No rest for the wicked they say, and truly – one has to be a bit crazy to want to compete in such a stage. Euskaltel – Euskadi are on a recent string of a success and we wish to continue you that. Ahead of tomorrow’s rest day, you can expect that nobody takes it lightly and Euskaltel – Euskadi will have to throw everything in if they want to gain an advantage on SKY, AG2R La Mondiale and Movistar.
Since it worked yesterday so good, of course we sent someone up in the break again. After all, we have an obligation to attack! Jorge Azanza is accompanied by Lloyd, Peter Velits, Bernaudeau, Bole and Ballan.
Spoiler
Iglinskiy and Weening joined the group and together they all get quite a lead up to the peloton with currently 8 minutes. However, two tough mountains lie ahead of the riders. Jorge Azanza achieved a third place at the Tour de France, will he be able to even top it this time around?
Despite their efforts, the break’s lead decreases rather fast at the Alto del monachil. Azanza and Iglinskiy pace but SKY use Froome to dictate the speed… so yeah…
Froome and Henao due some serious damage to the peloton. Many riders are dropped and even Nieve struggles at the end of the first group. Only Sánchez is with him, while Antón, Verdugo and Landa missed an important split and are looking to make up ground fast… In the descent later on, after the summit, Nieve even loses for some time the peloton for good… Jeez, what’s up? This angers even Katu now and he tells him to get his ass upfront but Nieve’s legs… well, they ain’t too good today.
It was a wild descent, and now it was good to sent Azanza up front. He can help Sánchez and Nieve a bit, while Antón, Verdugo and Landa still havn’t caught up and won’t do anymore. Henao paces now… SKY is really swining around the hammer today.
Will we lose it all today? What's their to lose anyway? Nieve has an godawful day… as he can’t come up front, over and over again he tries it though. Henao and Valverde attack now.
While AG2R La Mondiale and Caja Rural look to get back Valverde and Henao into the group, Nieve finally seems to have collected himself. Sánchez is now left to protect his leader for the Vuelta…
We really don’t know what’s up with Nieve today. He struggles hard as can be. While Sánchez can easily keep the pace of AG2R, Nieve has even here its problems. Granted, the many obstacles of Caja Rural riders who are dropping left and right, blocking the way, doesn’t really help to navigate up the mountain, but come on, man… get a grip! Gora Mikel!
Henao and Valverde lose some time on the Betancur group. Dupont and Bouet did some great work for their team leader, only Froome could hold up… we can see the two Euskaltel – Euskadi riders down there too but with some gap. Sánchez had to drop himself to get back to Nieve who he is probably having the worst day of the entire Vuelta… hopefully…
Froome and the two french are now being dropped by Betancur who gets close to Valverde and Henao. We are just losing the podium for good… We think. But Sánchez does some incredible work, really utterly incredible, as he brings back Nieve to Group Froome and together they pass them now…
The last kilometer, Betancur looks to Henao, while Valverde is already accelerating hard…
It’s as close as it can gets. Betancur takes the stage win ahead of Valverde and Henao.
A bit later, Sánchez shows in a just 500 meters sprint what could have been possible for me. Damn, his daily legs seemed like normal, just like Nieve’s. But somehow that all got reversed. Sánchez was incredible today. Without him, Nieve would have lost way more, and Samu Sánchez showed why he is such an immense rider: Not because he can win or because he is a leader, no, because he works for you – even when you are already on the floor…
Stage, 10 Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
4h49'20
2
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
s.t.
3
Sergio Henao
Sky Procycling
s.t.
4
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'07
5
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'27
6
Chris Froome
Sky Procycling
+ 2'41
7
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
8
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2'56
9
Iván Velasco
Caja Rural
+ 3'05
10
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
+ 3'27
Spoiler
11
André Cardoso
Caja Rural
+ 4'11
12
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
+ 5'11
13
Antonio Piedra
Caja Rural
+ 5'21
14
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
15
Marcos García
Caja Rural
s.t.
16
Gorka Verdugo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 5'40
17
Alexandre Geniez
FDJ
+ 5'56
18
Amets Txurruka
Caja Rural
s.t.
19
David Arroyo
Caja Rural
s.t.
