The penultimate mountain stage from El Espinar to La Granjade San Ildefonso, 161 kilometres with 2 ascends of the Puerto de Navacerrada with in betwee the Puerto de Morcuera. After the last summit of the Navaccerada, there are still 24 kilometres left, and the last 1500 metres are uphill again.
79km to go
Just as many more stages this Vuelta, the first part of the stage is pretty boring. A few smaller groups try to break away, and form a way too big group, so the peloton catches them again.
And to be honest, we really don't mind, as our only goal is to defend the GC-lead. Also in the first ascend of the Puerto de Navacerrada, nothing happens. Simon Gerrans attacks 1km before the summit, collects the maximum amount of KOTM-points and let's himself fall back in the peloton.
The riders have started to climb the Puerto de Morcuera. With 12 kilometres at 5.3%, it's really not the hardest climb there is. After 4 ascending kilometres, Vasil Kiryienka attacks. The Belarusian-rider has had a very disappointing Vuelta so far, and tries to make up for up.
71km to go
Kiryienka is the first to arrive at the summit of the Puerto de Morcuera. Simon Gerrans is 1'18 behind him. The Aussie counter attacked Kiryienka, but never was able to close the gap. The peloton has taken it easy, and follows at 6'29.
42km to go
Th emargin from Kiryienka to the peloton keeps increasing. With 42 kilometres to go, just before the foot of the 2nd climb of the Navacerrada, it has become 11 minutes. Although knowing that the stage win is gone, we send our domestiques to the front of the peloton to do the pace.
29km to go
With 29 kilometres to go, and the gap to Kiryienka being 9'50, Luis León Sánchez is the first to attack. His move is countered by Fränk Schleck, in a desperate attempt of reaching the Top 3 of the GC.
24km to go
Meanwhile, Kiryienka has reached the summit of the Navacerrada, with a margin of 1'52 to Simon Gerrans. Behind the 2 (6'20 behind Kiryienka), follow the 4 tenors of the Vuelta: the Schleck brothers, Antón and Cobo. The 2 Spanish riders and Andy Schleck are the only riders that can follow the attack of Fränk. Not by countering it, but by continuing in their own pace and slowly closing the gap.
A group with Vinokourov, Voeckler, Roche, Duarte and Sánchez follows at 6'45 and a third group with Le Mével and Brajkovic at 7'35.
Finish
Vasil Kiryienka has no problems in keeping the margin to Gerrans, even increasing it to 2'15. It's the first win of the season for the Belarussian, after a great solo-attack.
3rd place
A total of 24 riders have joined in the long descend of the Navacerrada, including all riders from the Top 10 of the GC. The waiting is for the last 1500 metres, which are ascending with 3-6%. Andy Schleck is the first to attack, and bigbro Fränk immediately counters. And of course, Cobo and Antón can follow the 2. Having wasted a lot of energy with his attack, Andy isn't able to win the sprint for the 3rd place and collecting 6 bonus seconds. He gets passed by Fränk. The big 4 are the strongest again, creating a gap of '20 to Voeckler and '32 to Sánchez, Vino and Roche.
Results
1
Vasil Kiryienka
Pro Team Astana
4h29'13
2
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
+ 2'15
3
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4'13
4
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
5
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
s.t.
6
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
7
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
+ 4'33
8
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4'45
9
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
10
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
12
Fabio Duarte
Nespresso
s.t.
13
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
14
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso
s.t.
15
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
16
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
17
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
18
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 5'13
19
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
20
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
21
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
22
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
23
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
24
Anthony Charteau
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 5'37
25
Denis Menchov
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
26
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
27
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 5'58
28
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 7'56
29
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
s.t.
30
Leonardo Piepoli
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
31
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
32
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
33
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
34
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
35
Jens Voigt
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
36
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
37
Stephen Cummings
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
38
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
39
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Team Europcar
s.t.
40
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
41
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
42
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 8'37
43
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
44
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
45
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 9'07
46
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
47
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
48
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
49
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
50
José Joaquín Rojas
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
51
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
52
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
53
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
54
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
55
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
s.t.
56
Luis Pasamontes
Movistar Team
s.t.
57
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
58
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
59
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
s.t.
60
Gustavo César Veloso
Movistar Team
s.t.
61
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
62
Anthony Colby
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
63
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
64
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
65
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
+ 9'41
66
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 9'49
67
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 13'00
68
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
69
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
70
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
71
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
72
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
73
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
74
Andrey Zeits
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
75
Rodrigo García
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
76
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
s.t.
77
Julien El Fares
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
78
Christian Meier
Team Qantas
s.t.
79
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
80
Artem Ovechkin
Katusha Team
s.t.
81
Simon Clarke
Team Qantas
s.t.
82
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
s.t.
83
Laurent Lefèvre
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
84
Pavel Brutt
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
86
Haimar Zubeldia
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
87
Geoffroy Lequatre
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
88
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
89
Andrea Moletta
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
90
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
91
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
92
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
93
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
94
Jonathan Monsalve
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
95
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
96
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
97
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
98
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 14'53
99
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
100
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
101
Aitor Pérez Arrieta
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
102
Óscar Freire
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
103
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso
s.t.
104
Remmert Wielinga
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
105
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
+ 20'35
106
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
107
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
108
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
109
Frederik Willems
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
110
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
111
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
112
Daniele Bennati
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
113
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
114
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 21'02
115
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 22'17
116
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
s.t.
