Inches separate Wiggins and Vinokourov at the summit
Alexandre Vinokourov won the first stage of the Vuelta a Andaluica by the width of a wheel rim ahead of Bradley Wiggins. The Astana man showed great courage to take the win, having been dropped 3 times by Wiggins in the final climb to the line. Wiggins, making his first outing since the pan-flat stages of Qatar at the start of the month, looked to have his rival beaten on the climb, only for the Kazakh to keep coming back onto his wheel.
The day began with a flurry of attacks from the lesser teams in the peleton, and over the first 30 kilometres, they built up a lead of around 1'00. At the first Mountain Classification sprint of the day, that break was pulled back and another formed in it wake, with a group of 7 riders being able to break the elastic of the Astana controlled peleton.
Working well together, the riders from the Orbea Team, Skil-Shimano and Caja Rural amongst others built up a lead of over 5'49". But this lead never looked enough, as first Footon-Servetto and then Astana upped the pace of the peleton, and soon the time gap fast disappeared.
At 17km, and with the final climb to the summit still to come, there was just 1'07" between the break of 7 riders and the fast approaching chasing pack. Hitting the climb, many riders could not hold onto the Astana driven pack, and soon dropped off the back within a few kilometres. Just before the 10km mark, the break was caught, and the rivals changed their attentions to each other. Watching each other's moves closely, none of them would show their hand too soon.
At 8km, Vinokourov went first, with just Bradley Wiggins getting out of the seat to follow him. Building a lead of around 46", the pair began to work, with still no reaction from rivals Garzelli and Falls.
5 kilometres, Wiggins dug in again, this time attacking Vinokourov, and after a slow reaction, they were again back together on the climb up. Then trouble for Vinokourov. He was distanced of the back of Wiggins, as the Olympic Pursuit Champion set a high pace, but then finding another surge of energy, he got back on the wheel of Wiggins for a second time. But this was not for long, as he was soon distanced again, and the Sky man looked to have the beating of his Astana rival.
22nd February 2010 - Vuelta a AndalucÃa Stage 2 (Otura-Córdoba)
Stage 2 looks like a much easier day for the peleton, as they go from Otura to Córdoba. After a undulating start, the stage flattens off, and looks set for a bunch sprint finish in the centre of Córdoba.
After Alexandre Vinokourov's win yesterday, Astana will look to defend the Leader's Jersey, which could result in an easier day for the sprinter's teams.
Riders to Watch: G. Henderson, A. Barayev, T. Smolen, S. Siedler My Tip for the Stage: E. Gasparotto. The Astana rider has a useful kick in a mass sprint finish, and will look to show it here before he heads off the Spring Classics.
22nd February 2010 - Vuelta a AndalucÃa Stage 2 (Otura-Córdoba)
Higinio Fernandez takes a historical for the Rural Caja Team
Higinio Fernandez won stage 2 of the Vuelta a Andalucia on a rainy day in Spain. The Rural Caja rider won the stage ahead of his fellow escapees, as the peleton left it too late to pull them back.
The Spanish rider attacked with 7 other riders at the start of the stage, building up an assailable lead over the course of the day. It was an unpleasant day for the riders, as rain beat down all day long. The group, containing BMC's Michael Schar, ISD-Neri's Tomei and Mikel Landa of Orbea, worked well together over the race, not even competing for the Sprint points or the Mountain Points on the day.
The only time when there was a break down in the workload was 14km from the finish, when Michael Schar and Landa saw their chance of victory and attacked on a small rise. However, this was a hopeless attack, and soon they were back together. Ironically, at the finish, Schar and Landa had nothing left in the legs to take part in the sprint. If only they had kept something back. We could have had a different result.
Behind in the peleton, Astana worked on the front, controlling the distance to the break. However, it was only until Team Sky upped the pace that the gap began to fall. But it was all too much to do for Sky, and with the help of Astana, again working on the front, and Footon-Servetto, the gap was reduced to 54", and there was no threat to the GC contenders. All of them finished safely in peleton, ready for the battle that tomorrow brings.
