Another day for the sprinters, which considering how the entire season has gone so far, probably means "one for the Punchers or Breakaway" We'll try with Chris again today on the basis that you never know, but the real aim is only 19km into the stage, with a chance to put the KOM competition beyond doubt!
Louder could only manage 3rd at the KOM checkpoint, but the 5points leave him 48 points ahead of Sanchéz. Unless the Euskaltel man decides to sacrifice the GC, Jeff Louder has given the team its first ever GT jersey!!!
Not wanting to spend the whole day out in front considering his fatigue, Louder promptly dropped back into the peloton and the congratulations of his team and friends in the peloton, whilst the sprinters set about catching the breakaway out in front.
The catch was made with 12km to go, but sure enough, the sprinters were terribly placed. Sanchéz was right at the front, and given his success in the sprints so far this race, we decided to get his wheel with Horner.
Sanchéz went early, and the decision to follow proved sound! Horner and Samu had a gap to the peloton, with the sprinters too far back to react. Horner was feeling good, could he make it two in a row?
Yes he can! Chris Horner gives Exxon-Duke two consecutive stage wins, and another 9" back on Sanchéz, who is just 1'01" in front ahead of the last chance day tomorrow. It'll be all or nothing as to whether Chris can claim the overall victory in La Vuelta Á Espána!!!
The final opportunity. Horner has given himself the best possible chance to take the victory during the last 2 days, but that will all mean nothing unless the team can crack Euskaltel and there leader, Samuel Sanchéz. Today is all about Horner for us, and we will need Landis and Aldapé to break up the pack for him!
For the last time in the Vuelta. Jeff Louder made his way into the breakaway. He could mathematically still lose it today, and he saw no need to take the risk!
Victory on the first allowed him to throw his arms high into the air, he has achieved what the team has so far failed, to secure a Grand Tour Jersey. Jeff Louder becomes the first ever american winner of the Vuelta King of the Mountains, and only the second to win this classification in any Grand Tour!
The breakaway wasn't really working as Omega-Pharma Quickstep rider Vanendert had hoped, and so he attacked the break, who were quick to let him go, looking to take a stage victory for his team who so far have nothing to show for there 3 weeks in spain.
Over the penultimate climb, the solo rider held 9minutes over the peloton, but the pace was heading ever upwards behind him, and he was running out of gas, could he hold on for a fantastic stage victory?
Back in the pack, we were doing all we could to make life more difficult, with Aldapé drilling it on the front. He had shed many riders, as the peloton was down to around 60 riders, whilst Landis sheltered Horner behind him.
Most importantly, 4 Euskaltel Domestiques had been dropped, meaning that Sanchéz' workload would be higher!
5km to go in the climb, and Landis takes over the front job, he continues to keep the pace up, and the peloton is now down to just 26 riders. None of the favourites has yet been dropped, but Cobo of Geox is right near the back door.
Mosquera attacks! Just as Landis runs out of gas the Vacansoleil man puts in a dig, looking to regain some of the time he lost on the TT before the rest day, Horner follows along with Sanchéz as the trio open a gap at the front.
Horner senses an opportunity as the riders pass the 3km mark, He puts in a second dig, desparate to get away and take the overall victory, and YES! Sanchéz has cracked!!!! He cannot follow the pace of Mosquera and Horner, now the question becomes, can he open enough of a gap to reclaim the lost time, and move into the red jersey?
2.1km to go, Horner is giving it everything to increase the gap. Up to 47" but Mosquera isn't helping, clearly he wants to see a Spaniard win the Vuelta....
Into the last Kilometre, and Horner is looking tired, fortunately, the stage victory seems to be enough of an impetus to get Mosquera working, and he comes around Horner, who can do no more than hold his wheel, as the gap opens further, to 1'02"!
Around the final Bend, and Mosquera looks set to take the Stage victory, more importantly, Horner looks set to take the GC! Sanchéz keeps falling away as the Duo both use there energy, and the lead is enough, If it stays like this, Horner becomes overall leader!
As they cross the line, both riders throw up there arms in a massive victory salute, Horner takes the GC, and Mosquera the Stage, what a climactic penultimate stage which sees Sanchéz fall 15" behind Chris, and Horner becomes the First American to win the Vuelta (assuming no hiccups tomorrow.)
Stage Results
1
Ezequiel Mosquera
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
5h06'14
2
Chris Horner
Exxon Duke
s.t.
