The 2nd stage from Zierbana to Viana is longer (215km) but should be easier. But the last hill with the summit only 6km before the finish, should give the puncheurs a great chance.
Today we see a BOTD of 12 riders, including KOTM-leader Wout Poels. he collects some points, enough to maintain his jersey, but has some difficulties against others in the BOTD, especially Leonardo Moser (Androni), Xavier Florencio (Nespresso), Andriy Zeits (Astana), Anthony Roux (FDJ) and Karsten Kroon (BMC). The maximum lead of this BOTD is about 8 minutes.
When the last ascend has started, and the BOTD is still in front of the peloton, Joaquim Rodríguez attacks. The winner of the first stage quickly creates a gap and is closing in on the leading group.
Shortly before the summit, this is how it looks: The 12 are in the lead, Puritio follows at '32, Chris Horner at '47, a group with Antón, Cunego, Gerdemann, Kreuziger and Urán at 1'05 and the peloton at 1'32.
Xavier Florencio (Nespresso) attacks in the descend and 1700 metres before the finish, when the road starts to rise again, he leads a peloton of 63 riders (all the others have been caught) by '18.
Entering the last kilometre, Florencio gets passed. The battle for the stage win should go between Rodríguez, Horner, Antón and Cunego. Poels is still in 6th position, but without energy.
And it's the 2nd win in a row for Rodríguez. Horner gets 2nd, Antón 3rd and Poels 12th. Almost all the GC-contenders finish in this group, so there are 19 contenders left for the overall win.
Results
1
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
5h42'14
2
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
4
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
s.t.
5
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
6
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
7
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
8
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Vasil Kiryienka
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
10
Karsten Kroon
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
...
12
Wout Poels
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
15
Peter Sagan
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
21
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
32
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
GC
No changes.
1
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
9h33'46
2
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
3
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
4
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
5
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
6
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
8
Jakob Fuglsang
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
9
Peter Sagan
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
10
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
11
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
16
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
Points
1
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
25
50
2
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
20
34
3
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
12
32
4
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
10
26
5
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
16
23
KOTM
1
Wout Poels
Monster Energy - Ford
12
29
2
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
20
21
3
Sébastien Minard
Sony Ericsson
0
15
4
Anthony Roux
FDJ
13
13
5
Karsten Kroon
BMC Racing Team
10
10
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Again, a stage without time loss, 3 riders within the same time as the GC-leader, and Poels collecting 12 points an maintaining his jersey. Satisfied!
3rd stage, from Viana to Amurrio. 181 kilometres long, with 4 KOTM-sprints and not a very difficult finish. Can someone stop Rodríguez?
With a KOTM-sprint already after 20 kilometres, Wout Poels tries to get those points. He finds himself in the ascend of the first climb together with Anthony Colby (Garmin), Denis Menchov (Sony Ericsson) and Yannick Eijssen (BMC). After being the first at the summit, the 4 have a gap to the peloton of over 5 minutes, so they decide to continue their adventure. Not with the 4 of them, but with 7 (no dwarfs!). They get joined by Przemyslaw Niemiec (Vacansoleil), Tony Martin (Omega Pharma) and Dennis van Winden (Rabobank). Poels is also the first at the second KOTM-sprint, in front of Niemiec. With still 122 kilometres to go, they have reached their maximum advantage of the day with 9'50.
After being the first at the 3rd summit (66km to go, + 6'08), Poels also takes the maximum points at the last climb of the day, 18km before the finish. But behind the BOTD, a lot has happened. The first one to attack out of the peloton was Igor Antón, followed by GC-leader Joaquim Rodríguez, Chris Horner, Rigoberto Urán etcetera. Only the Monster Energy-guys didn't, keeping the pace in the peloton high.
After the last summit, a group of 17 join up front. Besides the BOTD, it consists of Antón, Rodríguez, Horner, Kreuziger, Urán, Cunego, Gerdemann, Gerrans and a few others. Igor Antón tries to attack out of it in the descend. 14 kilometres to go, and the peloton follows at 1'00!
Antón gets caught, and now it's time for an yellow attack by Purito. 11km before the finish, he leads a group of 12 with '14 and the peloton with '43.