Fernandez takes home the victory for Rural Caja
The Day's Race in Photos
Spoiler
The early break on the day
A rain soaked peleton on the stage
Overall Leader Alexandre Vinokourov
Michael Schar and Mikel Landa see their chance to attack
23rd February 2010 - Vuelta a AndalucÃa Stage 3 (Marbella-Benahavis)
Stage 3 takes the peleton from the popular holiday destination of Marbella to Benahavis. Going over some high mountains and hills, this could again be the day for a climber to take the stage. However, with no high gradient slopes on the mountains, and if the sprinters can get over them with a bit of engery left in the legs, there could be a mass sprint at the finish.
Riders to Watch: B. Wiggins, S. Garzelli, A. Vinokourov, R. Pidgornyy My tip for the stage: R. Pidgornyy. After fourth place on stage 1, the ISD-Neri rider could have it in the legs to take this one on a less challenging finish.
Tuco the Ugly wrote:
Almost broke Vino on the climb. TT should be in your favor.
i thought i had broke him on the climb. when dropped off the the third time i thought i had him done in! i have never been able to break someone like that before so i was really happy until he started his sprint
23rd February 2010 - Vuelta a AndalucÃa Stage 3 (Marbella-Benahavis)
Victory Number 2 for Vino
Alexandre Vinokourov took stage 3 into Benahavis, extending his lead in the Overall Standings, thanks to the bonus seconds awarded on the line. And again, it was Bradley Wiggins coming over the line in second place.
The day began with an attack from a group 12 riders, including Pre-Race Favourite Giovanni Visconti, as well as Kristof Vandewalle of Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator Team. Having slipped to 2'31" down on Race Leader Vinokourov, it seems that the ISD-Neri rider, Visconti, had changed his focus. He challenged for the Mountain Classification Points on the day, gaining 14 in the process.
On the climb of the first Mountain, the peleton was already losing riders. All together 22 riders went off the back, and as the chasing pack descended down the other side all but 1 of the riders got back on.
The group gained a maximum of 2'30" over the pack, and as they climbed the final Mountain of the day, the time gap slowly began to come back down. 2km from the top of the Mountain, they were caught, and Vinokourov made his move.
But not for long, at 3km to go, Wiggins tried to the put Vinokourov under pressure. He put in a big attack, and Vinokourov reacted. They hit the flamme rouge with a small gap over the peleton, and they started the sprint. Vinokourov pulled away from Wiggins, and a second victory looked a certainty. Wiggins was good for 2nd place if he could hold off the advancing pack behind and he did, but only just on the line.
The win for Vino puts him 16" ahead of Wiggins in the Overall Classification, but with the ITT tomorrow, could he hold onto that lead. With Wiggins far more superior Time Trialling Skills, this is going to be day that Vinokourov's lead could be under threat.
Vinokourov celebrates his win
The Day's Race in Photos
Spoiler
At the start in Marbella
The first group of the riders in the breakaway
Visconti Group on the climb up the 2nd Mountain on the day
@janne: i was happy with no really time loss, but i think the stage was for the taking. i attack too early with wiggo. if i had left it one more kilometre or so, the gradiant would have been in my favour and i could have taken the win.
@freitas: the TT is all that is left I think. in a sprint finish i cant seem to beat him, and the last stage is more favourable to vino. my worry is that the TT is not long enough at only 9km. It is long enough to get a good gap on vino if i beat him?
24th February 2010 - Vuelta a AndalucÃa Stage 4 ITT (Malaga)
The 4th stage of the Vuelta a AndalucÃa is an Individual Time Trial against the clock around the town of Malaga.
With a total length of 9.8km, it should not cause too many problem for the GC contenders in terms of time gaps, but with the final stage tomorrow, any time gained or lossed could make a big difference.
