Rojas, also in the Vuelta?

By Antonio J. Salmerón

The young and promising Caisse d'Epargne sprinter José Joaquín Rojas expressed to Spanish newspaper El Faro de Murcia that "after having a rest, I will try to convince my directeur sportif to include me in the Vuelta a España roster."

The 21 year-old Spaniard's morale has been lifted after fighting against Petacchi, McEwen and other top-level sprinters in the Giro d'Italia. "I showed myself that I can be among the top sprinters." Rojas left the Giro d'Italia during the tenth stage, "because the high mountains were too much."

"I began to compete in February, in Mallorca, and since then I have not stopped. I needed to have a rest, but now I am thinking about the second part of this season. If you feel well, why stop?" Rojas added.

He won the first stage of the Vuelta a Murcia. "It was great, because I was at home. But what came after that was fantastic also, the April classics. I finished Paris-Roubaix in 26th, after having been in the escape group from the beginning. I think that I can do better next time," the Caisse d'Epargne rider said. The Vuelta a España will have a stage finish next to his home, in Torre Pacheco (Murcia), September 14. "This 13th stage comes by Cieza, where I live. In fact, there will be a Meta Volante (intermediate sprint) there. I will be very motivated to take that one," Rojas commented on the subject.