3
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'13
4
Carlos Sastre
Geox - TMC
+ 1'53
5
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'00
6
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Xavier Tondo
Movistar Team
+ 2'10
8
Denis Menchov
Geox - TMC
+ 2'28
9
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 2'36
10
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 2'44
Spoiler
11
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
12
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2'52
13
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 3'16
14
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'24
15
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
16
Javier Moreno
Caja Rural
+ 3'32
17
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
18
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
19
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
20
David López
Movistar Team
+ 3'40
21
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'48
22
Juan José Cobo
Geox - TMC
+ 3'56
23
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
s.t.
24
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4'04
25
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
26
Julián Sánchez Pimienta
Caja Rural
s.t.
27
David Bernabéu
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 4'12
28
David De la Fuente
Geox - TMC
+ 4'20
29
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
30
Marcel Wyss
Geox - TMC
+ 4'28
31
Pieter Weening
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4'36
32
Arkaitz Durán
Geox - TMC
s.t.
33
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
34
Floyd Landis
Exxon Duke
+ 5'00
35
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 5'40
36
Danilo Di Luca
Katusha Team
+ 5'48
37
David Blanco
Geox - TMC
s.t.
38
Peter Velits
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
39
Antonio Piedra
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 5'56
40
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 6'12
41
Manuel Ortega
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 6'20
42
Sérgio Paulinho
Team RadioShack
+ 6'28
43
Íñigo Cuesta
Caja Rural
+ 6'44
44
Rafael Valls
Geox - TMC
s.t.
45
Tiago Machado
Team RadioShack
s.t.
46
Philip Deignan
Team RadioShack
s.t.
47
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
48
Christophe Le Mével
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
49
Thomas Peterson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 6'52
50
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
s.t.
51
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
52
Janez Brajkovič
Team RadioShack
s.t.
53
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
+ 7'00
54
Simon Spilak
Lampre - ISD
+ 7'08
55
Vasil Kiryienka
Movistar Team
s.t.
56
Chris Anker Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
57
Francisco Iriarte
Movistar Team
+ 7'16
58
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
59
Levi Leipheimer
Team RadioShack
s.t.
60
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
61
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
+ 7'24
62
Moisés Aldape
Exxon Duke
+ 7'32
63
Simon Gerrans
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
64
Adrián Palomares
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 9'08
65
Paolo Tiralongo
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
66
Thomas Rohregger
Leopard Trek
s.t.
67
José Herrada
Caja Rural
s.t.
68
Steven Cozza
Exxon Duke
+ 9'16
69
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
70
Vladimir Miholjevic
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
71
Stefan Denifl
Leopard Trek
+ 9'24
72
Matthew Busche
Team RadioShack
s.t.
73
Brice Feillu
Leopard Trek
+ 10'36
74
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 10'52
75
Joost Posthuma
Leopard Trek
+ 11'00
76
José Iván Gutiérrez
Movistar Team
+ 11'08
77
Xavier Florencio
Geox - TMC
s.t.
78
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 11'16
79
Mario Aerts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
80
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 11'24
81
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 11'32
82
Jeff Louder
Exxon Duke
+ 11'48
83
Jean-Marc Marino
Saur - Sojasun
+ 11'56
84
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
+ 12'28
85
Iñaki Isasi
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 12'52
86
Jesús Rosendo
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 13'48
87
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
+ 14'12
88
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 14'28
89
Peter Stetina
Exxon Duke
s.t.
90
José Luis Roldán
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 14'52
91
Thomas De Gendt
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 15'24
92
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 15'32
93
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
94
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
95
Jan Bakelandts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 15'40
96
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
97
Fabian Wegmann
Leopard Trek
s.t.
98
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
99
Jelle Vanendert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
100
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
101
David Loosli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
102
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 15'48
103
Pablo Lechuga
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
104
Guillaume Levarlet
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
105
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 15'56
106
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 16'04
107
Jussi Veikkanen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 16'12
108
Dimitriy Muravyev
Team RadioShack
s.t.
109
Laurent Mangel
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
110
Oleg Chuzhda
Caja Rural
+ 16'28
111
Phil Zajicek
Exxon Duke
s.t.