117
Xabier Zandio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
118
Sven Vandousselaere
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
119
Maryan Hary
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
120
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
121
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
122
Michael Barry
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
123
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
124
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
125
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
126
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
s.t.
127
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
128
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
129
Fumiyuki Beppu
Team Qantas
s.t.
130
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
131
Greg Henderson
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
132
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
s.t.
133
Vicente Reynès
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
134
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
135
Gabriel Rasch
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
136
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
137
Matthew Wilson
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
138
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
s.t.
139
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
s.t.
140
Jarosław Marycz
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
141
Andrey Mizourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
142
Daniele Righi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
143
Wesley Sulzberger
Team Qantas
s.t.
144
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
s.t.
145
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
146
Martin Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
147
Daniel Lloyd
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
148
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
149
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
150
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
151
Simone Masciarelli
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
152
Matthew Hayman
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
153
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
154
Gert Dockx
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
155
Nicolas Vogondy
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
156
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
157
Marko Kump
Nespresso
s.t.
158
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 28'22
159
Tony Gallopin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
160
Adam Hansen
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
161
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
162
Mathieu Claude
Team Europcar
s.t.
163
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
164
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
165
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 35'51
GC
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
73h03'14
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'34
3
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
s.t.
4
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4'36
5
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 8'59
6
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
+ 18'42
7
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 21'12
8
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 23'12
9
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 23'30
10
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 24'35
Spoiler
11
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 24'53
12
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 27'45
13
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 30'01
14
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 30'39
15
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli
+ 32'43
16
Denis Menchov
Sony Ericsson
+ 33'17
17
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 35'42
18
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 36'42
19
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
+ 37'08
20
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 48'36
21
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 49'52
22
Fabio Duarte
Nespresso
+ 50'04
23
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
+ 50'39
24
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
+ 51'11
25
Leonardo Piepoli
Androni Giocattoli
+ 52'10
26
Jens Voigt
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 56'34
27
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 56'52
28
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 59'15
29
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso
+ 59'43
30
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 1h01'59
31
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 1h04'46
32
Vasil Kiryienka
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h06'47
33
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1h07'21
34
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h09'39
35
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
+ 1h10'03
36
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+ 1h10'36
37
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1h12'54
38
Stephen Cummings
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h14'13
39
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h14'39
40
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
+ 1h18'35
41
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h19'12
42
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h19'16
43
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1h19'23
44
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h20'04
45
Anthony Charteau
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h20'30
46
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h21'27
47
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h23'03
48
José Joaquín Rojas
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 1h27'29
49
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h27'50
50
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 1h28'51
51
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
+ 1h31'10
52
Luis Pasamontes
Movistar Team
+ 1h32'19
53
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 1h32'25
54
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 1h34'53
55
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h35'02
56
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 1h37'26
57
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h38'29
58
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h40'28
59
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h43'57
60
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h44'15
61
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h44'58
62
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h46'37
63
Julien El Fares
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 1h47'18
64
Gustavo César Veloso
Movistar Team
+ 1h47'52
65
Andrea Moletta
Lampre - Generali
+ 1h48'35
66
Pavel Brutt
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h52'43
67
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 1h52'46
68
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h54'10
69
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h55'26
70
Rodrigo García
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1h56'05
71
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1h57'26
72
Andrey Zeits
Pro Team Astana
+ 2h00'03
73
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h00'48
74
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 2h03'17
75
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h04'07
76
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
+ 2h05'04
77
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h05'53
78
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h12'12
79
Haimar Zubeldia
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h13'50
80
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h14'58
81
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h15'28
82
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 2h24'37
83
Anthony Colby
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 2h26'07
84
Christian Meier
Team Qantas
+ 2h26'33
85
Artem Ovechkin
Katusha Team
+ 2h28'52
86
Aitor Pérez Arrieta
Lampre - Generali
+ 2h29'48
87
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h30'26
88
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 2h30'54
89
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h35'47
90
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Team Europcar
+ 2h37'39
91
Xabier Zandio
Sky ProCycling
+ 2h39'26
92
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 2h42'05
93
Frederik Willems
Lotto - Belisol
+ 2h42'19
94
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2h43'52
95
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h46'17
96
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
97
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 2h47'09
98
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
+ 2h50'16
