Michael Valgren is currently riding in support of Alberto Contador in the Ruta del Sol which is a key part of the preparations for the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. The Danish champion hopes to be selected for La Grande Boucle.

Three days ago Alberto Contador took the leader's jersey after the time trial and yesterday he defended it by delivering an impressive showing in the first mountain stage. The first stages have panned out exactly as Tinkoff-Saxo had hoped.

“Things have been going just as we had hoped for. We have the jersey, and Alberto won today. He has a strong team behind him, and we showed our skills today by taking responsibility. Things are going really well and the team is riding strongly," Michael Valgren told CyclingQuotes.

Valgren is confident in his captain even though he still faces two tough stages. Today the riders will tackle another hard mountains stage that finishes at the top of the Alto de Allanadas.

"I am confident as Contador leads by 27 seconds over Froome. We needs to get safely through tomorrow which is a long and hard day. We expect a bit more initiative from Sky which means that we won’t have to do so much work but it’s hard to say what’s going to happen,” Valgren explained.

"But we are encouraged by the fact that Alberto claims to be ready. Then he usually wins. With today’s win, he proved that he is strong compared to Froome,” he added.

Ruta del Sol is Alberto Contador's first stage race, and it is important preparation for the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. Despite the fact that the Giro start is still almost three months away, Contador is already ready to perform at the highest level.

"I think he will be ready. With his current condition, I think he will be among the best in those races. He is strong without being too strong at the moments,” the Dane said.

"I have always believed that he could win (both Grand Tours, ed.) And I still have faith in him. Today he just confirmed his abilities. Today has only made our confidence in him even greater,” Valgren said.

After Ruta del Sol Michael Valgren and Alberto Contador will follow different paths as the Dane will do Paris-Nice while the Spaniard will defend his title at Tirreno-Adriatico. However, they should be back together at the end of March in the Volta a Catalunya. Valgren doesn’t know whether he will be doing the Giro or the Tour but he has an idea about his schedule.

“The plan is that I will do the Tour this year so that’s what I am hoping for. But if not, I hope to do the Vuelta again,” he said.