Today stage 19 in La Vuelta, with 185,8 kilometers from Medina del Campo to Avila, is on the program. It’s a hilly stage, the riders have to cover one climb of third (105 km) and one climb of second (166,7 km) category. After the descent, the last 2,3 kilometers to Avila are uphill. Will the break make it to the finish or will Giant, Astana or another team control the race? Maybe that kind of finish in Avila is something for Jelle Vanendert?

"The first issue is to try to be in the break," he said. "Every day, there is a real battle during more than one hour. That’s one of the most underestimated things in cycling: the battle to escape. In the previous stages I tried it almost every day, but you also need some luck. In this Vuelta, with just three or four flat stages, a break can make it to the finish all the other days. Today I will try it again, I still want to show myself. And if I’m there, the finish can suit me indeed. I did the climb to the finish seven or eight years ago.”