99
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h55'11
100
Michael Barry
Sky ProCycling
+ 2h58'03
101
Jonathan Monsalve
Androni Giocattoli
+ 2h58'44
102
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
+ 3h00'07
103
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h07'37
104
Laurent Lefèvre
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3h09'59
105
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
+ 3h10'50
106
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
+ 3h13'06
107
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h17'33
108
Maryan Hary
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 3h17'51
109
Óscar Freire
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 3h19'50
110
Simon Clarke
Team Qantas
+ 3h21'15
111
Geoffroy Lequatre
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3h21'16
112
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
+ 3h22'10
113
Sven Vandousselaere
Lotto - Belisol
+ 3h24'09
114
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 3h26'51
115
Gert Dockx
Lotto - Belisol
+ 3h27'23
116
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
+ 3h30'35
117
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h31'54
118
Daniele Bennati
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3h33'14
119
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h34'32
120
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
+ 3h34'51
121
Remmert Wielinga
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3h36'11
122
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
+ 3h38'25
123
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 3h41'18
124
Daniel Lloyd
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 3h41'51
125
Matthew Wilson
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 3h42'37
126
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h42'40
127
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3h43'11
128
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
+ 3h43'16
129
Marko Kump
Nespresso
+ 3h44'24
130
Fumiyuki Beppu
Team Qantas
+ 3h45'11
131
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
+ 3h45'23
132
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
+ 3h46'30
133
Jarosław Marycz
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h47'54
134
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 3h48'20
135
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso
+ 3h49'25
136
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - Generali
+ 3h50'02
137
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h50'35
138
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
+ 3h56'29
139
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3h56'30
140
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 3h57'00
141
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
+ 3h58'14
142
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
+ 3h59'43
143
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h02'16
144
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
+ 4h03'33
145
Wesley Sulzberger
Team Qantas
+ 4h05'43
146
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
+ 4h06'10
147
Nicolas Vogondy
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4h06'38
148
Vicente Reynès
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4h09'29
149
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h09'30
150
Martin Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 4h15'25
151
Adam Hansen
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4h15'31
152
Tony Gallopin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4h16'32
153
Matthew Hayman
Sky ProCycling
+ 4h17'04
154
Simone Masciarelli
Sony Ericsson
+ 4h18'15
155
Greg Henderson
Pro Team Astana
+ 4h18'19
156
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4h18'25
157
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
+ 4h20'28
158
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4h22'30
159
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 4h23'43
160
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4h24'25
161
Mathieu Claude
Team Europcar
+ 4h28'27
162
Gabriel Rasch
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 4h30'31
163
Daniele Righi
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h39'56
164
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
+ 4h41'24
165
Andrey Mizourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 5h02'05
Points
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
15
220
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
10
146
3
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
12
138
4
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
7
114
5
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
16
111
KOTM
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
20
215
2
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
6
122
3
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
10
112
4
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
4
106
5
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
35
81
U25
1
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
74h02'29
2
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 5'31
3
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 15'24
4
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 20'01
5
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 22'12
Teams
1
Monster Energy - Ford
220h21'19
2
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 5'30
3
Nespresso
+ 27'30
4
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 52'25
5
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 59'15
Today's winner
Word from the DS
We really don't mind these stages, with a breakaway winning and Andy Schleck not losing any time. Tomorrow stage can be decisive, with many climbs and the finish in the beautiful historical city of Avila.
Edited by dienblad on 24-03-2012 22:34
The last mountain stage in this Vuelta is with start and finish in Ávila. In the 196 kilometres, the riders will face 1 3rd category climb, 3 2nd category climbs and 1 from the 1st category, the Puerto de Mijares. The last summit (Puerto de Navalmoral) is 20 km before the finish in the historical city of Ávila.
69km to go
Nothing much happened in the first part of the climb. Only thing was that a group including Radio Shacks García attacked, and because Radio Shack is only 5 minutes behind us in the teams-ranking, we worked to get them back.
After that, Julien El Fares attacked before the summit of the Puerto de Mijares, with only the goal of collecting some KOTM-points. He lets himself fall back in the peloton. The next attack, 80km before the finish, is from Steven Kruijswijk (Rabobank), the leader in the U25-ranking. He gets joined by Daniel Moreno (Katusha) and the 2 arrive at the summit of the Alto de Pedro Bernardo with a margin of 5'49 to the peloton.
57km to go
In the next climb, the Puerto de Serranillos, the pace in the peloton increases because of the domestiques of Nespresso, so only a select group arrives at the summit together. 2'08 behind the 2 leaders, Andy Schleck arrives at the summit in 3rd place, followed by Cobo, Voeckler, Brajkovic, Txurruka, Fränk Schleck, Zeits, Antón, Nepomnyachsiy, Charteau, Voigt, Durán, Roche and Vinokourov.
3 minutes behind this first group, is another group with Sánchez, Porte, Le Mével and Rodríguez. And our riders are even further down the road.
What happened here? Well, the DS accidentaly but the dot on low effort, and didn't notice it
30km to go
Kruijswijk and Moreno are caught in the descend and a 16-man group arrives at the foot of the last real climb in tis Vuelta, the Puerto de Navalmoral. Before it is a Intermediate sprint, where Andy sneaks away with 6 bonus seconds.
27km to go
The first rider to attack in the ascend is Tomas Voeckler, with still 7 km to go untill the summit.
25km to go
Voeckler gets caught almost immediately, and the next attack is by Alexandre Vinokourov. Andy keeps on climbing in a high pace, letting noone escape.
24km to go
When the thinning smaller group catches Vino, Igor Antón launches his attack. Is this the ultimate attack by the GC's number 2, with the goal of cracking Andy and placing himself back in the battle for the overall win. Andy recognizes the danger and counters immediately. Vino tries to follow and further down the road also Fränk does. Cobo has some more problems in closing the gap.
23km to go Andy has no problems in countering the attack from Antón and immediately takes over. He has some energy left, and tries to enlarge his margin in the GC. Antón, Vino, Fränk and Cobo are behind him and can't counter this one.
20km to go Andy arrives at the summit, but his margin is smaller than expected. Reason for it is brother Fränk who is chasing him and, together with Cobo, is only 8 seconds behind. Antón follows at '20.
With still 20km to go, Andy decides not to continue his attack. He has showed who is the strongest in the mountains this Vuelta, but decides not to waste any more energy.
11km to go
The pace in the descend drops a bit and 8 riders emerge. The top 7 of the GC is present, including Cobo's domestique Durán. The margin to the chasing group is about 4 minutes, so the winner is in this group.
