@Dippofix: This is not a competition, but yeah, Mikel is rather doing great since you sponsor him.
@duxili: Gora Bodnar!
Stage 20
Get out your tissues, gentlemen. One of the most beautiful climbs will be raced today, one of the most painful will make you weep. Included into the Vuelta 1999 as a comparable rival climb to le Tour’s legendary climbs such as Col du Galibier, Mont Ventoux and Alpe d’Huez, the Angliru follows the very own principle of the Spanish race committee: The steeper the better, the harder the worthier.
We follow the route from Aviles to Alto de Angliru for short 143 kilometers. Of course, the final will make it appear all the longer. The Alto de Cordal appears rather than a footnote at the foot of the Angliru, a little tastemaster for the oeuvre later on. While the start of the climb appears rather common at the Anlgiru, the second part, the Cueña les Cabres, features gradients of over 20%. Since the Angliru has a rather young Vuelta history, the list of winners is all the more exclusive: José Maria Jimenz, Gilberto Simoni, Roberto Herras, Alberto Contador and… Juan Jose Cobo. Well, up until the last name it read like a Best Of climbers. In any case, we know that only the worthy riders stand a chance to prevail here and triumph eventually. Mastering this climb, we may get all olympic and claim that everybody finishing is a winner in his own right…
There’s a certain anxiety to be felt in the peloton as the brave riders head out to take on the Angliru.
Roux did the smart thing today. He is in the breakaway and has now the opportunitiy to claim the KoM jersey for good. He is only 12 points ahead of Henao though.
While our guys are taking it easy of large parts of the race, Roux is early eager on claiming any available points. By getting 30 points on Alto de Cardol it’s official: He is the King of the Mountain of Vuelta 2013. Congratulations to him!
Now, with about 20 kilometers left, his chances for a stage win are also more than intact. 10 minutes lead may be enough.
When our guys get to the same mark, it heavily rains and the Angliru will present himself in an utterly vicious manner.
It’s truly the Angliru as they head into the final 10 kms. The breakaway has quite a lead over the peloton which is getting smaller and smaller. Many riders drop, but our Euskaltel guys are hanging on well so far.
The true ascent starts here. Where the road gets slim and the gradient turns into a nightmare from hell.
Despite the freakish gradient, Sánchez is holding on well so far. Soother only names dropped that could be expected: Meaning basically easily 80% of the peloton.
At 5 kilometers to go both Nieve and Sánchez are dropped. Well, it’s clear that their form is way beyond their peak by now. They are tired after these 3 weeks of constant up and down. Just 5 kilometers, than there will be rest. They’ll ride in their own pace up the mountain. Whoever gets up to it first, will be 4th .And the other guy will be 5th. That’s that. And it’s fair enough.
Roux and Albasini are some guys left and they fight for every meter as Henao & Co. are coming closer. There are still 3 kilometers left to race. But they are in fact not at the front of the race.
As it starts to snow: Devenysn, Dyachenko and Paulinho are dueling each other. So far the Belgian seems to have the upper hand. But they should get their act together: Henao, Betancur and Valverde are so close behind them, they can be caught any second.
Verdugo with another stellar performance! He has been the Euskaltel rider to hold up the longest and he may get another great result here. Well, not that he would actually need one. This man won a stage already and placed numerous Top 10’s here. Meanwhile, the front of the race gets caught by the Top 3 of the Vuelta.
It comes as it was predicted: Henao, Valverde and Betancur ruin the day for Devenyns, Paulinho and Dyachenko as they caught them on the last kilometer. Eventually the 3 remaining breakaway riders just weren’t strong enough. The snow drips down on the 3 merciless Vuelta Top 3 riders. They really have shown quite a dominance of strength. For me it’s the final confirmation, I feel like it’s time to leave the Vuelta behind us.
Sánchez gets to the finish ahead of Nieve. A last fun sprint between both of them and everything stays the same. Samu 4th, Mikel 5th. One second between them. It won’t change tomorrow.
Stage 20, Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Sergio Henao
Sky Procycling
4h29'23
2
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
s.t.
3
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
4
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 56
5
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
6
Sérgio Paulinho
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 1'22
7
Gorka Verdugo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'09
8
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 2'25
9
Fränk Schleck
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2'37
10
Iván Velasco
Caja Rural
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
12
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'14
13
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'22
14
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 3'43
15
Anthony Roux
FDJ
s.t.
16
Chris Froome
Sky Procycling
s.t.
