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Ventoso seeks Andalucia stage win

published 20 February 2010

Spaniard to use stage race as Milano-Sanremo prep

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Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi (Carmiooro NGC) awaits the start of the final stage. (Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Francisco Ventoso (Carmiooro NGC) has recovered from a knee injury suffered during the Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria three weeks ago and is looking for a stage win and a boost in form at the upcoming Vuelta a Andalucia.

The 27-year-old Spaniard has been training in Benidorm, Spain to escape the flooding in his home region of Cantabria and looks forward to going head-to-head with the sprinting talent at the Vuelta a Andalucia, citing Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), Borut Bozic (Vacansoleil) and Chris Sutton (Team Sky) as the riders to watch.

"The second and third stages are good for sprinters, but where I have a clearer opportunity is on the demanding last day," said Ventoso. "If I make it over all the difficult mountains I can contest the sprint in a smaller group."

The Vuelta a Andalucia's 161.4km final stage features three categorised climbs, including the first category Puerto de El Torcal 46 kilometres from the finish.

"Another objective is to use the Vuelta as a return to the rhythm of competition in order to face Milano-Sanremo with strength. I do not rule out training after some stages if time permits to adapt to the mileage of the Classics."