Finish
What a weird situation in the streets of Ávila, with a sur place between 8 riders. The pace drops even more and nobody wants to start the sprint. Under the red banner, Cobo is the first to start the sprint, followed by Antón and Fränk. Andy gets blocked a bit, and has no chance to take the stage win.
Juan José Cobo takes the win, his first of the season and the biggest so far for the Nespresso-team. Antón finishes in 2nd, Fränk in 3rd and Andy in 4th.
Results
1
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
5h28'16
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
3
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
4
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
5
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
s.t.
6
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
7
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
8
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso
s.t.
9
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'53
10
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
12
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4'32
13
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 4'46
14
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
15
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
16
Andrey Zeits
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
17
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
18
Leonardo Piepoli
Androni Giocattoli
+ 5'18
19
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 5'26
20
Vasil Kiryienka
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
21
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
22
Jens Voigt
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
23
Anthony Charteau
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
24
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
25
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
26
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
27
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
28
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
29
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 5'46
30
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 7'42
31
Fabio Duarte
Nespresso
+ 9'19
32
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 9'29
33
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
34
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
35
Stephen Cummings
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
36
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
38
Denis Menchov
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
39
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 10'41
40
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 11'29
41
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
+ 11'43
42
Rodrigo García
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
43
Haimar Zubeldia
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
44
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
45
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
46
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
47
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Team Europcar
s.t.
48
José Joaquín Rojas
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
49
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
50
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
s.t.
51
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
52
Artem Ovechkin
Katusha Team
s.t.
53
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
54
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
55
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
56
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
57
Andrea Moletta
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
58
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
59
Jonathan Monsalve
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
60
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
61
Anthony Colby
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
62
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
63
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
64
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
+ 14'37
65
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
66
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
s.t.
67
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
68
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
69
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
70
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
s.t.
71
Luis Pasamontes
Movistar Team
+ 15'32
72
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
73
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
74
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
75
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
76
Christian Meier
Team Qantas
s.t.
77
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
78
Gustavo César Veloso
Movistar Team
+ 17'43
79
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 18'10
80
Pavel Brutt
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
81
Julien El Fares
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
82
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
83
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
s.t.
84
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
85
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
86
Michael Barry
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
87
Geoffroy Lequatre
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
88
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
s.t.
89
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
90
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
91
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
s.t.
92
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 20'36
93
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 20'51
94
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 21'04
95
Frederik Willems
Lotto - Belisol
+ 21'38
96
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 22'48
97
Andrey Mizourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 23'58
98
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
+ 25'13
99
Greg Henderson
Pro Team Astana
+ 25'57
100
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 27'12
101
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso
+ 27'31
102
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
103
Matthew Wilson
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 28'57
104
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 30'27
105
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 32'28
106
Xabier Zandio
Sky ProCycling
+ 41'52
107
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
108
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
109
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
110
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
111
Aitor Pérez Arrieta
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
112
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
113
Simon Clarke
Team Qantas
s.t.
114
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
115
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
116
Laurent Lefèvre
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
117
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
118
Óscar Freire
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
119
Maryan Hary
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
120
Sven Vandousselaere
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
121
Daniele Bennati
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
122
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
123
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
s.t.
124
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
125
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
126
Jarosław Marycz
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
127
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
128
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
129
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
130
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
s.t.
131
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
132
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
133
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
134
Daniel Lloyd
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
135
Nicolas Vogondy
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
136
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
s.t.
137
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
138
Tony Gallopin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
139
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
140
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
141
Vicente Reynès
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
142
Fumiyuki Beppu
Team Qantas
s.t.
143
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
144
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
145
Gert Dockx
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
146
Wesley Sulzberger
Team Qantas
s.t.
147
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
148
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
149
Remmert Wielinga
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
150
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
s.t.
151
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
152
Marko Kump
Nespresso
s.t.
153
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
s.t.
154
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
155
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
s.t.
156
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
157
Matthew Hayman
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
158
Daniele Righi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
159
Simone Masciarelli
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
160
Gabriel Rasch
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
161
Adam Hansen
Lotto - Belisol
+ 44'32
162
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 45'24
163
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
164
Mathieu Claude
Team Europcar
+ 45'59
165
Martin Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 46'54
GC
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
78h31'24
2
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
+ 3'20
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'28
4
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4'34
5
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 9'05
6
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
+ 18'48
7
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 21'18
8
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 28'04
9
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 28'08
10
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 29'27
Spoiler
11
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 30'25
12
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 33'17
13
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 35'33
14
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 36'11
15
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli
+ 37'35
16
Denis Menchov
Sony Ericsson
+ 42'52
17
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 44'30
18
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
+ 48'57
19
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 50'25
20
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 54'44
21
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
+ 56'43
22
Leonardo Piepoli
Androni Giocattoli
+ 57'34
23
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 58'11
24
Fabio Duarte
Nespresso
+ 59'29
25
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso
+ 59'49
26
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 1h00'51
27
Jens Voigt
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1h02'02
28
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
+ 1h02'28
29
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h03'14
30
Vasil Kiryienka
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h12'19
31
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h13'38
32
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 1h13'48
33
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 1h16'35
34
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1h18'46
35
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1h19'10
36
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
+ 1h21'52
37
Stephen Cummings
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h23'48
38
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h24'46
39
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+ 1h25'19
40
Anthony Charteau
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h26'02
41
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h26'28
42
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h28'47
43
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1h28'58
44
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h32'14
45
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
+ 1h33'18
46
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h35'42
47
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h38'41
48
José Joaquín Rojas
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 1h39'18
49
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h39'39
50
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 1h40'40
51
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 1h44'14
52
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
+ 1h45'53
53
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h46'00
54
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 1h46'42
55
Luis Pasamontes
Movistar Team
+ 1h47'57
56
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 1h49'01
57
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h50'18
58
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h56'12
59
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h56'47
60
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
+ 1h58'40
61
Andrea Moletta
Lampre - Generali
+ 2h00'24
62
Andrey Zeits
Pro Team Astana
+ 2h04'55
63
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h05'25
64
Julien El Fares
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 2h05'32
65
Gustavo César Veloso
Movistar Team
+ 2h05'41
66
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2h07'15
67
Rodrigo García
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h07'54
68
Pavel Brutt
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h10'53
69
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h12'26
70
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2h17'00
71
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2h18'23
72
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h18'50
73
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h21'31
74
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
+ 2h23'20
75
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h25'03
76
Haimar Zubeldia
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2h25'39
77
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 2h34'44
78
Anthony Colby
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 2h37'54
79
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 2h40'15
80
Artem Ovechkin
Katusha Team
+ 2h40'35
81
Christian Meier
Team Qantas
+ 2h42'11
82
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h42'46
83
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 2h45'07
84
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 2h49'10
85
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Team Europcar
+ 2h49'28
86
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h54'03
87
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h54'10
88
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 2h56'48
89
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h56'56
90
Frederik Willems
Lotto - Belisol
+ 3h04'03
91
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3h04'33
92
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
+ 3h08'32
93
Jonathan Monsalve
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3h10'33
94
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 3h11'10
95
Aitor Pérez Arrieta
Lampre - Generali
+ 3h11'46
96
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3h12'24
97
Michael Barry
Sky ProCycling
+ 3h16'19
98
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
+ 3h18'23
99
Xabier Zandio
Sky ProCycling
+ 3h21'24
100
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3h22'48
101
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
+ 3h28'15
102
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
+ 3h28'44
103
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3h29'07
104
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
+ 3h36'09
105
Geoffroy Lequatre
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3h39'32
106
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
+ 3h40'26
107
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
+ 3h46'40
108
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h49'35
109
Laurent Lefèvre
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3h51'57
110
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 3h59'25
111
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h59'31
112
Maryan Hary
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 3h59'49
113
Óscar Freire
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 4h01'48
114
Simon Clarke
Team Qantas
+ 4h03'13
115
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4h03'53
116
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 4h04'12
117
Sven Vandousselaere
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4h06'07
118
Gert Dockx
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4h09'21
119
Matthew Wilson
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 4h11'40
120
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h12'33
121
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 4h13'52
122
Daniele Bennati
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4h15'12
123
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 4h15'16
124
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 4h16'30
125
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso
+ 4h17'02
126
Remmert Wielinga
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4h18'09
127
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 4h18'53
128
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
+ 4h20'23
129
Daniel Lloyd
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 4h23'49
130
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 4h24'38
131
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
+ 4h25'14
132
Marko Kump
Nespresso
+ 4h26'22
133
Fumiyuki Beppu
Team Qantas
+ 4h27'09
134
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4h27'21
135
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
+ 4h28'28
136
Jarosław Marycz
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 4h29'52
137
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h32'00
138
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 4h32'33
139
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
+ 4h38'27
140
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 4h38'28
141
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
+ 4h40'12
142
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
+ 4h41'41
143
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h44'14
144
Greg Henderson
Pro Team Astana
+ 4h44'22
145
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
+ 4h45'31
146
Wesley Sulzberger
Team Qantas
+ 4h47'41
147
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
+ 4h48'08
148
Nicolas Vogondy
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4h48'36
149
Vicente Reynès
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4h51'27
150
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - Generali
+ 4h51'28
151
Tony Gallopin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4h58'30
152
Matthew Hayman
Sky ProCycling
+ 4h59'02
153
Adam Hansen
Lotto - Belisol
+ 5h00'09
154
Simone Masciarelli
Sony Ericsson
+ 5h00'13
155
Martin Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 5h02'25
156
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
+ 5h02'26
157
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 5h03'55
158
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 5h05'41
159
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 5h06'23
160
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 5h08'00
161
Gabriel Rasch
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 5h12'29
162
Mathieu Claude
Team Europcar
+ 5h14'32
163
Daniele Righi
Lampre - Generali
+ 5h21'54
164
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
+ 5h23'22
165
Andrey Mizourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 5h26'09
Points
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
18
238
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
20
166
3
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
25
163
4
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
16
127
5
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
10
124
KOTM
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
15
230
2
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
10
132
3
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
5
117
4
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
3
109
5
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
0
81
U25
1
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
79h34'38
2
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 13'21
3
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 21'32
4
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 23'14
5
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 29'00
Teams
My mistake almost costs us th elead in the teams-ranking... 1Monster Energy - Ford236h59'35
2 Radio Shack - Nissan + 2'00
3 Nespresso + 23'21
4 Pro Team Astana + 57'42
5 Garmin - Barracuda + 1h00'52
Today's winner
Word from the DS
About Andy: goob job, no time loss today, now preparing for stage 20, the ITT.
About the rest: no comment, my mistake.
Edited by dienblad on 26-03-2012 18:34
Stage 19 goes between SanMartín de Valdeiglesias and Alcobendas. The first part is hily, the second part flat and the last kilometre goes uphill again with 5-6%. Time gaps can occur in the last kilometre!