112
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 16'44
113
Víctor De la Parte
Caja Rural
+ 17'00
114
Denys Kostyuk
Lampre - ISD
+ 17'08
115
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 17'16
116
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 17'24
117
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 26'28
118
Aitor Galdos
Caja Rural
+ 26'36
119
Martin Velits
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
120
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
+ 26'44
121
Giairo Ermeti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
122
Javier Benítez
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
123
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
124
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
125
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
+ 26'52
126
Óscar Freire
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
127
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 27'00
128
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
129
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 27'08
130
Daniele Bennati
Leopard Trek
s.t.
131
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
132
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 27'16
133
Mark Cavendish
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
134
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
135
Tomas Vaitkus
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
136
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
137
Aleksejs Saramotins
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 27'24
138
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
139
Stuart O'Grady
Leopard Trek
s.t.
140
Jos Van Emden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 27'32
141
Shy Vogel
Exxon Duke
+ 30'12
142
Rafaâ Chtioui
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
143
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
+ 31'32
144
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
145
Francesco Di Paolo
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
146
Simon Clarke
Pro Team Astana
+ 31'40
147
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
148
Joaquín Sobrino
Caja Rural
s.t.
149
Geoffroy Lequatre
Team RadioShack
s.t.
150
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
s.t.
151
Juan José Lobato
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
152
Gatis Smukulis
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
153
Greg Henderson
Sky ProCycling
+ 31'48
154
Nick Nuyens
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
155
Daniel Lloyd
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
156
Cyril Lemoine
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
157
Michael Mørkøv
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 31'56
158
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
159
Gabriel Rasch
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
160
Stijn Vandenbergh
Katusha Team
s.t.
161
Alessandro De Marchi
Androni Giocattoli
+ 32'04
162
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
163
Arnaud Coyot
Saur - Sojasun
+ 32'12
164
Diego Milán
Caja Rural
s.t.
165
Arnaud Labbe
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
166
Julian Dean
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
167
Jürgen Roelandts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
168
Paul Martens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 32'20
169
Jimmy Casper
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
170
Bert Grabsch
HTC - Highroad
+ 32'28
171
Matthew Wilson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 32'36
172
Jeremy Hunt
Sky ProCycling
+ 32'44
173
Matthew Goss
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
174
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
175
Peter Femal
Exxon Duke
+ 32'52
176
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 33'00
177
André Greipel
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 38'04
178
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
+ 38'12
179
Theo Bos
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
180
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
+ 38'20
181
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
182
Crescenzo D'Amore
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
183
Tristan Valentin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
184
Juan José Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
185
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 38'28
186
Klaas Lodewyck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
187
Mark Renshaw
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
188
Alex Rasmussen
HTC - Highroad
+ 38'44
189
Adam Blythe
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 38'52
190
Brett Lancaster
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 39'00
191
Giacomo Nizzolo
Leopard Trek
+ 39'16
192
Paolo Ciavatta
Acqua & Sapone
+ 39'32
193
Stéphane Poulhiès
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
194
Rony Martias
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
195
Robert Wagner
Leopard Trek
s.t.
196
Sébastien Rosseler
Team RadioShack
+ 39'40
General Classification
1
Chris Horner
Exxon Duke
83h21'53
2
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 15
3
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3'33
4
Ezequiel Mosquera
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 4'08
5
Carlos Sastre
Geox - TMC
+ 7'52
6
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
+ 8'16
7
Xavier Tondo
Movistar Team
+ 8'45
8
Denis Menchov
Geox - TMC
+ 9'51
9
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 10'53
10
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 11'11
Spoiler
11
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
+ 12'00
12
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
+ 13'11
13
Juan José Cobo
Geox - TMC
+ 13'34
14
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 14'21
