Pierre Rolland was full of smiles on the podium at the top of Alto de Lubián. After several near-misses, people had claimed that he had forgotten how to win. Yesterday he did it in an authoritative way in the final stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon and also took the overall victory.

"It was a race that I have watched on television and that made ​​me really happy to get the chance to do it. Everything went great, the work of my teammates was perfect and I could finish off with a stage victory and the overall win," he told rtvcyl.es. "I have broken a drought of nearly two years so for me the win is very important."

His next objectives are the final two Ardennes classics. "Now my intention is to use this good form in the Ardennes. It will be difficult because the best are all there but this victory shows that I'm on the right track," he said.

After the classics, he will rest for his main target, the Tour de France. In theory, he should also do the Vuelta a Espana but for now he prefers to be cautious and wait to see how he finishes the Tour. 

"Right now my only thought is to finish this first peak shape, get some rest and deal with the preparation for the Tour de France. When I have finished that race, I will consider the Vuelta a Espana," he said.