In his homecountry, Robert Gesink is considered to have even more talent as his former teammate, Thomas Dekker. Gesink finished fourth overall at this years edition of Paris - Nice and in the Dauphiné Libéré the 22 year old Rabobank rider achieved the same result.

A lot of Dutch cycling fans were surprised that Gesink did not start at this years Tour de France, but Rabobank's team management want to give Gesink time to develope. Before the 2008 season Gesink and his team planned that the Dutch young gun would race the Vuelta a Espana. Gesink already knew  he would race the Vuelta during an interview with Cyclingheroes (January 2008).

In an interview with Dutch daily newspaper 'De Gelderlander', Gesink said: "I understand that a lot of people asked themselves why I did not ride the Tour after that [his strong results in Paris - Nice and the Dauphiné, editor]. But we had the agreement that it would be better to ride my first grand tour in Spain. Of course it itches if you watch the Tour on tv but I am glad that we sticked to this decision. Because of the length of the stages and the way of racing its better to ride the Vuelta as your first grand tour. Also better than the Giro."

Gesink is Rabobank's captain at the Spanish 3 week stage race but the rider who lives in the Dutch city of Aalten says: "I think Everybody will understand that it is my first grand tour. I get the time to learn. I am curious myself about my first grand tour."

Gesink is a very calm person. A week before Gesink left to Granada he told sportwereld.nl: "Now I don't feel tense. And probebly I also won't feel tense in Spain. But that doesn't mean I never have stress. If I wear the leaders jersey in Paris - Nice like I did this year, than there is happening lot with me. It is very difficult to stay calm in that situation." 

Gesink says he finds it difficult to predict how he will perfor at the Vuelta because its his first 3 week stage race. "I would be satisfied with a top 15 result, a place in the top 10 would be superb. But again, these are predictions of a man who never rode a grand tour before."

The Dutch cycling fans hope that Gesink will become the next Dutch rider after Joop Zoetemelk in 1980, who will bring a Tour de France victory to the Netherlands. The expectations for the Vuelta are high. "Of course I know that some people expect even more. I also read what they write and say about me. But I am not really influenced by that. The way this is all said and published is very easy," Gesink said.

Gesink says he read the interview with Alberto Contador in the English edition of Pro-Cycling. "Alberto likes it [the course of the Vuelta, editor]. I like it as well. High mountains, great. Only the 42,5 kilometres long time trial, I am curious about that..."