But also this attack is fruitless. Than a group of 5 tries it: Urán, Cunego, Horner, Antón and Voeckler are the ones doing it. They also create a small gap, '23 with 6km to go. Behind them, the peloton with our guys joins the group Rodríguez.
Rigoberto Urán is the last from the 5 breakaways that get caught, only 1km before the finish. Peter Sagan has chosen the wheel of Rodríguez and still feels great.
But Purito can't be beaten in this Vuelta al Pais Vasco, taking his 3d win in 3 stages. Sagan is the better sprinter, has a good form but simply could not overtake Rodríguez.
Antón takes the 3rd place (after all his attacks....), and also Gesink & Vanendert finish in the first group.
Results
1
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
4h34'24
2
Peter Sagan
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
4
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
5
Denis Menchov
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
6
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
7
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
s.t.
8
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
9
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
10
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
s.t.
...
36
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
38
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
39
Romain Zingle
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
40
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
...
51
Wout Poels
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 46
GC
18 riders remain in the race for the GC-win.
1
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
14h08'10
2
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
3
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
4
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
5
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
6
Peter Sagan
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
7
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
10
Jakob Fuglsang
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
...
15
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
17
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
Points
1
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
25
75
2
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
7
41
3
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
14
40
4
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
16
39
5
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
3
35
KOTM Poels already leads with over 20 points!
1
Wout Poels
Monster Energy - Ford
15
44
2
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
0
21
3
Sébastien Minard
Sony Ericsson
0
15
4
Anthony Roux
FDJ
0
13
5
Karsten Kroon
BMC Racing Team
0
10
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Sagan was doing great today, but Rodríguez seems to be unbeatable. I even start to think he will win the ITT...
From Pais Vasco to Belgium again, for the 100th anniversary of the Scheldeprijs, a flat classic in Belgium, mostly ending in a mass sprint.
So was last year, when Greg Henderson managed to beat Greg van Avermaet in the mass sprint.
The race is about 200km long and almost completely flat!
The favourites *** Mark Cavendish (Sky), Tyler Farrar (Omega Pharma), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sony Ericsson) ** Andre Greipel (Sony Ericsson), Kenny Dehaes (Lotto), Giacomo Nizzolo (Nissan) *Jens Keukeleire, Ben Swift (Sky), Murilo Fischer (Garmin)
Our goal
The field is very strong, so we don't have too high expectations. Top 10?
A group of 13 riders form the BOTD and 23 kilometres before the finish, 12 of them get caught. Only Tom Stubbe (Omega Pharma) remains up front. When the 12 get caught we see a very surprising attack: Kevin van Impe (Lotto), Fabian Cancellara (Nissan) and Tyler Farrar (Omega Pharma).
As a response (and Team Sky does nothing) we set our riders up front of the peloton and start the chase. 5 kilometres before the finish, Van Impe and Farrar are the last ones to get caught.
Entering the last kilometre, we're still in a great position. Coen Vermeltfoort is in the lead together with Ben Swift (Sky). Behind them are Westra, Murilo Fischer (Garmin), Jens Keukeleire, Kenny Dehaes (Lotto) and the reigning World Champ.
And it's the last one, who wins. Mark Cavendish takes his 5th win of the season, beating Kenny Dehaes and Edvald Boasson Hagen. Best of our team is Keukeleire in 10th. And to make it frustrating, he got outsprinted by Farrar and even Cancellara, who were in the attack the last 20km.....
Results
1
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
4h25'56
2
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
3
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
4
Davy Commeyne
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
5
Giacomo Nizzolo
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
6
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
7
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
8
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Fabian Cancellara
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
10
Jens Keukeleire
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
11
Coen Vermeltfoort
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
12
Lieuwe Westra
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
Today's winner
Word from the DS
10th place is disappointing with a very good placing into the last kilometre. It's really getting frustrated to don't stand a chance in mass sprint (okay, Keukeleire can never beat Cav, but to get beaten by Cancellara who was in an earlier attack and who has lower sprint stats, 77 compared to 67... ). Oh well, back to Pais Vasco.
Stage 4, the queen's stage from Murgia Zuia to Eibar, with the finish at the summit of the Alto de Uzartza (5.8km at 8.4%). This stage should be decisive for the GC.