85km to go
The day before the final ITT is traditionally a stage where a breakaway has a chance to make it to the finish. Today, it is one of these days. 9 riders from the BOTD and they get a maximum lead of 9 minutes. The names:
Grega Bole (Lampre), Pavel Brutt (Rabobank), Julien El Fares (Cofidis), Daryl Impey (Qantas), Christian Knees (Sky), Joost Van Leijen (Vacansoleil), Jürgen Roelandts (Lotto), David Veilleux (Europcar) and Eduard Vorganov (Katusha).
12km to go
The 9 cooperate perfectly, until 12 kilometres before the finish. Pavel Brutt attacks, and he's countered by Joost Van Leijen and Christian Knees. The 3 get a maximum margin of 25 seconds, but the 6 others keep on cooperating.
3km to go
The 3 get caught and with 3km to go, Knees tries again. This time Brutt counters, and also overtakes Knees.
Finish
The last kilometre is more ascending than expected and Brutt and Knees loose their speed. From behind comes Grega Bole, being one of the better puncheurs in the leading group, and he takes the win today. Impey gets 2nd, Vorganov 3rd.
Peloton
Only one rider in the peloton appears to have studied the road book: Andy Schleck. He's placed in the front of the peloton and attacks at the foot of the last hill. He creates a gap, and luckily this time the tour direction awards him with a 20-second gap to the rest of the peloton!
Results
1
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
3h44'58
2
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
s.t.
3
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
s.t.
5
Julien El Fares
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
6
Pavel Brutt
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
8
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 20
9
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 7'07
Spoiler
11
Maryan Hary
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 7'27
12
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
13
Gustavo César Veloso
Movistar Team
s.t.
14
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
15
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
16
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
18
Anthony Colby
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
19
José Joaquín Rojas
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
20
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
GC
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
82h23'29
2
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
+ 3'40
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'48
4
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4'54
5
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 9'25
6
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
+ 19'08
7
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 21'38
8
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 28'24
9
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 28'28
10
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 29'47
Other rankings
No changes.
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Studying the road book pays off!!
Tomorrow is the decisive ITT. 3'40 in 39 kilometres can't be a problem, we're very confident!
Edited by dienblad on 26-03-2012 18:33
The penultimate stage in this Vuelta will bring the decision in the GC. Probably not for the win, but who's going to be 2nd and 3rd.
The 36 kilometres from Guadalajara to Alcalá de Henares are pretty flat, with only a short climb in the first part of it.
Early starter Adriano Malori is one of the outsiders to win today. The Italian TT-champion is a great timetrialist, but has probably got to tired to win. Nevertheless, he sets the best time in 51'50.
Jack Bobridge rides a decent ITT. Our Australian TT-talent sets the 2nd time so far, only '29 behind Malori. In the rankings, he has to settle with the 29th place and is our 2nd best rider today.
Surprise, surprise, the best time is crushed by Edvald Boasson Hagen. The Norwegian rider, who wil transfer to Lotto - Belisol after the season, needs 50'02 for the 36 kilometres, being 1'48 faster than Malori!
Before the Top 4 of the GC starts, this is the situation in the GC:
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
82h23'29
2
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
+ 3'40
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'48
4
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4'54
The first of the Top 4 to start is Fränk Schleck. He needs to be 1'06 faster than Antón, and with TT-stats of 70, that will be difficult. At the first split time, after 10 kilometres, he rides the 16th time so far, '29 behind EBH.
Igor Antón has the lowest TT-stats of the top 4 (69), but with only 1 point less than Fränk and a margin of 1'06 in the GC, he has a great chance in defending his 3rd place. But he's slower than Fränk at the first split time, 18th time so far, '30 behind EBH and '1 behind Fränk.
What's happening here? Juan José Cobo is the best time trialist of the 4 (75), but that he can be 8 seconds faster than Boasson Hagen after 10 kilometres??? This is a huge surprise.
Andy Schleck has started his time trial. 36 kilometres are between him and his first ever GT-win. A margin of 3'40 should be enough...
As always, he starts pretty slow in the first sector, being the slowest of the GC-top 4. 31st time so far, '48 behind Cobo. But '48 times 3.6 (10 of 36 kilometres done) = 2'53, so it's still enough.
Thomas Löfkvist, GC's number 14, rides the 2nd time so far. The Swedish Sky-cyclist needs '58 more than EBH.
His time won't last long, as Richie Porte (GC's 11) is '18 faster. But the Australian TT-champ is still '40 slower than Boasson Hagen, and will miss the Top 10 in the GC by only '7.
Luis León Sánchez rides a good TT. The winner of the first TT in this Vuelta (stage 9) is now '24 slower as EBH, 2nd place so far (and jumping over Le Mével in the GC).
Also Janez Brajkovic jumps over Le Mével in the GC. His 50'41 is good enough for the 3rd place so far, and he finally gets a top 10 in a GT.
Fränk Schleck has set the 17th time at the 2nd split time (after 25km), 1'15 slower than EBH. Than Antón is even one second faster, and is about to secure a third place in the GC. Juan José Cobo keeps on surprising. He even increased his margin to Boasson Hagen after 25 kilometres and now leads by '19!
Andy Schleck increased the pace a bit and is now faster than Antón and Fränk. He improves from 31st to the 11th place, 1'19 behind Cobo. This can't go wrong anymore!
With only 4 kilometres to go untill the finish in Alcalá de Henares, Juan José Cobo even overtakes Antón, who has started two minutes before him! This helps Antón to not loose any more time to Fränk and the two finish in the same time today.