20
Luis León Sánchez
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
21
Damiano Caruso
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
22
Fränk Schleck
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 6'18
23
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
24
Gianluca Brambilla
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
25
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 8'18
26
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 8'49
27
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 9'19
28
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
+ 9'45
29
Giovanni Bernaudeau
Team Europcar
+ 9'55
30
Jesús Hernández
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 11'13
31
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
+ 11'49
32
Sandy Casar
FDJ
+ 12'08
33
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
+ 12'24
34
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 12'35
35
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
36
David López
Sky Procycling
s.t.
37
Cameron Meyer
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 13'03
38
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
+ 13'10
39
Pieter Weening
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
40
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 13'31
41
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
+ 13'46
42
Matthew Lloyd
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
43
Grega Bole
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 16'11
45
Valerio Agnoli
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
46
Maxim Belkov
Katusha Team
+ 19'07
47
Anthony Roux
FDJ
s.t.
48
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
49
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
50
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
51
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
52
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
53
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
54
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
55
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky Procycling
s.t.
56
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
57
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
58
Mikaël Chérel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
59
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
s.t.
60
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
61
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
62
Cristiano Salerno
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
63
Julian Kern
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
64
Stefano Agostini
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
65
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
66
José Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
67
Josué Moyano
Caja Rural
s.t.
68
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
69
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
70
Christian Knees
Sky Procycling
+ 19'46
71
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 20'06
72
Paul Martens
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
73
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 20'16
74
Evgeni Petrov
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 20'25
75
Simon Clarke
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 20'43
76
Egor Silin
Astana Pro Team
+ 21'04
77
Oliver Zaugg
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
78
Cristiano Monguzzi
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
79
Jonathan Monsalve
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
80
Matthew Busche
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
81
Rafael Valls
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
82
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
83
José Rujano
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
85
David Zabriskie
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
86
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
87
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
88
Francis De Greef
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
89
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
s.t.
90
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
s.t.
91
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
92
Fabricio Ferrari
Caja Rural
s.t.
93
Francis Mourey
FDJ
s.t.
94
Pierpaolo De Negri
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 22'20
95
Danail Petrov
Caja Rural
s.t.
96
Jonathan Cantwell
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
97
Thomas Dekker
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
98
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
99
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
100
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
101
François Parisien
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
102
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
103
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
104
Sérgio Paulinho
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
105
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
106
Edward King
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
107
Luca Mazzanti
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
108
Nathan Haas
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
109
Fabio Taborre
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
110
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
111
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
112
Jack Bauer
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
113
Andrew Fenn
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
114
Xavier Florencio
Katusha Team
s.t.
115
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
116
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
117
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
118
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
119
Alex Howes
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
120
Ian Stannard
Sky Procycling
s.t.
121
Laurent Pichon
FDJ
s.t.
122
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
123
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
124
Dimitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
125
Brian Vandborg
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
126
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
127
Alessandro Proni
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
128
Steve Chainel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
129
Danilo Hondo
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
130
Dirk Bellemakers
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
131
Mathieu Sprick
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
132
Anders Lund
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
133
Iljo Keisse
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
134
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
135
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
136
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
137
Dennis Van Winden
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
138
Karsten Kroon
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
139
Salvatore Puccio
Sky Procycling
s.t.
140
Luca Dodi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
141
Oscar Gatto
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 25'00
142
Mickaël Delage
FDJ
s.t.
143
Christopher Sutton
Sky Procycling
+ 25'25
144
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Sharp
+ 26'32
145
Kris Boeckmans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
146
Ramon Sinkeldam
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
147
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
s.t.
148
Kenny Van Hummel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
149
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
150
Stijn Devolder
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
151
Joost Van Leijen
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
152
Assan Bazayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
153
Giacomo Nizzolo
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
154
Matteo Tosatto
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
155
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
s.t.
156
Murilo Fischer
FDJ
s.t.
157
Sander Cordeel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
158
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
159
Bernhard Eisel
Sky Procycling
s.t.
160
Grégory Rast
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
161
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
162
Robert Hunter
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
163
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
s.t.
164
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
s.t.
165
Mitchell Docker
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
166
Stuart O'Grady
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
167
Tom Veelers
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
168
Brett Lancaster
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
169
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
170
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
s.t.
171
Tom Stamsnijder
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
172
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
173
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
174
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
s.t.
175
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
176
Leonardo Giordani
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
177
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
178
Miguel Ubeto
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
179
Björn Thurau
Team Europcar
s.t.
180
Angelo Tulik
Team Europcar
s.t.
