By Jakob Duma

34 year old Danish climber Claus Michael Møller's (Milaneza-MSS) major breakthrough came last year with a impressive performance in the Vuelta España, winning the queen stage on the ascent up the Alto de Aitana and finishing 8th in the overall classification, 7.13 min behind final winner Angel Luis Casero. In 1994 Møller left Denmark to race as an amateur in Spain, and exactly one year later in 1995 he won the amateur version of La Vuelta España, was being considered a hot property and wanted by several major teams including Spanish giant Banesto, who spotted him as an ideal rider to join Miguel Indurain's loyal squad of strong trusty domestiques.

However he decided to join the little Spanish Castellblanch team, prioritising having the chance to ride for himself. Only a few months after his victory in the amateur version he was at the start line of the pro version of the Vuelta España, ending it 3 weeks later on a very respectfully 38th place. The next couple of years in Claus Michael Møller's professional career were marked by several injuries and a very unfortunate doping case - he was sentenced to between 6 and 12 months by the UCI and a more severe lifetime ban from ever representing the Danish national team again by the Danish Cycling Union.

In 2000 Claus Michael Møller signed with the Portuguese Milaneza-MSS (Maia) team, and slowly started showing his unquestionably big talents again on his way back to the cycling world elite. For this year's Vuelta, Claus Michael Møller's declared ambition is a Top 5 placing in Madrid, but he is dreaming of a place on the podium.

In His Favour: Not only a strong climber but also a handy time trilist, Møller is more than capable of defending himself very well on all types of terrain.

Against His Favour: May already by a couple of minutes down after Stage 1, the 24.6 kilometre Team Time Trial around Valencia.

PALMARES: 2002 (MAIA)
1 Volta a Portugal Stage 9
1 Volta a Portugal Stage 13
1 Volta a Portugal GC
3 Volta a la Communitat Valenciana GC
6 Volta ao Alentejo em Bicicleta GC
8 Vuelta a ciclista a Murcia GC

PALMARES: 2001 (MAIA)
1 Subida Naranco
1 Vuelta Stage 15
1 Grande Premio R.L.V.T Stage 4
1 Grande Premio R.L.V.T GC
8 Volta a Portugal GC
8 Vuelta España

PALMARES: 2000 (MAIA)
1 Volta a Portugal Stage 7
1 Volta ao Alentejo em Bicicleta 4
1 Volta ao Alentejo em Bicicleta GC
1 Troféu Joaquim Agostinho Stage 3b
2 Volta a Portugal GC
3 GP Jornal de Noticias GC

PALMARES: 1999 (TVM)
1 Trofeo Mallorca Stage 3
4 Vuelta a Andalucia GC
4 Vuelta a ciclista a Murcia GC
6 Volta a la Communitat Valenciana GC