But Cobo is really astonishing today. He continues in increasing his margin over Boasson Hagen and is 26 seconds faster than the Norwegian TT-specialist. 49'36 is the new limit now, what means Andy has to finish before the clock hits 53'16.
And the clock stops at 50'45. Ladies and gentleman, may I present the winner of the Vuelta a Espana 2012: Andy Schleck! He for sure rode the TT of his life, finishing in 6th place today.
Results
1
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
49'36
2
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 26
3
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 51
4
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1'05
5
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1'06
6
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'09
7
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'24
8
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
+ 1'43
9
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
10
Vasil Kiryienka
Pro Team Astana
+ 1'45
Spoiler
11
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso
+ 1'46
12
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+ 1'53
13
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 2'03
14
Stephen Cummings
Sky ProCycling
+ 2'05
15
Bruno Pires
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2'09
16
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2'10
17
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
18
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2'13
19
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
+ 2'14
20
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2'16
21
Denis Menchov
Sony Ericsson
+ 2'18
22
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 2'20
23
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 2'25
24
Jens Voigt
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2'26
25
Gustavo César Veloso
Movistar Team
+ 2'33
26
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'38
27
Fabio Duarte
Nespresso
+ 2'42
28
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
+ 2'43
29
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2'44
30
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2'48
31
Artem Ovechkin
Katusha Team
+ 2'54
32
Geoffroy Lequatre
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2'55
33
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2'58
34
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
+ 3'00
35
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
+ 3'02
36
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
+ 3'03
37
José Joaquín Rojas
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 3'04
38
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
39
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Team Europcar
s.t.
40
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
+ 3'05
41
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
42
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'06
43
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Haimar Zubeldia
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3'08
45
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 3'09
46
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3'10
47
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
+ 3'12
48
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'13
49
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
+ 3'16
50
Luis Pasamontes
Movistar Team
s.t.
51
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 3'20
52
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
+ 3'21
53
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 3'22
54
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 3'23
55
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
56
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 3'26
57
Greg Henderson
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
58
Martin Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 3'27
59
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3'28
60
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
61
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3'31
62
Daniele Bennati
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'35
63
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
s.t.
64
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3'37
65
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3'38
66
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
67
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 3'39
68
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
+ 3'40
69
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3'41
70
Michael Barry
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
71
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3'43
72
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
73
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
+ 3'44
74
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
75
Jarosław Marycz
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3'46
76
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 3'47
77
Anthony Colby
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 3'49
78
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
79
Aitor Pérez Arrieta
Lampre - Generali
+ 3'51
80
Xabier Zandio
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'53
81
Gert Dockx
Lotto - Belisol
+ 3'55
82
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
83
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
84
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
85
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
+ 3'56
86
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3'57
87
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - Generali
+ 3'58
88
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
+ 4'00
89
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4'01
90
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
91
Nicolas Vogondy
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4'02
92
Adam Hansen
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
93
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
s.t.
94
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
+ 4'03
95
Pavel Brutt
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4'04
96
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
97
Marko Kump
Nespresso
+ 4'06
98
Óscar Freire
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 4'07
99
Anthony Charteau
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 4'08
100
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
101
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4'09
102
Laurent Lefèvre
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 4'12
103
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
104
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
105
Remmert Wielinga
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4'13
106
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
+ 4'15
107
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 4'16
108
Christian Meier
Team Qantas
+ 4'18
109
Tony Gallopin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4'19
110
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
+ 4'20
111
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 4'21
112
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
113
Matthew Hayman
Sky ProCycling
+ 4'23
114
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
115
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 4'26
116
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
117
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
118
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
119
Rodrigo García
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 4'28
120
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
121
Andrey Mizourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 4'29
122
Andrey Zeits
Pro Team Astana
+ 4'31
123
Andrea Moletta
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
124
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
+ 4'33
125
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 4'34
126
Maryan Hary
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4'35
127
Julien El Fares
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4'38
128
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 4'40
129
Simon Clarke
Team Qantas
s.t.
130
Frederik Willems
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
131
Sven Vandousselaere
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4'44
132
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4'45
133
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 4'46
134
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
135
Fumiyuki Beppu
Team Qantas
s.t.
136
Óscar Pujol
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4'48
137
Leonardo Piepoli
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4'50
138
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - Generali
+ 4'51
139
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
+ 4'53
140
Matthew Wilson
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
141
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
142
Jonathan Monsalve
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
143
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4'58
144
Daniel Lloyd
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 5'02
145
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
+ 5'05
146
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
147
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 5'07
148
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 5'10
149
Wesley Sulzberger
Team Qantas
s.t.
150
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso
+ 5'13
151
Daniele Righi
Lampre - Generali
+ 5'24
152
Gabriel Rasch
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 5'25
153
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 5'30
154
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 5'33
155
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
+ 5'36
156
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
157
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 5'38
158
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
+ 5'39
159
Vicente Reynès
Lotto - Belisol
+ 5'42
160
Mathieu Claude
Team Europcar
+ 6'02
161
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'04
162
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 6'06
163
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 6'12
164
Simone Masciarelli
Sony Ericsson
+ 6'23
165
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 6'44
GC
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
83h14'14
2
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
+ 2'31
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4'49
4
Fränk Schleck
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 5'55
5
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 9'59
6
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
+ 19'42
7
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 22'42
8
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 28'24
9
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 29'29
10
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 30'35
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Phew................... A huge sign of relief, as we / Andy finally did it! Now all we have to do, is to make sure he finishes in Madrid inside the peloton.
