The Lap ended Sunday without Spanish victories, something that had not happened since 1996, but worst of all is that the drought extended to the three major rounds of the season, something that had never happened since all three coincide on the calendar. That course in 1996 was when he was closest to full sterility, only saved by a triumph of Angel Edo at Italy spin. In total there are 75 stages without success since Ion Izagirre raise arms in Formigal in the Vuelta last year. If we reduce it to Tour de France, we are going to the year 2018, with Omar friar as the protagonist in Mende, and an upright of 70 stages with two candles. Too long a journey through the desert for a cycling like the Spanish, which has always been at the international forefront.
The Vuelta did not start badly, with a second position of Alex Aranburu in the chrono of Burgos, but then it was fading, especially by falls of the most common hunters. The race finished with another three second places Enric Mas, Carlos Verona and Jesus Herrada, and with the fighter David de la Cruz in several attempts. The podium of More and the seventh square of From the cross they are the only consolations. Bad luck was decisive, but there are other compelling reasons, because the wasteland is too big and does not affect only one competition. Spain has always been a country of leaders well sheltered by gregarious, but that genre is also beginning to be scarce, with More and Mikel Landa, injured in the Turn and off in the Vuelta, as lonely exponents. Nor do they look guaranteed sprinters and time trialists. There is a promising generation that is beginning to emerge, those born after the year 2000, led by Juan Ayuso and Carlos Rodriguez, but still lacks a push to jump to the front page. Meanwhile, it’s time to suffer and long for better times, not so far away.