La Vuelta a España yesterday conquered the Angliru with João Almeida winning the stage and Jonas Vingegaard in the red jersey, and tuttobiciweb had the opportunity to interview Alberto Contador. The Pistolero, winner of the triple crown and La Vuelta in 2008, 2012, and 2014, revealed his impressions of the Spanish race and some secrets we didn't know about his life always on the move, even following his Polti VisitMalta Team.

La Vuelta started, for the first time in history, in Italy. How did you experience the grand start from our country?

"For me, it was nice, also because I feel at home with you. Since I raced and won my first Giro in 2008, I've felt great affection from the fans, and now my connection with Italy has been further strengthened thanks to companies like Polti, Kometa, Fineco that support the team born from the Fundación Contador's history".

Your prediction for the final podium?

"The favorite for everyone and for me is Vingegaard, for the 2nd and 3rd spots there are many candidates. Almeida continues to try, Giulio Ciccone has lost some ground in recent days but is gritting his teeth, also in the game are Felix Gall, Tom Pidcock who is in his first tour where he's actually targeting the general classification, and Jai Hindley with Giulio Pellizzari, who is a great fighter and is already in the white jersey as best young rider. The battle until Madrid will be interesting".

What memories are linked to this race?

"I have so many. In 2008 it was special because I was coming from winning the Giro and Tour of the previous year. Completing the triple crown at 25 was incredible, especially in the most important race of my country and in front of my fans".

What ambitions do you have for the end of the season for the Polti VisitMalta team?

"We've done great work and collected good results, most recently Giovanni Lonardi's victory at GP Plouay, in a cycling world where there are teams with enormous budgets that win little or nothing. In our own way, we've been protagonists at the Giro and in every race we've started, plus we're developing promising young talents. Now we're focused on the upcoming events, we need to finish the year within the top 30 teams".

You continue to travel a lot, what couldn't you do without in your suitcase when you were racing and now?

"In the past, I always had a print of Saint Jude Thaddeus with me, my mother is very religious. Now my trolley is completely different from before, and I can't do without the small and practical portable travel steamer Polti Vaporella Vertical Styler. It takes up little space and, wherever I am, in one minute it allows me to have a perfectly pressed shirt".