STAGE 10: Ponteareas - Sanxenxo 160 KM

On this sprinter stage a 7 man break get clear. Buchacek leads his 6 companions, who are: Dean, Bongiorno, Clain, Engoulvent, Day and Tebag teammate Menzies over the only categorised climb of the day.

From as far out as 60 kilometres to go we have Hushovd, Petacchi and Hunter right up together towards the front.

The break had a max advantage of 6'30 with 81 kilometres to go before usual suspects Cilo, Faema and Garin took up the chase.

Sipeky of Carpano would soldier on despite having a nasty looking fall, Sousa of EMI does well to avoid him!

There is no customary attack from Alcyon with 30 kilometres to go.

With the break @ 1'20 with 23 kilometres to go Sorensen of Stella attacks across to make the break 8 strong. Hunter clearly doesn't fancy his sprint here, he would attack but get caught in no mans land.

In an effort to get to the front Hushovd's last man, Tjallingi, has to start his sprint from way out as does Hushovd....

Hushovd has a big gap but there are still hundreds of meters to go. Petacchi looks to be coming up from behind but great speed is what is needed....

The Italian delivers. Petacchi wins by 2.5 bike lengths and Hushovd has to settle for second. Well played by Garin. Sami Sanchez tries to go all Freddy Maertens on this Vuelta and finishes 3rd with teammate Vicioso popping up in 5th. A great day for Aer Lingus.

Stage 11 sees the final time trial of this Vuelta. We have 37 kilometres of road to deal with including a steep 10 kilometre climb in the middle which should see the GC men and hard puncheurs come to the fore.

STAGE 11: Cambados - Pontevdra 39 KM

Svein Tuft has had a difficult Vuelta so far. Nevertheless he sets the first decent time of 1'04'09 which is 2'21 faster than lantern rouge K Evans. Although Rebiewski of Tebag took time out of the Canadian in the last sector which suggest this time will be easily managed by many riders.

Vicioso shows he is on good form he finishes '8 faster than Tuft and is the temporary leader.

Eventually Vicioso's time is beaten by the Dane, Sorensen, who finishes '25 faster after putting in a good effort over the climb.

Then comes Chavanel.

The Frenchman destroys all times up to this point and goes fastest with a time of 1'01'52. A good time will be needed to dethrone the Alcyon rider.

Marco Pinotti shows well for the first time in this Vuelta with a time of 1'03'00 which is good enough for a top 15.

Voight, Blanco, Basso and Danielson are going well but are not in the same level as Chavanel.

Kloden of Carpano chases Petrov of EMI around the course on his way to finish in the top 10 with a time of 1:02:34.

Evans is just '2 down on Chavanel at the first checkpoint, the closest anyone has came to the Alcyon Attacker....

UNTIL

last man off Sami Sanchez goes '4 faster than Chavanel at the first split.

Evans grinds around the course and beats Chavanel by '2 finishing @ 1:01:50..... But Sami Sanchez......

is the man of this Vuelta. The Spaniard sets a time of 1'00'57 winning by '53 over the nearest challenger.

Voeckler does really well to finish in the top 10 and secure his second place on the podium for another day....

STAGE 12: Vilagarcia de Arousa - Dumbria 178 KM

After a bumpy profile littered with small hills the last 20 kilometres are the hardest with terrain favouring the GC men and punchuers. The last 1 kilometre averages over 10%.

The 7 man break of the day: Prazdnovsky; F Rodriguez, M Reihs, G Palumbo, D McCann, N Vogondy and B Cooke.

From 90 kilometres to go and the break at 7:40 Standard Chartered and Liberia come to the front of the peloton to reduce the gap to the break.

The break have just over 1:00 with 15 kilometres to go so Vogondy attacks....

One moment later in the same spot Sami Sanchez is the first to attack out of the peloton.

Vogondy is caught as the attacks continue. Charteau and Tankink have to slow down to wait for 'the Voeckler ' as they set off after Sami Sanchez... Sami Sanchez is caught with 10 kilometres to go as......

Voeckler attacks. Sami Sanchez looks comfortable as he counters and Zubeldia also rides up to form a trio. The pace is knocked off........

and Cadel Evans comes flying past. The Sanchez group now joined by the other big favourites: Rogers; Basso and Horner etc.... just look at each other.

Cadel Evans pulls out '15 as we head into the last kilometre. Is it enough?

Is it enough? The rest of the favourites led by Sami Sanchez come back to Evans and the catch is made with 200 long hard meters to go.... Has Cadel anything left?......

YES HE DOES. Win for Liberia! The Aussie with iron will determination gets a second wind and beats Sanchez at the line with a resurgent Basso and Voeckler '8 behind. Cadel moves up into second place and stops the dominance of Sami Sanchez for a while at least.