15
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - ISD
+ 15'00
16
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 15'12
17
Arkaitz Durán
Geox - TMC
+ 16'24
18
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 16'41
19
David Bernabéu
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 17'07
20
Javier Moreno
Caja Rural
+ 17'14
21
David López
Movistar Team
+ 17'37
22
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
23
David De la Fuente
Geox - TMC
+ 19'35
24
David Blanco
Geox - TMC
+ 20'17
25
Danilo Di Luca
Katusha Team
+ 22'00
26
Julián Sánchez Pimienta
Caja Rural
+ 23'01
27
Rafael Valls
Geox - TMC
+ 23'30
28
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 23'55
29
Íñigo Cuesta
Caja Rural
+ 24'19
30
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 25'51
31
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 28'11
32
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
+ 29'18
33
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
+ 30'04
34
Sérgio Paulinho
Team RadioShack
+ 30'45
35
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 31'10
36
Antonio Piedra
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 31'20
37
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - ISD
+ 31'32
38
Adrián Palomares
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 32'00
39
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 32'16
40
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 32'57
41
Pieter Weening
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 32'59
42
Janez Brajkovič
Team RadioShack
+ 33'22
43
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 33'29
44
Tiago Machado
Team RadioShack
+ 34'34
45
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
+ 35'16
46
Manuel Ortega
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 36'46
47
Floyd Landis
Exxon Duke
+ 37'14
48
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 37'32
49
Levi Leipheimer
Team RadioShack
+ 37'39
50
Philip Deignan
Team RadioShack
+ 38'12
51
Simon Spilak
Lampre - ISD
+ 39'25
52
Marcel Wyss
Geox - TMC
+ 40'53
53
Simon Gerrans
Sky ProCycling
+ 41'58
54
Peter Velits
HTC - Highroad
+ 42'04
55
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 43'10
56
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
+ 44'06
57
Matthew Busche
Team RadioShack
+ 44'08
58
Stefan Denifl
Leopard Trek
+ 45'20
59
Chris Anker Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 46'25
60
Vasil Kiryienka
Movistar Team
+ 46'46
61
José Herrada
Caja Rural
+ 50'50
62
Xavier Florencio
Geox - TMC
+ 52'02
63
Jeff Louder
Exxon Duke
+ 52'22
64
Thomas Rohregger
Leopard Trek
+ 53'33
65
Francisco Iriarte
Movistar Team
+ 53'37
66
Christophe Le Mével
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 53'44
67
José Iván Gutiérrez
Movistar Team
+ 54'36
68
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 54'46
69
Brice Feillu
Leopard Trek
+ 55'22
70
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
+ 1h01'04
71
Paolo Tiralongo
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h02'20
72
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h03'58
73
Fabian Wegmann
Leopard Trek
+ 1h04'26
74
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1h06'15
75
Jelle Vanendert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 1h08'02
76
Vladimir Miholjevic
Acqua & Sapone
+ 1h08'04
77
José Luis Roldán
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 1h08'13
78
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h09'13
79
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
+ 1h09'14
80
Jesús Rosendo
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 1h09'34
81
Dimitriy Muravyev
Team RadioShack
+ 1h11'35
82
David Loosli
Lampre - ISD
+ 1h11'55
83
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
+ 1h14'22
84
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h18'48
85
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1h19'48
86
Moisés Aldape
Exxon Duke
+ 1h19'58
87
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h20'26
88
Mario Aerts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 1h20'56
89
Thomas Peterson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1h21'37
90
Oleg Chuzhda
Caja Rural
+ 1h26'05
91
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h27'41
92
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h36'51
93
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h37'01
94
Joost Posthuma
Leopard Trek
+ 1h37'03
95
Denys Kostyuk
Lampre - ISD
+ 1h37'05
96
Iñaki Isasi
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h38'59
97
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h41'17
98
Jean-Marc Marino
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1h42'02
99
Guillaume Levarlet
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1h42'54
100
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h46'50
101
Laurent Mangel
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1h47'16
102
Jan Bakelandts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 1h47'50
103
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1h49'23
104
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h49'49
105
Peter Stetina
Exxon Duke
+ 1h50'48
106
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 1h53'55
107
Aitor Galdos
Caja Rural
+ 1h57'06
108
Aleksejs Saramotins
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 2h00'17
109
Steven Cozza
Exxon Duke
+ 2h01'15
110
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h04'37
111
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 2h06'20
112
Daniele Bennati
Leopard Trek
+ 2h07'01
113
Nick Nuyens
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2h08'10
114
Óscar Freire
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h10'08
115
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 2h10'17
116
Martin Velits
HTC - Highroad
+ 2h11'42
117
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h12'59
118
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 2h13'38
