last year he won the Vattenfall cyclassic and a tour de france stage. He also came 2nd in the TT and RR Norwegian national championships. This year he won the TT championship but came in 2nd in the RR.

Very strange Vuelta, no favorites, but you're on the first place! Congrats!

I think Capecchi has bad form so it makes it even easier.

AWESOME!!! Keep the posts coming man!

Stage 18
Today will be one of the toughest stages, not because of the profile, but because all of my teammates are worn out and won't be able to help me much. I had most of my teammates with me for the first climb and it was pretty relaxed. I was able to sit in the peloton wearing the yellow jersey.



There was a leading group of 10 riders but none of them were threats.



Before the 2nd climb, Capecchi and two other attacked and bridged the gap up to the leading group but they were all caught at the bottom of the final climb. I was left all alone because even Hesjedal couldn't hold on to the peloton up the climb. I did have all my water though so they really weren't needed anymore. When Gerdemann attacked I had to follow. I accelerated up the mountain passing everyone in front of me.



The only person I couldn't catch up to was Gerdemann. It looked like he would go solo for the victory. His lead peaked at a minute before I decided that I had to do something. I pushed and pushed and with a kilometer left I was behind him. I don't think he saw me and I began sprinting. I flew past him and by the time he began sprinting it was too late. I had taken the win.



I did gain a lot of time on other riders but Gerdemann still sits 3 and a half minutes behind me. He can probably make up 1 minute and a half during the time trial so I need to keep an eye on him.


Stage
1 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream 5h09'31
2 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram s.t.
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 1'22
4 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto s.t.
5 Maxime Monfort Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
6 Philip Deignan Cervélo Test Team s.t.
7 Javier Moreno Andalucía Cajasur s.t.
8 Kevin Seeldraeyers Quick·Step s.t.
9 Amets Txurruka Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
10 Jose Rujano Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
11 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team s.t.
12 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale + 2'16
13 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank + 3'03
14 Eros Capecchi Fuji - Servetto + 3'28
15 José Herrada Astana Cycling Team s.t.
16 Marzio Bruseghin Lampre - N.G.C + 4'17
17 Andriy Grivko Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 4'49
18 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 5'53
19 Fran Pérez Caisse d'Epargne + 6'01
20 Luis Pasamontes Caisse d'Epargne + 6'09
21 David De la Fuente Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
22 Alberto Losada Caisse d'Epargne + 6'17
23 Bingen Fernández Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
24 Jesús Hernández Astana Cycling Team s.t.
25 Jaume Rovira Pous Astana Cycling Team s.t.
26 Mauricio Ardila Rabobank s.t.
27 Grischa Niermann Rabobank s.t.
28 Sylvester Szmyd Liquigas + 6'25
29 Tom Stubbe Silence - Lotto s.t.
30 Benjamín Noval Astana Cycling Team s.t.
31 Joaquin Novoa Cervélo Test Team s.t.
32 Johannes Fröhlinger Team Milram s.t.
33 Oliver Zaugg Liquigas s.t.
34 Esteban Plaza Andalucía Cajasur s.t.
35 Óscar Pujol Cervélo Test Team s.t.
36 Manuel Calvente Andalucía Cajasur s.t.
37 Francisco José Martínez Andalucía Cajasur s.t.
38 Sébastien Joly Française des Jeux s.t.
39 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
40 Beñat Intxausti Fuji - Servetto + 6'33


GC
1 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream 71h45'07
2 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram + 3'39
3 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank + 5'59
4 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 7'35
5 Maxime Monfort Team Columbia - High Road + 9'54
6 Kevin Seeldraeyers Quick·Step + 10'24
7 Jose Rujano Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 12'07
8 Javier Moreno Andalucía Cajasur + 12'21
9 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale + 12'29
10 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team + 12'36
11 Amets Txurruka Euskaltel - Euskadi + 12'59
12 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto + 13'26
13 Philip Deignan Cervélo Test Team + 13'33
14 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Slipstream + 17'05
15 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 18'00
16 Marzio Bruseghin Lampre - N.G.C + 21'03
17 Francisco José Martínez Andalucía Cajasur + 22'59
18 Esteban Plaza Andalucía Cajasur + 23'13
19 Fran Pérez Caisse d'Epargne + 23'21
20 Óscar Pujol Cervélo Test Team + 23'29
21 Andriy Grivko Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 27'54
22 Mauricio Ardila Rabobank s.t.
23 Jaume Rovira Pous Astana Cycling Team + 28'19
24 Ricardo Serrano Fuji - Servetto + 29'07
25 Eros Capecchi Fuji - Servetto + 29'59
26 Johannes Fröhlinger Team Milram + 30'37
27 Jesús Hernández Astana Cycling Team + 31'58
28 Beñat Intxausti Fuji - Servetto + 33'20
29 Grischa Niermann Rabobank + 33'26
30 José Herrada Astana Cycling Team + 34'06

Nice win, so how many wins do you have? (in GTs and at all)

dominant climbing

3 in GTs and 4 in all.