There is one certainty this Vualte al Pais Vasco (except that Rodríguez wins the stage): when there are KOTM-points to be won, Wout Poels is in the attack. So this also happens in this stage. It's an early attack, that will turn into the BOTD. Together with Luis Leon Sanchez (Rabobank), Stephen Cummings (Sky), Amael Moinard (BMC), Peter Velits (Omega Pharma), Sergio Pardilla (Movistar), Daniel Martin (Garmin), Roberto Ferrari (Androni), Davide Malacarne (Europcar), Romain Feillu (Vacansoleil), Fumiyuki Beppu (Qantas) and Dominic Rollin (FDJ) he is in the attack and they get a maximum lead of 6 minutes. Poels appears to be the only rider in this BOTD that has interest in the KOTM-points, so collects the maximum amount of points in the first 5 climbs!
The penultimate climb has started and while ascending this Alto de San Miguel, Roman Kreuziger is the first rider to attack. All others, even Rodríguez and Antón, remain in the peloton.
The leading group, only 8 riders left in it, manages to stay in the lead while crossing the summit. And of course, Poels is the first at it. The peloton (Kreuziger has been caught again) is only '45 behind.
6 of the 8 in the BOTD feel their job has been done today and let themselves get reeled in. Only Daniel Martin and Stephen Cummings try to attack in the descend. But we all now what will happen...
.... the 2 get caught and a group of about 60 riders start the last ascend of the day, the Alto de Uzartza. And entering the last 5 kilometres, Robert Gesink decides to surprise his opponents with an early attack.
But he has underestimated the steep gradients (up to 13%) a bit and gets passed by Igor Antón.
So with 3 kilometres to go, Gesink is left behind by 4 opponents: Antón, Contador, Horner and Rodríguez. But wait a minute.... Is Rodríguez looking tired???
Yes, he does! 2km to go, and Antón and Contador are in the lead. Horner and Purito follow at '20. Brave Robert Gesink follows at '42 and is joined by Rigoberto Urán.
Igor Antón brings the Basque fans in ecstacy by winning the queens stage of this Vuelta al Pais Vasco and taking over the GC-lead. Contador follows at '9, Rodríguez and Horner at '24.
And Gesink? He finishes in 6th place at 1'33, shortly behind Urán. Kelderman, Sagan & Poels follow in a big group at 2'44. 11 riders have to leave the race, finishing outside the time limit.
Results
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
3h59'15
2
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 9
3
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 24
4
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
5
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'21
6
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'33
7
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
+ 1'56
8
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto - Belisol
+ 2'13
9
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'22
10
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'44
12
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
13
Jakob Fuglsang
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
14
Vincenzo Nibali
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
15
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
16
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
s.t.
17
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
18
Fränk Schleck
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
19
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
20
Peter Sagan
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
21
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
22
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
s.t.
23
Denis Menchov
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
24
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
25
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
26
Levi Leipheimer
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
27
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
28
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
30
Wout Poels
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
31
Bradley Wiggins
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'35
32
Javier Moreno
Caja Rural
s.t.
33
Janez Brajkovič
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
34
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'59
35
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
+ 4'10
36
Andrey Zeits
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
37
Vladimir Efimkin
Katusha Team
s.t.
38
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
39
Iban Mayoz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
40
Jens Voigt
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
+ 4'30
41
Andreas Klöden
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
42
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
43
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
s.t.
44
Ivan Basso
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
45
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 4'58
46
Stephen Cummings
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
47
Maxime Monfort
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
+ 5'35
48
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
49
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
50
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
51
Óscar Sevilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
52
Vasil Kiryienka
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
53
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
+ 5'47
54
Daniel Martin
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 5'58
55
Jan Bakelants
Lotto - Belisol
+ 6'11
56
Anthony Colby
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 6'20
57
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 6'51
58
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 7'23
59
Christian Vande Velde
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
60
Tadej Valjavec
Pro Team Astana
+ 7'34
61
Rafael Valls
Nespresso
s.t.
62
Íñigo Cuesta
Caja Rural
+ 7'44
63
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+ 7'55
64
Michael Albasini
Team Qantas
s.t.
65
Julián Sánchez Pimienta
Caja Rural
s.t.
