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Vuelta a Espana 2014: first five observations

Michael Matthews proves potential as Chris Froome looks to make up ground overall

Denied a shot at the Tour de France, a decision which led to him opting to sign for Cofidis for next season, Nacer Bouhanni has nevertheless enjoyed four Grand Tour stage wins this season.

Three at the Giro – which led to him bagging the points jersey – and one at the Vuelta on stage two have shown his ability as a sprinter, if it was not known already.

Nacer Bouhanni celebrates victory on the second stage of the 2014 Vuelta a Espana. pic: ©Sirotti

However, having been overlooked for the Tour in favour of national champion Arnaud Demare – as had been the team’s plan even before Demare pipped Bouhanni to the French road race, Bouhanni may find Grand Tour opportunities hard to come by next year after taking a step down to UCI Pro Continental level.

Cofidis have already moved to build a team around their new signing, but was the Frenchman right to make the move?

With Cofidis likely, as ever, to enjoy a wildcard for the Tour de France, Bouhanni will get his chance to shine in his home country – after crashing out in France last year.

Stepping down from WorldTour level, however, will deny Bouhanni the opportunity to mix it with the likes of Marcel Kittel (Giant-Shimano), Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) and Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) on a regular basis at the highest level.

His sprinting ability, and potential, is undoubted – as he showed with his stage two win – but it remains to be seen how his move will affect him, either positively or negatively.

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