181
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
182
Vicente Reynès
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
183
Roberto Ferrari
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
184
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
185
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
186
Michele Merlo
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
187
Koldo Fernández
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
188
Adam Blythe
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
189
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
190
Yohann Gène
Team Europcar
s.t.
191
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
+ 30'35
192
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
Lampre - Merida
+ 31'32
193
Bert De Backer
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
194
Hayden Roulston
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
195
Graeme Brown
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
196
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 33'21
Stage 11
This 36 kilometer long time trial featuring the Alto del Moncayo in the middle features one clear favourite: Chris Froome. Despite not being in his Tour de France form, the Briton still has probably a TT advantage over all other competitors. Starting in Tarazona are guys will give their best to get the power output and effort right, so they have a good time when they arrive back in Tarazona.
I tune in late on the TV after I over-slept today. Samuel Sánchez is just getting ready to start the race. I called one of the mechanics and they said that our guys are still trying to figuring out the most balanced effort but alas, Samu gotta start. Having shown previously a strong performance on stage 10, we expect him to prove his recent sign of good shape.
And four minutes later, Mikel Nieve hits the road too.
Samuel Sánchez is really flying up this mountain as he comes to close to Velasco and is eager to set up a new best time at the intermediate. Meanwhile, Mikel Landa is currently only 14 seconds after Philippe Gilbert on 2nd place in the finish.
And yes, he takes the best intermediate time and now the fun part comes for him… the downhill! This will show if our strategy was right. If Samu loses time on the downhill than something wasn’t quite good enough.
Froome is over a minute behind Samuel Sánchez at the intermediate. We can already spot Mikel Nieve from up here. Thanks Helicopter guy! However when Mikel passes, he is already 45 seconds behind Samu.
Only about 4 kilometers left for Samu, and he really crushes down the downhill after taking some time to recover and getting passed by Velasco again. However, when Samu decides to step it up again, he gets rid of Velasco for good. That’s a good sign, isn’t it?
Samu takes the current lead, 11 seconds ahead of Luis Leon Sánchez. But will it be enough? He lost quite more time in the downhill than we hoped!
A bit later, Mikel Nieve crosses the finish line. He has about one minute gap on Samu for good. Froome has had 45 seconds. Three riders left. Henao was the best at the intermediate ahead of Valverde. Betancur had quite a time gap on both of them, with nearly a minute on Henao at the intermediate. +
Henao sees Betancur up front… this one will be close. Valverde gained time on Samu too, but in the end was 30 seconds behind our orange boy. The Colombian is the only one who can take away the stage win from Samu now.
Gora Samu, Gora duxili, Gora Euskadi!
But he doesn’t! Henao misses out on the stage win by 5 seconds. 5 seconds is more than enough for us and Samu to celebrate the stage win. A great day for the team, which also puts him ahead of Froome in the General Classification. Yeah. Take that, Team Sky, talk about some great team performers with 3 riders in the Top 10. Gorka Verdugo and Mikel Landa proved their amazing form too today. But obviously nothing beats the joy of Samu today, as he has shown everybody that he is still one of the finest riders we have and any day of the week capable of winning a Grand Tour stage. True, he wasn’t on his best at the Giro d’Italia, but he looks eager to fight for the podium.
“Oh, what might have been possible if we had put more trust into Samu…”, I regretfully whisper to Katu, who fully knows what I mean by that. With many race days already in his legs and a disappointing Giro d’Italia, we didn’t expect much from our greatest and oldest rider. But he surely has stuffed our mouth. Proved anyone wrong who said he was lacking the bite of earlier years or was getting too old. Not competitive enough. Fed up. He is none of that. Gora Samu, we celebrate our second stage win!
Thanks guys! Things are truly running in Euskaltel's favor right now. 3 wins in just a couple of days? We surely must feel like Omega Pharma or Argos Shimano.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Well, obviously don’t expect anything from Euskaltel – Euskadi today. We try to save our powers as best as possible, making it over these two upcoming flat stages without crashes and time losses. Then we are happy. Just nice and easy, in an orderly fashion, we will ride in the peloton. Like it behaves for little orange boys hoping to get some stage wins in the mountains stages yet to come.
