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MADRID, Dec 14 (CP) - After the presentation of the 62nd edition of the Vuelta a España, Alejandro Valverde Belmonte, Oscar Pereiro Sio, Denis Menchov and José Angel Gomez Marchante gave their opinion on the course. Alejandro Valverde: "It is a hard route but a very nice one. In terms of difficulty, it is similar enough to this year's race. There are some hard stages such as the one to Lagos de Covadonga. I think the time trials are good too. Overall I think it is a very nice Vuelta." Valverde announced to aim on next year's Tour de France, but likes to race in his home country as well. In both Grand Tours he will have to share the leading position with Pereiro, but this does not distress him. "It is possible that we can both do well. If you look at this year's race, Andrey Kashechkin and Alexandre Vinokourov were both up there," occupying the first and third spot on the podium. Oscar Pereiro: "It looks good. I think the route is a little easier than this year and that is good for those riders who do not think too much about riding the Vuelta. I think, after seeing this route, it is not very hard and that may be better in some ways." Pereiro likes the Vuelta start, living near the opening town. "I live six kilometres from Vigo and so it is very special for me that the race will begin there. I think this is the best sensation for me, after being a professional for eight years. "My big goal next year is to go to the Tour de France in top shape. I am not sure yet where I will end up but riding well there again is a priority. After how things went this year, I think it is going to be the biggest race in my program. After that, the Vuelta will be the second priority for me," he added. "I have many dreams in the sport, and winning the Vuelta is one of them," he concluded and shared his aims with his teammate Valverde. Denis Menchov: "I will try to win but to do so in such a long race is tough. The first part of the Vuelta is the hardest. I don't think that this course is as difficult as this year's race, but then anything can happen over three weeks," he said. "I think this is quite different to the 2005 Vuelta. The early part of this race is very hard and then the final three days are too. But 2005 was tough throughout the whole three weeks," the 2005 winner explained. When asked about his program, he answered: "I think I will do largely the same program as in 2006. The Tour de France is my big goal; after that, we will see." José Angel Gomez Marchante: "I think the course is good. I think there are hard mountains at the start, then a more tranquil few stages before it gets tough again at the finish," the Spaniard described the course. "I think it is probably of a similar difficulty to this year, although the inclusion of the Lagos de Covadonga and Abantos will lead to some good racing. Both these days are important, plus the two other summit finishes and then the stage to Granada as well," concluded the Saunier Duval rider.

© Jeroen Michiels