66
Kevin De Weert
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
67
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 8'12
68
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 8'21
69
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 8'35
70
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 9'20
71
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
72
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
+ 9'45
73
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
74
Kim Kirchen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
75
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
s.t.
76
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
77
Sébastien Minard
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
78
Nuno Ribeiro
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
79
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
s.t.
80
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso
s.t.
81
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
82
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
s.t.
83
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
s.t.
84
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Fumiyuki Beppu
Team Qantas
+ 11'11
86
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
+ 11'36
87
Wim Van Huffel
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
88
Pavel Brutt
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
89
Luis Pasamontes
Movistar Team
s.t.
90
Gustavo César Veloso
Movistar Team
+ 11'57
91
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Team Europcar
s.t.
92
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
+ 12'36
93
Alexandre Botcharov
Katusha Team
s.t.
94
Anthony Roux
FDJ
s.t.
95
Karsten Kroon
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
96
Aitor Pérez Arrieta
Lampre - Generali
+ 13'37
97
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
98
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
99
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 13'53
100
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Team Qantas
+ 14'19
101
Arthur Vichot
FDJ
+ 14'50
102
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
103
Linus Gerdemann
Katusha Team
+ 15'38
104
Dominique Rollin
FDJ
s.t.
105
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
+ 15'52
106
Kristof Vandewalle
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
107
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
+ 17'30
108
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
+ 18'28
109
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
110
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
111
David Loosli
Lampre - Generali
+ 19'07
112
Carlos Oyarzun
Movistar Team
s.t.
113
Frederik Willems
Lotto - Belisol
+ 20'05
114
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
115
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
116
Remmert Wielinga
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 20'55
117
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
118
Romain Zingle
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
119
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 21'29
120
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 21'53
121
José Herrada
Caja Rural
+ 22'03
122
Peter Stetina
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 22'14
123
Mathieu Sprick
Team Europcar
+ 23'45
124
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
125
Kurt-Asle Arvesen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
126
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
127
Simone Masciarelli
Sony Ericsson
+ 24'07
128
Matthias Brändle
Nespresso
s.t.
129
Garikoitz Bravo
Caja Rural
+ 24'32
130
Iñaki Isasi
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
131
Rubén Martínez
Caja Rural
+ 24'59
132
Matteo Tosatto
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 26'09
133
Davide Bonuccelli
Nespresso
+ 26'32
134
Vicente Reynès
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
135
Roman Kireyev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
136
Albert Timmer
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
137
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
138
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
139
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
140
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso
s.t.
141
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 27'06
142
Americo Novembrini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 27'40
143
Simon Clarke
Team Qantas
+ 27'56
144
Yohan Offredo
FDJ
s.t.
145
Travis Meyer
Team Qantas
s.t.
146
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 28'56
147
Daniele Ratto
Nespresso
s.t.
148
Mirco Lorenzetto
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
149
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
150
Gert Steegmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
151
William Bonnet
FDJ
s.t.
152
Robert Hunter
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
153
Marcello Pavarin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 29'43
154
Joaquín Sobrino
Caja Rural
s.t.
155
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
+ 32'15
156
Jarosław Marycz
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
157
Pablo Urtasun
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
158
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
159
Kalle Kriit
Sony Ericsson
+ 33'30
160
Adam Hansen
Lotto - Belisol
+ 33'50
161
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
+ 34'28
162
Shawn Milne
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 35'24
163
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 35'45
164
Eloy Teruel
Caja Rural
s.t.
GC
Antón is in the lead, but will '9 be enough for the final ITT against Contador? Gesink is in the 6th place.
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
18h07'25
2
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 9
3
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 24
4
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
5
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'21
6
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'33
7
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
+ 1'56
8
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'22
9
Peter Sagan
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2'44
10
Jakob Fuglsang
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
Points
1
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
16
91
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
25
64
3
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
20
60
4
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
14
55
5
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
9
44
KOTM Poels can't be overtaken anymore, and only has to finish the last 2 stages to secure the KOTM-jersey (our 5th in 5 World Tour stage races this year!!).
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Happy for 2 reasons: Poels securing the KOTM-jersey and Gesink being in the attack and finishing in 6th.
). Oh well, back to Pais Vasco.