Despite another victory, Im gonna need some help from my teammates if I'm gonna win. Hesjedal really cracked yesterday and I was alone for the final 30 kilometers. Also fellow Irishman Deignan has been very impressive. I'm racing stage 19 now. I will be done by today and then tomorrow I can do the World Championships.

Stage 19
Today' stage is hilly with no big climbs. My team felt better today and were able to stick with me for most of the stage. A group of 9 got away but Milram took control and kept their lead in check.



On one of the final climbs Gerdemann attacked. I followed the best I could.



With less than 10 kilometers to go, Gerdemann was still in the lead.



I couldn't let him gain time on me so i led a group of 4 riders back to Gerdemann and then when we got there I tried to go ahead.



Gerdemann came charging in the final sprint and came even with me with half a kilometer to go. I showed my brute strength and accelerated past him, barely edging out Gerdemann for the second stage in a row.



Tomorrow is the final Mountain stage. If I'm ahead of Gerdemann by more than a minute, then I can feel save going into the time trial.

Stage
1 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream 5h33'14
2 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram s.t.
3 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank s.t.
4 Javier Moreno Andalucía Cajasur s.t.
5 Nicki Sørensen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
6 Esteban Plaza Andalucía Cajasur + 1'55
7 Amets Txurruka Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
8 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
9 Philip Deignan Cervélo Test Team s.t.
10 Maxime Monfort Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
11 Óscar Pujol Cervélo Test Team s.t.
12 Kevin Seeldraeyers Quick·Step s.t.
13 Johannes Fröhlinger Team Milram s.t.
14 David De la Fuente Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
15 Francisco Javier Carrasco Ramirez Andalucía Cajasur s.t.
16 Francisco José Martínez Andalucía Cajasur s.t.
17 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
18 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team s.t.
19 Pasquale Muto Cervélo Test Team s.t.
20 Wesley Sulzberger Française des Jeux + 3'00
21 Christopher Sutton Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
22 Domenik Klemme Team Saxo Bank s.t.
23 Eros Capecchi Fuji - Servetto s.t.
24 Boris Shpilevski Fuji - Servetto s.t.
25 André Steensen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
26 David Blanco Fuji - Servetto s.t.
27 Jurgen Roelandts Silence - Lotto s.t.
28 Arnold Jeanneson AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
29 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
30 José Herrada Astana Cycling Team s.t.
38 Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
39 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
40 David Millar Garmin - Slipstream s.t.



GC
1 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream 77h18'01
2 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram + 3'47
3 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank + 6'11
4 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 9'50
5 Maxime Monfort Team Columbia - High Road + 12'09
6 Kevin Seeldraeyers Quick·Step + 12'39
7 Javier Moreno Andalucía Cajasur + 12'41
8 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale + 14'44
9 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team + 14'51
10 Amets Txurruka Euskaltel - Euskadi + 15'14
11 Jose Rujano Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 15'27
12 Philip Deignan Cervélo Test Team + 15'48
13 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto + 16'46
14 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Slipstream + 20'25
15 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 21'20
16 Marzio Bruseghin Lampre - N.G.C + 24'23
17 Francisco José Martínez Andalucía Cajasur + 25'14
18 Esteban Plaza Andalucía Cajasur + 25'28
19 Óscar Pujol Cervélo Test Team + 25'44
20 Fran Pérez Caisse d'Epargne + 26'41
21 Andriy Grivko Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 31'14
22 Mauricio Ardila Rabobank s.t.
23 Jaume Rovira Pous Astana Cycling Team + 31'39
24 Ricardo Serrano Fuji - Servetto + 32'27
25 Johannes Fröhlinger Team Milram + 32'52
26 Eros Capecchi Fuji - Servetto + 33'19
27 Jesús Hernández Astana Cycling Team + 35'18
28 Beñat Intxausti Fuji - Servetto + 36'40
29 Grischa Niermann Rabobank + 36'46
30 José Herrada Astana Cycling Team + 37'26

Stage 20
Stage 20 is the final Mountain stage and this is the last chance for Gerdemann to gain a lot of time on me. Talking with Hesjedal before the race he told me that his legs felt great so going into the stage I was confident. 5 riders tried to breakaway but we were able to control the peloton and keep them at a distance we wanted.