17
Luis León Sánchez
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 4'10
18
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
19
Marcos García
Caja Rural
s.t.
20
Antonio Piedra
Caja Rural
s.t.
21
David Arroyo
Caja Rural
s.t.
22
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
s.t.
23
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 5'51
24
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 6'07
25
André Cardoso
Caja Rural
s.t.
26
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol
+ 6'39
27
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
+ 7'21
28
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 11'49
29
Alexandre Geniez
FDJ
s.t.
30
David López
Sky Procycling
s.t.
31
Valerio Agnoli
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
32
Jesús Hernández
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
33
Egor Silin
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
34
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
35
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
36
Amets Txurruka
Caja Rural
s.t.
37
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
38
Rafael Valls
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
40
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
41
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 12'33
42
Cameron Meyer
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 13'11
43
Damiano Caruso
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
44
Mikaël Chérel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
45
Gianluca Brambilla
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Alessandro Proni
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 14'52
47
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
48
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
49
Christian Knees
Sky Procycling
+ 15'03
50
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky Procycling
s.t.
51
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 16'37
52
Matthew Busche
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
53
Sandy Casar
FDJ
+ 17'42
54
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
55
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
+ 17'55
56
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
57
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
58
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
+ 18'49
59
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
60
Josué Moyano
Caja Rural
s.t.
61
Cristiano Salerno
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 19'59
62
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
63
José Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
64
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
65
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
s.t.
66
Jonathan Monsalve
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
67
Oliver Zaugg
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
68
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
69
Ian Stannard
Sky Procycling
s.t.
70
Stefano Agostini
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
71
José Rujano
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 20'25
72
Cristiano Monguzzi
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 20'41
73
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
74
Paul Martens
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 21'43
75
David Zabriskie
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
76
Simon Clarke
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
77
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
78
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
79
Maxim Belkov
Katusha Team
s.t.
80
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
+ 22'15
81
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
82
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
83
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
s.t.
84
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 22'54
85
Nathan Haas
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
86
Danail Petrov
Caja Rural
s.t.
87
Grega Bole
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
88
Francis Mourey
FDJ
s.t.
89
Murilo Fischer
FDJ
s.t.
90
Jonathan Cantwell
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
91
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
92
Leonardo Giordani
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
93
Brett Lancaster
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
94
Iljo Keisse
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
95
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
96
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 23'54
97
Stuart O'Grady
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
98
Pierpaolo De Negri
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
99
Assan Bazayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
100
Julian Kern
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
101
Fabricio Ferrari
Caja Rural
s.t.
102
Edward King
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 24'18
103
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
104
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
105
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
s.t.
106
Fabio Taborre
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
107
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
108
Kenny Van Hummel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
109
Jack Bauer
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
110
Evgeni Petrov
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
111
Thomas Dekker
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
112
Mathieu Sprick
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 24'52
113
Francis De Greef
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
114
Alex Howes
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
115
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Merida
+ 25'05
116
Dirk Bellemakers
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
117
Oscar Gatto
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
118
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
119
Andrew Fenn
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
120
Matthew Lloyd
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
121
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
s.t.
122
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
123
Laurent Pichon
FDJ
s.t.
124
Giacomo Nizzolo
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
125
Mitchell Docker
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
126
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
127
Michele Merlo
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
128
Grégory Rast
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
129
Dimitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
130
Dennis Van Winden
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
131
Sander Cordeel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
132
Kris Boeckmans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
133
Joost Van Leijen
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
134
Xavier Florencio
Katusha Team
s.t.
135
Brian Vandborg
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
136
Steve Chainel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
137
Luca Mazzanti
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
138
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
s.t.
139
Bert De Backer
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
140
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
141
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
142
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
143
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
144
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
145
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
s.t.
146
Ramon Sinkeldam
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
147
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
148
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
149
Vicente Reynès
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
150
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
151
Danilo Hondo
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
152
Pieter Weening
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
153
François Parisien
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
154
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
155
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
156
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
157
Tom Veelers
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
158
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
159
Miguel Ubeto
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
160
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
161
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
s.t.
162
Karsten Kroon
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
163
Stijn Devolder
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
164
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
s.t.
165
Giovanni Bernaudeau
Team Europcar
s.t.
166
Mickaël Delage
FDJ
s.t.
167
Robert Hunter
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
168
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
169
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
170
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
s.t.
171
Angelo Tulik
Team Europcar
s.t.
172
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
173
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
174
Björn Thurau
Team Europcar
s.t.
