La Vuelta 2020: Bradley Wiggins - Hugh Carthy could do a Tao Geoghegan Hart and win La Vuelta

Updated 01/11/2020 at 19:56 GMT

Bradley Wiggins believes that Hugh Carthy can win La Vuelta. Speaking on The Breakaway, Wiggins says that a podium should be the minimum aim for the EF Pro Cycling rider, and says that the chances of Carthy emulating Tao Geoghegan Hart and winning the Grand Tour overall is very much on the cards.

Vuelta a Espana - Stage 12 - BREAKAWAY - CARTHY

Image credit: Eurosport

Hugh Carthy's brilliant win on the Angliru in Stage 12 of La Vuelta was a statement of intent.

And the British rider can go on to win the whole race, at least in the view of Eurosport expert Bradley Wiggins.

Six stages of the race remain, with a time trial coming up next on Tuesday before a string of bumpy days in the hills and a decisive final mountain stage next Saturday. And Wiggins says that Carthy is at the very least in contention for the podium.

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"He has to go for the podium now," Wiggins said.

"The time trial is a concern because he’s not the best time trialist in the world, but that’s not to say that he’s not going to be able to take some more time on some of the climbs that are left in this race.

"He’s seen weaknesses in some of those riders today, and inconsistency as well, and Hugh is coming into his own now in this race."

‘A podium is on the cards and he could win it’ – Wiggins backs Carthy to challenge for Vuelta

Wiggins believes that some of the top riders in the race showed weakness on the Angliru, and says Carthy could be the man to pick them apart in the final week.

After what Tao did we have to say he’s capable of winning this race, and I don’t think the time trial is going to be the deciding factor.

"He took a fair amount of time there in a short period of time on such a steep climb, so he is capable of doing something in the mountains that are left and creating enough of a gap that he can limit his losses in the time trial.

"A podium for sure is definitely on the cards."