119
Javier Benítez
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 2h16'36
120
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
+ 2h18'34
121
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h18'46
122
Phil Zajicek
Exxon Duke
+ 2h18'48
123
Paul Martens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2h20'39
124
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 2h21'41
125
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2h21'52
126
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
+ 2h22'42
127
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 2h24'01
128
Thomas De Gendt
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h26'04
129
Tomas Vaitkus
Pro Team Astana
+ 2h26'48
130
Giairo Ermeti
Androni Giocattoli
+ 2h27'03
131
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h29'05
132
Matthew Wilson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 2h31'02
133
Víctor De la Parte
Caja Rural
+ 2h32'41
134
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 2h33'08
135
Stuart O'Grady
Leopard Trek
+ 2h33'50
136
Matthew Goss
HTC - Highroad
+ 2h38'29
137
Pablo Lechuga
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 2h39'50
138
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
+ 2h40'18
139
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
+ 2h43'01
140
Geoffroy Lequatre
Team RadioShack
+ 2h46'37
141
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
+ 2h46'55
142
Gabriel Rasch
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
143
André Greipel
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 2h47'02
144
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h47'42
145
Greg Henderson
Sky ProCycling
+ 2h48'38
146
Juan José Lobato
Andalucía Caja Granada
+ 2h49'04
147
Diego Milán
Caja Rural
+ 2h55'08
148
Bert Grabsch
HTC - Highroad
+ 2h55'31
149
Simon Clarke
Pro Team Astana
+ 3h00'57
150
Rafaâ Chtioui
Acqua & Sapone
+ 3h01'01
151
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 3h02'08
152
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
+ 3h04'38
153
Mark Cavendish
HTC - Highroad
+ 3h04'49
154
Julian Dean
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 3h05'38
155
Daniel Lloyd
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 3h06'12
156
Jos Van Emden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3h06'32
157
Joaquín Sobrino
Caja Rural
+ 3h12'24
158
Stijn Vandenbergh
Katusha Team
+ 3h12'35
159
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 3h13'51
160
Jussi Veikkanen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 3h14'08
161
Michael Mørkøv
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h14'49
162
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
+ 3h15'53
163
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3h18'22
164
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Saur - Sojasun
+ 3h18'40
165
Sébastien Rosseler
Team RadioShack
+ 3h19'04
166
Jürgen Roelandts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 3h20'54
167
Cyril Lemoine
Saur - Sojasun
+ 3h21'24
168
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 3h22'48
169
Arnaud Labbe
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 3h25'17
170
Arnaud Coyot
Saur - Sojasun
+ 3h27'22
171
Jeremy Hunt
Sky ProCycling
+ 3h28'16
172
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h32'27
173
Giacomo Nizzolo
Leopard Trek
+ 3h36'40
174
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h38'11
175
Peter Femal
Exxon Duke
+ 3h38'40
176
Jimmy Casper
Saur - Sojasun
+ 3h38'47
177
Juan José Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3h41'02
178
Mark Renshaw
HTC - Highroad
+ 3h42'01
179
Theo Bos
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3h43'10
180
Adam Blythe
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 3h44'35
181
Klaas Lodewyck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 3h52'52
182
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
+ 3h58'12
183
Crescenzo D'Amore
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3h59'35
184
Brett Lancaster
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 3h59'48
185
Alex Rasmussen
HTC - Highroad
+ 4h01'34
186
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
+ 4h01'37
187
Alessandro De Marchi
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4h02'08
188
Tristan Valentin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4h03'32
189
Paolo Ciavatta
Acqua & Sapone
+ 4h05'52
190
Gatis Smukulis
HTC - Highroad
+ 4h19'35
191
Rony Martias
Saur - Sojasun
+ 4h20'38
192
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4h34'22
193
Robert Wagner
Leopard Trek
+ 4h36'14
194
Shy Vogel
Exxon Duke
+ 4h37'59
195
Francesco Di Paolo
Acqua & Sapone
+ 4h39'22
196
Stéphane Poulhiès
Saur - Sojasun
+ 5h58'06
Word From The DS
Just Fantastic, We knew Chris was in brilliant shape considering the timing within the race, and after his success on the last 2 days, we knew it was possible, none the less, The team were absolutely fantastic in reducing the size of the peloton, and the Chris managed the impossible, he pulled back over a minute on the last climb, and moves into Red, we could collect 2! Jerseys from this GT, after knocking on the door all year.
Edited by baggieboys32 on 03-07-2012 23:05
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
The final stage, a procession around Madrid for the classification victors to show off there hard earned prizes, we've had a rollercoaster ride to get here, now we just need to make sure we finish this off properly, Allez Chris!
The team have managed to secure 2 jerseys during the course of the race, and our Maillot wearers, Horner and Louder thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to come to the front and show off the prizes from there hard work!
A breakaway went clear after about 15km, no notable names were included, teams clearly had no real belief in the break, unsurprising considering the sprinters who are here in Madrid.