With 30 kilometers to go, I initiated an attack. I bridged my way up to the leader, Rujano(Cofidis).



Hesjedal came along and stayed on front and pulled us up the Mountain. Eventually Rujano was dropped and Valjavec joined the group.



Eventually Valjavec attacked and I had no choice but to counter. Not only did I catch him but I stormed past him leaving him in my dust. I was way ahead of the peloton and all the favorites. With 5 kilometers to go I had a huge lead.



My lead went up from 4 mintues to 5 minutes and at the finish line, I knew what I had done. I had secured the yellow jersey and the stage win.



Tomorrow is the final stage, which is a time trial. No one will be able to take 9 minutes on me, even if I crash 15 times.


Stage
1 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream 6h20'43
2 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram + 5'05
3 Javier Moreno Andalucía Cajasur + 6'06
4 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 6'29
5 Philip Deignan Cervélo Test Team + 7'05
6 Francisco José Martínez Andalucía Cajasur + 7'37
7 Jesús Hernández Astana Cycling Team + 7'45
8 Kevin Seeldraeyers Quick·Step + 7'57
9 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale + 8'21
10 Jaume Rovira Pous Astana Cycling Team + 9'09
11 Amets Txurruka Euskaltel - Euskadi + 9'17
12 Maxime Monfort Team Columbia - High Road + 9'25
13 Eros Capecchi Fuji - Servetto + 10'09
14 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team Columbia - High Road + 10'17
15 Esteban Plaza Andalucía Cajasur + 10'25
16 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team + 10'33
17 Johann Tschopp Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
18 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank + 10'45
19 Jose Rujano Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
20 Óscar Pujol Cervélo Test Team s.t.
21 Andriy Grivko Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
22 Mauricio Ardila Rabobank s.t.
23 Dario Cataldo Quick·Step s.t.
24 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto s.t.
25 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
26 José Herrada Astana Cycling Team s.t.
27 Alberto Losada Caisse d'Epargne + 11'17
28 Bingen Fernández Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
29 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
30 Johannes Fröhlinger Team Milram s.t.


GC
1 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream 83h38'24
2 Linus Gerdemann Team Milram + 9'00
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 16'39
4 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank + 17'16
5 Javier Moreno Andalucía Cajasur + 18'59
6 Kevin Seeldraeyers Quick·Step + 20'56
7 Maxime Monfort Team Columbia - High Road + 21'54
8 Philip Deignan Cervélo Test Team + 23'13
9 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale + 23'25
10 Amets Txurruka Euskaltel - Euskadi + 24'51
11 Sérgio Paulinho Astana Cycling Team + 25'44
12 Jose Rujano Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 26'32
13 Josep Jufré Fuji - Servetto + 27'51
14 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Slipstream + 32'02
15 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 32'25
16 Francisco José Martínez Andalucía Cajasur + 33'11
17 Esteban Plaza Andalucía Cajasur + 36'13
18 Óscar Pujol Cervélo Test Team + 36'49
19 Marzio Bruseghin Lampre - N.G.C + 37'08
20 Fran Pérez Caisse d'Epargne + 39'50
21 Jaume Rovira Pous Astana Cycling Team + 41'08
22 Andriy Grivko Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 42'19
23 Mauricio Ardila Rabobank s.t.
24 Jesús Hernández Astana Cycling Team + 43'23
25 Eros Capecchi Fuji - Servetto + 43'48
26 Johannes Fröhlinger Team Milram + 44'29
27 José Herrada Astana Cycling Team + 48'31
28 Grischa Niermann Rabobank + 49'31
29 Beñat Intxausti Fuji - Servetto + 50'49
30 Joaquin Novoa Cervélo Test Team + 50'55

domination

That was a great win! Congrats for winning the Vuelta!

I'm gonna go ahead and race the final stage now. Hopefully I'll be done soon.

you should play on extreme

Possibly but when I get into a race where I'm not the absolute best then I will get creamed. I was clearly the favorite which is why I won. If I begin to win more often I will move it up to extreme.

Garmin holds 1st place overall and last place overall.

That's good

he really sucks.
173 Jon Andoni Checa Garmin - Slipstream + 5h15'13

The irony is that he would have to gain 9 minutes to not come in last and I would have to lose 9 minutes to not come in 1st.