175
Yohann Gène
Team Europcar
s.t.
176
Salvatore Puccio
Sky Procycling
s.t.
177
Koldo Fernández
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
178
Roberto Ferrari
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
179
Adam Blythe
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
180
Luca Dodi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
181
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
s.t.
182
Matteo Tosatto
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
183
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
184
Tom Stamsnijder
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
185
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
186
Christopher Sutton
Sky Procycling
s.t.
187
Hayden Roulston
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
188
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
189
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
190
Bernhard Eisel
Sky Procycling
s.t.
191
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
192
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
193
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 29'04
194
Graeme Brown
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
195
Anders Lund
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 29'57
General Classification
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Sergio Henao
Sky Procycling
83h58'32
2
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 6'14
3
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+ 7'15
4
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 20'31
5
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 20'40
6
Iván Velasco
Caja Rural
+ 26'03
7
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
+ 28'11
8
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 28'26
9
Luis León Sánchez
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 28'46
10
Marcos García
Caja Rural
+ 31'22
Spoiler
11
André Cardoso
Caja Rural
+ 34'06
12
Gorka Verdugo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 44'12
13
Chris Froome
Sky Procycling
+ 45'39
14
Antonio Piedra
Caja Rural
+ 55'31
15
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h00'35
16
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h00'38
17
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h01'23
18
Fränk Schleck
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1h02'23
19
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h08'33
20
David Arroyo
Caja Rural
+ 1h14'14
21
Damiano Caruso
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 1h14'27
22
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 1h14'36
23
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h16'31
24
Amets Txurruka
Caja Rural
s.t.
25
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h16'36
26
Alexandre Geniez
FDJ
+ 1h20'01
27
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
+ 1h28'37
28
Anthony Roux
FDJ
+ 1h29'49
29
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1h31'40
30
Jesús Hernández
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 1h32'03
31
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1h33'50
32
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 1h33'54
33
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
+ 1h36'18
34
Cameron Meyer
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 1h38'06
35
David López
Sky Procycling
+ 1h41'24
36
Valerio Agnoli
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h43'56
37
Gianluca Brambilla
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1h44'48
38
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 1h45'24
39
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1h45'37
40
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h48'34
41
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h52'26
42
Mikaël Chérel
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h59'09
43
Sandy Casar
FDJ
+ 2h00'26
44
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h02'27
45
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h03'58
46
Oliver Zaugg
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 2h05'07
47
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky Procycling
+ 2h09'47
48
Sérgio Paulinho
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 2h14'42
49
Pieter Weening
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 2h15'19
50
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
+ 2h17'07
51
Evgeni Petrov
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 2h17'28
52
Egor Silin
Astana Pro Team
+ 2h17'55
53
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h24'27
54
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
+ 2h28'59
55
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
+ 2h29'14
56
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2h33'26
57
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
+ 2h34'56
58
Maxim Belkov
Katusha Team
+ 2h34'57
59
Alessandro Proni
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 2h35'42
60
Christian Knees
Sky Procycling
+ 2h37'25
61
José Herrada
Movistar Team
+ 2h38'06
62
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 2h38'22
63
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h39'09
64
Paul Martens
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h42'06
65
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 2h42'13
66
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
+ 2h42'48
67
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2h43'35
68
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 2h43'45
69
Rafael Valls
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h46'42
70
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+ 2h47'13
71
Cristiano Salerno
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 2h48'35
72
Julian Kern
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2h48'56
73
José Rujano
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2h52'31
74
Ian Stannard
Sky Procycling
+ 2h53'39
75
Simon Clarke
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 2h54'33
76
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 2h55'05
77
Matthew Lloyd
Lampre - Merida
+ 2h55'50
78
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
+ 2h58'08
79
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 3h01'10
80
Stefano Agostini
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 3h01'18
81
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
+ 3h03'33
82
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3h03'51
83
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 3h04'10
84
Francis De Greef
Lotto Belisol
+ 3h05'40
85
Fabricio Ferrari
Caja Rural
+ 3h05'52
86
Danail Petrov
Caja Rural
+ 3h06'41
87
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Astana Pro Team
+ 3h06'57
88
Josué Moyano
Caja Rural
+ 3h10'20
89
Nathan Haas
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3h12'03
90
Grega Bole
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h12'10
91
Xavier Florencio
Katusha Team
+ 3h14'29
92
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
+ 3h15'03
93