So everything is as we expected it and as we hoped. It’s a calm day for our boys. A breakaway was large parts of the stage upfront, but they will soon be caught. Albasini (OGE) is once more in a group, alongside Paulinho, Belkov, Hunter, De Negri and Ubeto. They are not likely going to make it as the sprint teams do now major parts of the work. We see us at the 10 kilometer sign.
So yeah, 15 kilometers later we get into the final 10 kilometers and well, they are about to get caught. We get one last eye on the 6 riders in the break and in a matter of eyelashes, the sprint will be open.
Omega Pharma have taken full control of the situation. However, Greipel and Sagan are nowhere to be seen. While the german is likely to come forward in a few seconds, Sagan has been wildly invisible during the bunch sprints so far, while earlier putting his focus on the hilly stages. The Cannondale riders upfront are Haedo and Vandborg.
There comes the train. Argos – Shimano come up front behind in the last corner. Sinkeldam leads out, Degenkolb on his wheel. Kittel hopefully to finish it off.
When Trentin does his thing for british champion Cavendish, Degenkolb and Kittel go a bit insane as they switch from the right lane to the left. They push away Kristoff and Haedo a bit there, and Degenkolb launches his lead-out now.
Something’s just not right as Degenkolb was way too fast for Kittel to start with. The german young star isn’t really on top of himself during the two Grand Tours he did this year. Cavendish looks set to take the win, but Kristoff might snatch another one too as he comes up very fast.
Damn, talk about a clear sprint victory. Omega Pharma did once more everything right. Cavendish is just too strong for anyone to beat!
Stage 12. Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
3h47'08
2
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
3
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
6
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
7
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
8
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
10
Robert Hunter
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Luis León Sánchez
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
12
Giacomo Nizzolo
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
13
Kris Boeckmans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
s.t.
15
Roberto Ferrari
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
16
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
17
Ramon Sinkeldam
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
18
Jonathan Cantwell
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
19
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
21
Laurent Pichon
FDJ
s.t.
22
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
23
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
24
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
25
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
26
Sergio Henao
Sky Procycling
s.t.
27
Mikaël Chérel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
28
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
29
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
30
Tom Veelers
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
31
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky Procycling
s.t.
32
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
33
André Cardoso
Caja Rural
s.t.
34
Marcos García
Caja Rural
s.t.
35
Andrew Fenn
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Valerio Agnoli
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
37
Chris Froome
Sky Procycling
s.t.
38
Cameron Meyer
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
39
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
40
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
41
José Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
42
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
43
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
44
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
s.t.
45
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
46
David López
Sky Procycling
s.t.
47
Iljo Keisse
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
48
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
49
Fränk Schleck
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
50
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
51
Christopher Sutton
Sky Procycling
s.t.
52
Vicente Reynès
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
53
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
54
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
55
Xavier Florencio
Katusha Team
s.t.
56
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
57
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
58
Danail Petrov
Caja Rural
s.t.
59
Damiano Caruso
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
60
Bernhard Eisel
Sky Procycling
s.t.
61
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
62
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
63
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
64
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
65
Brian Vandborg
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
66
Paul Martens
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
67
Sérgio Paulinho
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
68
Steve Chainel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
69
Adam Blythe
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
70
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
71
Julian Kern
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
72
Ian Stannard
Sky Procycling
s.t.
73
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
74
Dennis Van Winden
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
75
Fabricio Ferrari
Caja Rural
s.t.
76
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
77
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
s.t.
78
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
79
Miguel Ubeto
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
80
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
81
Iván Velasco
Caja Rural
s.t.
82
Jesús Hernández
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
83
Salvatore Puccio
Sky Procycling
s.t.
84
Alexandre Geniez
FDJ
s.t.
85
Grega Bole
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
86
Anthony Roux
FDJ
s.t.
87
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
s.t.
88
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
89
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
90
Pierpaolo De Negri
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
91
Antonio Piedra
Caja Rural
s.t.
92
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
93
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
94
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
95
Oscar Gatto
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
96
Kenny Van Hummel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
97
Gianluca Brambilla
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
98
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
s.t.
99
Mickaël Delage
FDJ
s.t.
100
Koldo Fernández
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
101
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
102
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
103
Yohann Gène
Team Europcar
s.t.
104
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
105
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
s.t.
106
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
107
Cristiano Salerno
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
108
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
s.t.
109
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
110
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
111
Sander Cordeel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
112
Murilo Fischer
FDJ
s.t.
113
Maxim Belkov
Katusha Team
s.t.