All eyes on the day will be focused on the fight between Alexandre Vinokourov and Bradley Wiggins. With only 16" separating the pair, who will come out on top and what will the time between them at the end of the day be?
Riders to Watch: B. Wiggins, A. Vinokourov, S. Cummings, S. Grazelli. My Tip for the Stage: B. Wiggins. With fantastic Time Trialling ability and experience, the Olympic Individual Pursuit Gold Medal Winner should be able to take the victory, but question will be how much time will be make up on Vinokourov? Anything more than 17" at the finish will give Bradley the Leaders Jersey going into the final day.
@janne: i think any gain over vino will be an advantage going into the final day. if i can gain more than 10" going into that last day then i will be happy. bonus seconds on the final day could give me the win overall then
24th February 2010 - Vuelta a AndalucÃa Stage 4 ITT (Malaga)
Wiggins victory closes the gap to Vinokourov
Bradley Wiggins took his first individual victory of the season, closing in on Alexandre Vinokourov at the top of the GC standings.
The Brit won the short 9.8km stage with a time of 12'50, ahead of Vinokourov, who finished 10" back in second.
Of the early riders setting off on the course, it was Piet Rooijakkers of Skil-Shimano, who set the early pace, with a time of 13'35, and for a while this time seemed to be the time of the day. Latvian National TT Champion, Raivis Belohvosciks of Ceramica Flaminia, who was next to go the quickest, again with a time of 13'35. Skil-Shimano's Koen de Kort next equalled the time of Rooijakkers and Belohvosciks, going second at the same time.
Astana then decided to get in on the act of posting a time of 13'35, as both Enrico Gasparotto and Assan Bazayev came across the line. Would anyone go quicker than 13'35? That answer would be yes! First, Alexander Kvachuk of ISD-Neri went 2" quicker than the group of 5 riders, quickly followed Stefano Garzelli with a time of 13'31.
After an uncomfortable looking start, Vinokourov had settled down again, and live feeds at the roadside showed he was losing seconds to Wiggins. It wasn't many, but it was still a loss. At the last check with 2km to go, he was 12" down to Wiggins and as he crossed the line, it was back to 10".
A magnificent for Wiggins, and a valuable 10" gained back on Vinokourov. Going into the final day, only 6" separates the pair, and with bonus seconds available across the entire stage, anything could still happen at the top.
Vinokourov keeps his lead, but it is a lot closer now to Wiggins
The Day's Race in Photo
Spoiler
Latvian National Champion Raivis Belohvosciks looked good today
Stage 2 winner Higinio Fernandez
Stefano Garzelli out on the course
Wiggins showed all of his experience to take the win today
25th February 2010 - Vuelta a AndalucÃa Stage 5 (Torrox Costa to Antequera)
The Ruta del Sol ends with an undulating final stage from Torrox Costa to Antequera. Beginning with 2 difficult climbs, coming within the first 24km of the stage, the riders will be in for a tough day. After more unclassified Mountains along the way, the riders drop down into the valley, before coming back up for a further two more Mountain Sprints. The stage ends with a descent into the town of Antequera, before a 30km circuit loops the riders back to the finish in the Town Centre.
With just 6" between Race Leader Alexandre Vinokourov and Bradley Wiggins, all eyes again will be on them to see who will come out on top. With bonus seconds along the entire route and at the finish, there are plenty of opportunities for Wiggins to gain the time needed to win the Overall if he is unable to drop the Kazakh rider.
Riders to Watch: A. Vinokourov, B. Wiggins, S. Garzelli, R. Pidgornyy My tip for the Stage: S. Garzelli. With Wiggins and Vinokourov going to be watching each other, this could be the day for another Pre-Race GC Favourite to make their mark, and I think Garzelli will be the man to take advantage of the situation.
just gotta make sure I don't let vino get too much distance on me before it
