Odd Christian Eiking recognises time in Vuelta a España lead is likely limited

EL BARRACO SPAIN AUGUST 29 Odd Christian Eiking of Norway and Team Intermarch Wanty Gobert Matriaux red leader jersey competes during the 76th Tour of Spain 2021 Stage 15 a 1975km km stage from Navalmoral de la Mata to El Barraco lavuelta LaVuelta21 on August 29 2021 in El Barraco Spain Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Odd Christian Eiking protected by his Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux teammates on stage 15 (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

“That’s a big question,” was how Vuelta a España leader Odd Christian Eiking responded on Sunday evening when asked if he thought he could now win the race outright, before settling for an entirely reasonable answer: “No.”

Still,  the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux racer remained with almost as strong a hold on la roja as he had on Tuesday when taking part in a 31-rider break was rewarded with the biggest and most unexpected jackpot of his career to date. And as he said at the end of his leader’s sixth press conference when summing up his chances of staying longer in red than expected, “you never know."

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.