Cristiano Monguzzi
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 3h15'28
94
Matthew Busche
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 3h16'42
95
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 3h17'03
96
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3h18'46
97
Thomas Dekker
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3h21'16
98
David Zabriskie
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3h21'26
99
Jonathan Monsalve
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 3h22'41
100
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
+ 3h22'52
101
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 3h22'57
102
Pierpaolo De Negri
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 3h23'03
103
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Merida
+ 3h23'35
104
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol
+ 3h24'02
105
Jonathan Cantwell
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 3h24'25
106
Oscar Gatto
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 3h27'02
107
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
+ 3h27'15
108
Dennis Van Winden
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h27'19
109
Karsten Kroon
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 3h28'20
110
Jack Bauer
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3h29'36
111
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3h33'37
112
Steve Chainel
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3h34'22
113
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h34'43
114
Luca Dodi
Lampre - Merida
+ 3h35'13
115
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h36'42
116
Iljo Keisse
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 3h36'45
117
Giovanni Bernaudeau
Team Europcar
+ 3h38'18
118
Fabio Taborre
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 3h39'09
119
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h39'11
120
Laurent Pichon
FDJ
+ 3h39'32
121
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 3h40'40
122
Luca Mazzanti
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 3h41'51
123
François Parisien
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 3h42'24
124
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
+ 3h43'46
125
Andrew Fenn
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 3h45'01
126
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 3h45'10
127
Salvatore Puccio
Sky Procycling
+ 3h47'03
128
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 3h47'52
129
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Merida
+ 3h49'26
130
Dirk Bellemakers
Lotto Belisol
+ 3h50'11
131
Danilo Hondo
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 3h50'13
132
Alex Howes
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3h51'52
133
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
+ 3h52'34
134
Robert Hunter
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3h52'57
135
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 3h53'03
136
Francis Mourey
FDJ
+ 3h54'13
137
Ramon Sinkeldam
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 3h54'52
138
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
+ 3h55'52
139
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3h56'03
140
Tom Veelers
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 3h56'31
141
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h56'51
142
Kris Boeckmans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3h57'13
143
Brett Lancaster
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 3h57'30
144
Assan Bazayev
Astana Pro Team
+ 3h59'44
145
Mickaël Delage
FDJ
+ 3h59'52
146
Stuart O'Grady
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 4h00'02
147
Kenny Van Hummel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 4h00'07
148
Murilo Fischer
FDJ
+ 4h00'38
149
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
+ 4h00'54
150
Giacomo Nizzolo
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 4h01'10
151
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
+ 4h01'20
152
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
+ 4h01'58
153
Roberto Ferrari
Lampre - Merida
+ 4h03'49
154
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
155
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 4h04'23
156
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
+ 4h05'39
157
Koldo Fernández
Garmin - Sharp
+ 4h05'50
158
Mitchell Docker
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 4h05'55
159
Sander Cordeel
Lotto Belisol
+ 4h06'13
160
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 4h06'24
161
Tom Stamsnijder
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 4h06'36
162
Stijn Devolder
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 4h06'42
163
Grégory Rast
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 4h07'26
164
Edward King
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
165
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 4h07'40
166
Leonardo Giordani
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
167
Vicente Reynès
Lotto Belisol
+ 4h07'59
168
Joost Van Leijen
Lotto Belisol
+ 4h08'17
169
Adam Blythe
BMC Racing Team
+ 4h08'28
170
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Sharp
+ 4h08'32
171
Brian Vandborg
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 4h10'04
172
Miguel Ubeto
Lampre - Merida
+ 4h10'07
173
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
+ 4h10'44
174
Dimitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
+ 4h10'56
175
Christopher Sutton
Sky Procycling
+ 4h11'08
176
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 4h11'34
177
Bernhard Eisel
Sky Procycling
+ 4h11'59
178
Angelo Tulik
Team Europcar
+ 4h12'55
179
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 4h16'06
180
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
+ 4h16'51
181
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 4h19'57
182
Mathieu Sprick
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 4h22'06
183
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
+ 4h22'13
184
Matteo Tosatto
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 4h22'41
185
Yohann Gène
Team Europcar
+ 4h25'57
186
Anders Lund
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 4h28'00
187
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
+ 4h32'26
188
Björn Thurau
Team Europcar
+ 4h34'10
189
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
+ 4h35'00
190
Bert De Backer
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 4h47'14
191
Hayden Roulston
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 4h58'03
192
Michele Merlo
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 5h06'39
193
Graeme Brown
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 5h17'14
194
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
Lampre - Merida
+ 5h19'24
195
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 7h14'46
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Thank you guys. It was a rainy day in hell for the guys but they prevailed.