114
Christian Knees
Sky Procycling
s.t.
115
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
s.t.
116
Fabio Taborre
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
117
Stefano Agostini
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
118
Joost Van Leijen
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
119
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
s.t.
120
Grégory Rast
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
121
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
122
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
123
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
124
Francis Mourey
FDJ
s.t.
125
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
126
Brett Lancaster
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
127
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
128
Giovanni Bernaudeau
Team Europcar
s.t.
129
François Parisien
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
130
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
131
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
132
Karsten Kroon
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
133
Jack Bauer
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
134
Stuart O'Grady
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
135
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
136
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
137
Alessandro Proni
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
138
Danilo Hondo
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
139
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
140
Edward King
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
141
Angelo Tulik
Team Europcar
s.t.
142
Oliver Zaugg
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
143
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
s.t.
144
Hayden Roulston
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
145
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
146
Matteo Tosatto
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
147
David Arroyo
Caja Rural
s.t.
148
Amets Txurruka
Caja Rural
s.t.
149
Egor Silin
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
150
Gorka Verdugo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
151
Dimitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
152
Björn Thurau
Team Europcar
s.t.
153
Luca Mazzanti
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
154
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
155
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
156
Nathan Haas
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
157
Dirk Bellemakers
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
158
Cristiano Monguzzi
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
159
Mitchell Docker
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
160
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
s.t.
161
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
162
Matthew Lloyd
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
163
Bert De Backer
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
164
Francis De Greef
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
165
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
166
Thomas Dekker
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
167
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
168
Assan Bazayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
169
Matthew Busche
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
170
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
s.t.
171
Simon Clarke
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
172
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
173
Jonathan Monsalve
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
174
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
175
Alex Howes
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
176
Tom Stamsnijder
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
177
Anders Lund
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
178
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
179
Stijn Devolder
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
180
Luca Dodi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
181
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
182
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
183
Pieter Weening
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
184
Leonardo Giordani
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
185
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
186
Rafael Valls
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
187
David Zabriskie
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
188
Josué Moyano
Caja Rural
s.t.
189
José Rujano
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
190
Graeme Brown
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
191
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
s.t.
192
Michele Merlo
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 3'25
193
Mathieu Sprick
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
194
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
Lampre - Merida
+ 4'05
195
Evgeni Petrov
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 10'36
196
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
Stage 13
Same procedure as yesterday. You know the drill. From Valls to Castelldefels, we see some mountains, but the long flat finish should make a very interesting sprint in the end, likely by a breakaway.
With quite a gap on the peloton, the 6 riders head through this town and soon arrive at the foot of Port del Rat Penat who offers some serious damaging gradient of easily over 10%. Albasini and Hunten both tried their luck today once more after being in the break yesterday too. Alongside them are Iglinskiy (AST), Gatto (VIN), Devolder (RTL) and Martens (BEL).
Told you. It’s really steep up here, and Hunten and Devolder can be seen struggling. They are not meant for such climbs, that is to say, they are not really riders for any sort of climb. Martens and Iglinskiy push the hardest.
But luckily the climb isn’t too long. Only 2 kilometers left, while the peloton just hit the foot of the climb. Hunter and Devolder both stayed at the front of the race during the steepest part, so there chances for the stage win are quite intact.
But then, Iglinskiy and Albasini both decide that their best chance is to attack. Hunter is quite a great downhiller so he may have a chance to get back though after being dropped here.
Hunter gets back into the break but it’s not easy for him, he can’t quite keep the pace in the downhill. Meanwhile, Anthony Roux makes the idiot move of the day so far as he attacks. The breakaway is around 10 minutes ahead by now and with only 35 kilometers left, it’s clear that one of the breakawayees will take the stage win. Since Roux isn’t riding for general classification, we think he just might want to get the 7th place or show himself.
With only 2 minutes left, the break goes into the final sprint. Hunter looks good on 2nd place, Martens leads right now though. Gatto on Hunter’s backwheel might have the best position.
It’s now between Gatto and Martens. The german opened up the sprint and quickly got a big lead upon his rivals but Gatto came strong back on the last hundred meters.
And yes, it’s Gatto who takes the stage win for PCT Vini Fantini. A great success for this Italian team that has shown with many attacks over the weeks, that their wildcard invitation was justified. Degenkolb wins the bunch sprint in the peloton.