he said he is ready to play the overall.

"The Tour de l'Ain is the race I need to conclude my preparation for the Vuelta. I feel well. Astana will be the reference with Nibali, Aru and Landa. We'll have a good squad for the team time trial and to protect me from the wind."

"I want to keep the momentum for AG2R-La Mondiale after watching my teammates competing in the Tour de France. The big satisfaction was Alexis Vuillermoz's stage victory. It can be the breakthrough of his career. The team was in a critical situation in the Pyrenees but they've showed a great mental strength to bounce back with attacks from far. Romain Bardet has been exemplary to step up a level after winning a stage at the Critérium du Dauphiné. I like this team, otherwise I wouldn't have extended my contract for two more seasons last year. We've had a good Tour, now we're ready for a good Vuelta too."