La Vuelta a Espana 2019 news - Wiggins: Team Ineos 'will be bitterly disappointed' with Vuelta start

ByEurosport

Updated 26/08/2019 at 09:07 GMT

Bradley Wiggins is full of admiration for Nairo Quintana but believes Team Ineos will be bitterly disappointed by their start in La Vuelta, in his latest Eurosport podcast.

Wout Poels of Netherlands and Team Ineos / Mechanical Problem / Mechanic / during the 74th Tour of Spain 2019, Stage 2 a 199,6km stage from Benidorm to Calpe

Image credit: Getty Images

Roche in red after Quintana wins Stage 2 with stunning attack

Speaking to Matt Stephens in the latest onsite edition of The Bradley Wiggins Show podcast, available now on all major podcast platforms, the legendary British cyclist reacted to Ineos falling well off the pace after just two stages of the race in Spain.

"Ineos will be bitterly disappointed tonight, won't they," Wiggins said on the podcast.

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"To go up a climb of that severity on day one after the time trial - first day back on your road bike, it's always difficult.

"A big effort yesterday, back to a stage like that - some guys are going to be good and some guys aren't going to have it."

Highlights: Early GC shake-up as Quintana attacks, Roche takes red and Ineos flop

Stephens added: "Disappointment for Wout Poels as well. I mean, he was the big GC hope for Ineos.

"They are going to really have to reconfigure, the British team, but they are going to be bitterly disappointed."

Wiggins then reflected on Quintana's extraordinary attack to win Stage 2 in Calpe.

"Nairo Quintana won solo, which no one could have predicted," he said on the podcast.

He's had a disappointing couple of years as a GC rider, but he's come out of the Tour in good condition and now he's poised to win this Vuelta I think.

"He's certainly decided the leadership battle at Movistar hasn't he," he added of the 29-year-old.

"This is Primoz [Roglic]'s big chance now to finally get a Grand Tour. Obviously Quintana is the one who is going to challenge him the most, but this is his best opportunity to win."

The conversation also moved to the prospects of young star Remco Evenepoel, Chris Froome being officially awarded the 2011 Vuelta title - and even the merits of pineapple juice.