By Antonio J. Salmerón
Discovery Channel's superdomestique 'Chechu' Rubiera may opt out of this year's Tour de France in favour of riding both the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. "I prefer the Giro because that is cycling in its pure state," said the Spaniard to local newspaper La Hora de Asturias. "The racing style has plenty of fighting. I need to be as good as possible in both the Giro and the Vuelta."
"Not many riders choose the Vuelta, mainly because it is at the end of the season, and is a little more difficult to find the necessary motivation."
Rubiera's last big win came way back in the 2000 Giro when he claimed the mountainous stage 13 to Val Gardena whilst riding for Kelme, but the 34 year-old has no regrets about his years spent at the service of Lance Armstrong. "I am satisfied to have always fought to gain a victory and to help my teammates," he said. "Armstrong was very demanding with himself; hard training, sacrifice and yield, and we tried to fulfill those expectations that he put on us. In fact, we continue to have a good relationship."
On the inevitable subject of doping, Rubiera said: "The human body has a limit, and the accumulation of circumstances such as media pressure urges some riders to use performance enhancing drugs. From my point of view, doping is the responsibility of all us. However, if it is not possible to prove that a rider has doped, he may have many suspicions against him, but for me, that man has the right to continue competing.
