The last two stages in the Vuelta a Espana were not the easiest. In yesterday’s stage Zdenek had to pay a price for the efforts of the previous days and in today’s stage he tried to save some energy despite the difficult kilometers at the end.
“Yesterday was a tough day”, Zdenek says. “Initially, we controlled the pace with our team Etixx-Quick Step. But later Astana took over and it went a little too fast for me. I really paid the price for the efforts that I did in this Vuelta so far.”
Today’s stage was a little easier. “It was mostly flat. There was also less wind and lots of straight lines. Pieter Serry of our team was in the breakaway, an ideal situation for us. He did great and eventually finished fifth.”
“The final climb was difficult and in the last three kilometers it went up to 20% or so. Our goal was to drop Gianluca Brambilla in the front at the bottom of the climb. My job was to help the guys with that and after I choose my own pace. Hopefully I’m recovered by tomorrow.”