Preview of Vuelta favourites: Introducing Angel Casero

Angel Casero will start this years Vuelta a España with the number 1 number on his back, showing he is the defending champion of the Vuelta. Born in Albalat dels Tarongers (Valencia), A. Casero has often shown he’s got the necessary qualities for handling 3 week stage races, he’s very stable and not a rider you are bound to see crack completely during a stage - he’s a expert in minimising his losses if he has a bad day.

On the other hand if he arrives in top form like he did in last year's Vuelta, he’s a rider who’s able to stay with the best in the mountains although he is a not a guy you are likely to see attack, especially in the mountains were he has a very defensive riding style concentrating on his main rivals. On the time trails A. Casero is however on his home turf as he’s very strong against the clock and it's necessary for him to put in a good performance so he can take as much time as possible out of the "Pure Climbers".

2002 has however been a very unfortunate year for the 30 year old Valencian so far as a knee injury has kept him out of competition most of the year. His knee has to be completely under control if A. Casero should have any say in how this year's Vuelta unfolds. He made his comeback in the recent Vuelta a Portugal where he was quite anonymous but his main goal with that race was undoubtedly just to get as many kilometres in his legs as possible.

In His Favour: Already knows what it takes to win the Vuelta, and also he should be coming into the race with fresher legs than many of his rivals because he hasn’t raced that much, which should be noticeable in September.

Against His Favour: The very hard stage finish on L' Angliru does not look that perfect for him, and also his preparation may not be that good because of the situation of his injured knee.

PALMARES: 2001 (FESTINA)

1 Vuelta España

8 Escalada Montjuic

42 World Championship

PALMARES: 2000 (FESTINA)

2 VUELTA ESPAÑA

4 TOUR OF GERMANY

13 VUELTA GALICIA

18 VUELTA CATALUNYA

19 VUELTA BURGOS

PALMARES: 1999 (VITALICIO SEGUROS)

1 - Etape VOLTA CATALUNYA

1 CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN

2 CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN TIME TRAIL

3 VUELTA PUERTOS

5 VUELTA ASTURIAS

5 TOUR FRANCIA

7 CLASICA ALPES

9 BICICLETA VASCA

9 VOLTA CATALUNYA

PALMARES: 1998 (VITALICIO SEGUROS)

1 CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN

2 TROFEO CASTILLA Y LEON

3 CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN TIME TRAIL

3 SUBIDA URKIOLA

3 VUELTA BURGOS

7 CLASICA SAN SEBASTIAN

8 VOLTA CATALUNYA

10 CIRCUIT LE SARTHE

33 GENERAL WORLD CUP

PALMARES: 1997 (BANESTO)

1 VUELTA CASTILLA Y LEON

1 - Etape 3 VUELTA CASTILLA Y LEON

2 VOLTA CATALUNYA

7 CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN

29 TOUR FRANCE

PALMARES: 1996 (BANESTO)

6 VUELTA ARAGON

8 CRITERIUM INTERNACIONAL

10 VUELTA COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA

24 VUELTA ESPAÑA

PALMARES: 1995 (BANESTO)

1 - Etape 1 VUELTA A CUENCA

1 VUELTA A LOS PUERTOS

2 CHAMPIONSHIP OF SPAIN TIME TRAIL

13 VUELTA A ESPAÑA

PALMARES: 1995 (AMATURE)

1 TOUR DE L`AVENIR

3 VUELTA A MALLORCA

3 – Etape 3 TOUR DE L`AVENIR

Photo courtesy of Team Coast