By Monika Prell Saunier Duval-Prodir is going very strong in these days; after conquering the Vuelta...
David Cañada in stage 3 (Image credit: John Pierce)
By Monika Prell
Saunier Duval-Prodir is going very strong in these days; after conquering the Vuelta al País Vasco – team classification, overall classification with Juan José Cobo and two stage wins – it's again a rider of the Cantabrian team who hits the headlines. David Cañada pushed hard in Tour of Georgia stage three to finish second behind the Belgian Gianni Meersman (Discovery Channel) and take over the leadership.
Cañada won the sprint of a seven riders, one second after Meersman crossed the finish line in Chattanooga (Tennessee). Teammate Rubens Bertogliati finished in eight and now is second in the overall classification.
"Tomorrow is 30 kilometres and I think I can have a good day," Cañada said to Cyclingnews, referring to today's time trial. "I am strong in the climbs too but I know Janez [Brajkovic] is stronger than I am there so perhaps we can use my other teammates who are strong like Simoni and Millar in our tactics over the next days."
Cañada also commented on the climbing in Georgia. "I can climb well in these kinds of climbs here," he continued. "If it were longer climbs like in Europe then it isn't possible for me to go with someone like him."
Saunier Duval-Prodir Directeur Sportif Mateo Algeri was pleased with his charges. "I predicted Cañada to be very strong here this week, even though we have other strong riders like Simoni and Millar," he explained.
He confirmed what Cañada had said regarding team strategy for the rest of the race. "Absolutely we are going to try to use Simoni and Millar to help us in tactics to win this race," the Italian from Bergamo continued. "It will be a good change for Simoni to help another rider. He is going to enjoy doing this job because he really likes helping the other riders. He will help Cañada here and then expect to be helped in the Giro later on.
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"I think there are only two riders now that can win the GC, Cañada or [Brajkovic]. They are both strong riders but either way it is going to be a fight. We are ready for that!"
