According to those who meet him regularly, breaking through Carlos Rodriguez’s shell or making him let out a smile would apparently be a miracle. However, on Saturday, at the summit of Leysin, the young Spaniard, yellow leader’s jersey of the Tour de Romandie on his shoulders, tome in one hand and a bouquet in the other, seemed to be in heaven, showing a semblance of a grin. So anything can happen.
Surely because the promise of Spanish cycling is now a few kilometers away from offering himself the first major World Tour stage race of his career, at only 23 years old. If some have already done it before him, for Rodriguez, a coronation today in Switzerland might definitely boost his future plans. And place him in the footsteps of a certain Alberto Contador, his lifelong idol. On Saturday, he finished third in the 4th stage, behind Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and Florian Lipowitz (Bora-Hansgrohe), which was enough to take the lead overall.
Already a stage victory in the Tour de France
Arriving within the Ineos Grenadiers team at just 19 years old without having had time to go through the Espoirs box, the Andalusian managed to achieve some brilliant shots but without really maintaining a perfect level over time, due to lack of of confidence or even due to multiple falls.
However, the Spaniard has character and potential that has not yet been fully exploited. Last year, on the occasion of his first participation in the Tour de France, where he ended up finishing fifth in Paris, the native of Almunecar had the intelligence to let Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard engage a game of crank on the slopes of Joux-Plane, before achieving a masterstroke to head towards a first triumph in Morzine during the 14th stage. After an end to the season disrupted by the persistent rumor, and proven, announcing it with Movistar in 2024, Rodriguez finally preferred to extend until 2027 with the British team. He must now take a real step forward. At the beginning of April, he had already made it known that he was in good form by winning the last stage of the Tour of the Basque Country and finishing second overall behind Juan Ayuso (UAE Emirates).