Surprisingly, It was Androni who decided to take up the work in chasing down the break, they haven't earned much from there time in Spain (2 top 10's and a Podium) So perhaps it was just for some TV time? Either way, they got on the front of the peloton, working to bring back a 4'15advantage.
With 11km to go, they caught the breakaway, and the sprinters who have failed throughout the race, tried to get forwards one last time in order to contest a stage.
The movement around the peloton was difficult and constricted, and unsurprisingly, 2 Major Crashes occurred. Horner was fortunately uninvolved, as were the other GC contenders, but we did see both Aldapé, and our youngster, Shy Vogel hit the deck, fortunately both without injury.
With so many riders having hit the deck, the sprint was completely unorganised, and Luis Sanchéz found himself in front as he crossed the line. Rabobank take the stage victory, we managed to get 8th place with our Demi-sprinter Steven Cozza.
Horner rolls over in 13th place on the day, meaning that...
Exxon-Duke win there first Grand Tour!
The Final Results
General Classification
Horner! One word sums this up as far as we're concerned!
Samu Sanchéz just couldn't pull off the overall victory, clearly the more recent Tour De France weighed heavier in his legs, that the Giro did in Horners, but in the end, it all came down to the penultimate day, when we finally cracked Sanchéz, and give the team a hard earned GT success, after a season of knocking on the door.
1
Chris Horner
Exxon Duke
85h49'33
2
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 15
3
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3'13
4
Ezequiel Mosquera
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'56
5
Carlos Sastre
Geox - TMC
+ 7'52
6
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
+ 8'16
7
Xavier Tondo
Movistar Team
+ 8'45
8
Denis Menchov
Geox - TMC
+ 9'51
9
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 10'53
10
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 11'11
By the end it was something of a two horse race, and just 15 seconds separated 1st and 2nd! Horner becomes the oldest man, ever to win a UCI GrandTour!
Points Classification
The green jersey almost becomes Sanchéz' consolation prize, but he has earned this very solidly. His margin to second was huge, with Horner collecting points only on the climbs and final week, where as Sanchéz has been right up there throughout the race, and in the Tour De France. In Fact, of the 42 GT Stages he entered, he came top10 or better, in 36! The best by one man in a season ever!
1
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
293
2
Chris Horner
Exxon Duke
210
3
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
192
4
Ezequiel Mosquera
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
181
5
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
131
6
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
113
7
Carlos Sastre
Geox - TMC
92
8
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
83
9
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
76
10
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
62
The points classifications throughout the year have proved a total washout, with no sprinter managing to consistently perform, perhaps next season will see this change, and the fast men will earn slightly more success?
King of the Mountains
The winner of the KOM is a second Exxon-Duke rider. He spent more time in the break than any other rider in spain, and Jeff Louder comes away with a fine reward. He is the first US cyclist to ever win the KOM competition in La Vuelta, and does so completely off his own back, as the team focussed entirely upon the GC, leaving Jeff to do largely his own thing.
2 Jerseys? We earned them! Great riding by the team have earned us these, and a major congratulations to Jeff, who spent 10 days out in breakaways!
Young Riders
This competition has slipped largely under our radar, as we had no interest in competing, but 3 men fought out the jersey between them- Uran (Sky) Valls (Geox) and Durán (Geox) The Duo from Geox-TMC held the jersey right up to the final TT, but in the end, Urán proved to strong, and managed to slide past the competition and gives Sky the White Jersey.
Not the most hard fought jersey in the world, with only 3 riders ever really in the fight, but Urán will doubtless be very pleased with the result, thus joining a very select group of South Americans to achieve the feat, in what was a large Americas dominated Grand Tour!
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
Thanks for all the comments and guys following me tonight, I've really enjoyed reeling a few off together, maybe do a live stream for the worlds if you guys were interested?
Also, thanks Biathlon, glad you're enjoying it, and don't worry, I have NO Intention of stopping anytime soon
Horner! Where is the cry emoticon?
I'd vote Horner for Velo d'or
1st Vuelta al Pais Vasco
12th Amstel Gold Race
1st La Fleche Wallone
2nd Giro d'Italia
1st Vuelta a Espana + Two stages
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
YAYYYY!!!!! Horner won a GT, i'm so happy right now!!!!
Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to cycle and he will realize fishing is stupid and boring.