Indeed one great itt from Andy as i don´t remember to have seen....congrats.
...but he´s not the only one to surprise me....J.J.Cobo rode the itt from a lifetime....great too....now Andy just need to arrive at Madrid inside peloton and avoid any excess of champagne....
Before the final stage of La Vuelta, I'll give you a short report of Paris - Bruxelles. This one day classic will start for the 92nd (!) time. Robbie McEwen is the record winner, with 5 wins.
Last year's edition ended traditionally in a mass sprint, with Julian Dean (Garmin) being the winner.
The favourites *** Matti Breschel (Rabobank), Kenny Dehaes (Lotto), Davide Appollonio (Sky) ** Robert Wagner (Radio Shack), Jens Keukeleire, Bobbie Traksel (Landbouwkrediet) * Kenny van Hummel (M&M's), Danilo Wyss (BMC), Sebastian Siedler (Differdange)
Our goal
Given the fact that we have one of the favourites for today in our team, and that we suck in winning sprints then, Ill go for a top 10.
The race
The story of the race is easy to be told: 5 riders form the BOTD and the peloton miscalculates. They get a maximum margin of 10'30, and with 20km to go, it's still over 5 minutes. So the battle for the win will go between Mathias Belka (Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland), Jean-Eudes Demaret (Cofidis), Michal Golas Vacansoleil), Dries Hollanders (An Post - Sean Kelly) and Maxim Iglinskiy (CCC Polsat).
Belka and Hollanders both launch an attack in the last 15 kilometres, but none of them is able to create a safe margin. The race ends in a sprint with 5. Polish Michal Golas is the fastest, bringing the Vacansoleil team another win. Iglinskiy gets 2nd, and Demaret 3rd.
We'll try to take the 6th place and set up our own train. But of course, we fail in it. Keukeleire gets easily outsprinted by Dehaes, Robert and Breschel and finishes in the 9th place.
Results
1
Michal Golas
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
4h31'01
2
Maxim Iglinskiy
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
3
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
4
Mathias Belka
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
5
Dries Hollanders
An Post - Sean Kelly
+ 30
6
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto - Belisol
+ 1'39
7
Frederique Robert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
8
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Jens Keukeleire
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
10
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
The winner
Word from the DS
Not bad, 4th place in the mass sprint. Too bad there were 5 riders in front of the peloton. Oh well, another Top 10 result, and you can't win them all!
The last stage in this Vuelta ends traditionally in Madrid. The stage is harder than expected, with some small hills in the last part.
70km to go
10 riders in the breakaway today: Maxim Vantomme (Katusha), Grische Niermann (Rabobank), Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil), Zdenk Stybar (Omega Pharma), LS Haedo (Saxo), Gert Dockx (Lotto), Matthew Wilson (Garmin), Maryan Hary (Cofidis), Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis) and Yukiya Arashiro (Europcar).
The 10 can create a maximum margin of 6'30, before the riders of Team Sky, Sony Ericsson and Monster Energy, as it is our obligation in the last stage.
14km to go
Everybody knows, that also in the last stage, you need to be careful, not to crash our to loose time. When a GC-contender crashes early in the stage, the peloton will wait. But when the number 4 of the GC crashes with only 14km remaining, when the peloton is at full speed and chasing the BOTD, nobody waits....
This is what happens to Fränk Schleck. And time will tell how much time he will loose, and if he can keep his 4th place overall.
8km to go
The BOTD gets caught with 8 kilometres to go. Everybody is preparing for a mass sprint.
5km to go
The pace drops a bit on a small ascending part of the road. Jelle Vanendert uses this opportunity to attack.
2km to go
Entering the last 2 kilometres of this Vuelta, he is almost caught by the peloton. It was for sure a good effort, but not enough. Meanwhile, Andy Schleck is placed in the first ranks of the peloton, as he knows there is a sharp, 180 degrees, corner in the last kilometre...
1km
The peloton, led by André Greipel, catches Vanendert just before the last corner. But that corner is pretty slippery and the front wheel of Edvald Boasson Hagen, riding in 2nd place, slips away. EBH hits the tarmac, and Heinrich Haussler and Romain Feillu, who are placed just behind him, can't avoid the Norwegian and will crash as well. Andy Schleck needs all his steering abilities (please, don't laugh...) to avoid them and he succeeds in it.
Finish
All the sprint trains get derailed, and Lotto's Jurgen Roelandts is about to win the last stage. But his energy and speed are fading in the last hundred metres, and he gets passed by Gerald Ciolek. It's the first win of the season for the German, who served as a final lead out for Tyler Farrar most of the season.
Roelandts finishes in 2nd, and David Malacarne (Europcar) in 3rd.
Schleck
After avoiding the crash, Andy Schleck finishes the Vuelta in style. He manages to beat Mark Cavendish in the sprint for the 5th place, and wins his first ever Grand Tour!
Cobo
When the cameras switch back to the last corner, they see one angry man in a green jersey. The GC's number 2 and winner of 2 stages, Juan José Cobo, was won of the victims of the crash and he looses 3'45 today. This means that poor Cobo looses his 2nd place in the GC to Igor Antón and has to settle with the 3rd place.
Fränk Schleck never managed to get back in the peloton after his crash (for those who wonder: yes, some of his team mates waited for him) and looses 4'21 as well as the 4th place.