On other news:
Bandtwith reached (EPIC reports of Ronde and Paris-Roubaix just took too much). It's going to continue on the weekend when my counter is set to zero again.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Shame about the top 3 being so strong otherwise we could have/ should have seen Sami challenge for the overall win.
I think with Photobucket thing you have to uploaded less than about 6 images at one time to be safe, but what do I know as I have had multiple accounts with bandwidth problems!
@The Rider: Well, so far it worked quite good despite lots of pictures. I think it has mostly to do with the EPIC reports. A lot more people are reading them than normal story posts. Plus I guess aCross the road didn't really help keeping within the bounds of the bandwidth.
by the way: I figured I might as well post the summary since it's only two pictures anyway. GP Montreal as soon as I have some bandwidth again.
Vuelta a Espana
Stage 21
The final stage. Not much talk necessary. Euskaltel – Euskadi is looking forward to an easy day and a deserved celebration after 3 tough weeks.
Instead of following the race, I decide to already summarize the Vuelta and totally miss anything that happens. Well, in any case, Peter Sagan wins the last stage of the Vuelta 2013 ahead of Marcel Kittel. The German sprinter comes so often second and third but never getting the big win this season, it surely must be frustrating for him.
Vuelta Summary
So, what’s to say? How to summarize a Vuelta that could have been an exciting battle between some of great riders but wasn’t actually? Well, not paint it all black. It was exciting, although the last week got kind of dull I admit.
Part of the problem: the time gaps got too big too fast. And when Sergio Henao has Chris Froome as a helper: Well, we know from last year’s Tour de France how dull this can turn out. The biggest surprise may be that the british Tour de France winner Froome finished outside the Top 10. Make of that what you will, but his form clearly didn’t hold up in the third week where he lost massive time.
General Classification:
Sergio Henao (SKY)
Points Classification:
Sergio Henao (SKY)
Mountain Classification:
Antony Roux (FDJ)
U25 Classification:
Carlos Betancur (ALM)
Team Classification:
Euskaltel – Euskadi
Sergio Henao meanwhiles takes by quite a margin his first Grand Tour win. Quite an achievement for the young Colombian. His fellow countryman Carlos Betancur won two stages and came in second. Spaniard Valverde steps down a place on the podium compared to last year. After a long season for the Movistar captain he once more showed that he is clearly one of the most consistent riders, achieving top results in the Ardennes, at le Tour and the Vuelta. Difference being though that he didn’t win a stage here, while Henao and Betancur went in big.
I may have made fun of the amount of sprinters attending this year’s Vuelta. Cavendish, Greipel, Kittel, Sagan, Kristoff… yeah, it was weird. Last year Degenkolb won 5 stages here. He had next to no competition, and this year the Vuelta’s suddenly everybody’s darling? Again, I can only say: Make of that what you will. But the sprints were highly entertaining with Cavendish and Sagan coming out on top compared to their competitors. Anthony Roux meanwhile secured his mountain jersey on the last day. He tried his luck many times and the jersey is a nice compensation for him and the missing stage win. The french man is also the only one to prevent an utter domination by Henao by snatching the KoM jersey away from the colombian. The Grand Tour Winner took thanks to his stage wins and the many Top 5 results also the Points jersey by quite a margin.
Stage
Name
Team
Leader’s Jersey
1, TTT
SKY Procycling
SKY Procycling
Christian Knees
2, HL
Philippe Gilbert
BMC
Philippe Gilbert
3, HL
Yury Trofimov
Katusha
Sergio Henao
4, FL
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana
Sergio Henao
5, FL
Andre Greipel
Lotto – Belisol
Sergio Henao
6, FL
Alexandre Kristoff
Katusha
Sergio Henao
7, Fl
Mark Cavendis
Omega Pharma
Sergio Henao
8, MT
Sergio Henao
SKY Procycling
Sergio Henao
9, HL
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
Sergio Henao
10, MT
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
Sergio Henao
11, TT HL
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel – Euskadi
Sergio Henao
12, FL
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma
Sergio Henao
13, FL
Oscar Gatto
Vini Fantini
Sergio Henao
14, MT
Gorka Verdugo
Euskaltel – Euskadi
Sergio Henao
15, MT
Sergio Henao
SKY Procycling
S…?
16, MT
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
…E…
17, FL
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
…R…
18, HL
Sergio Henao
SKY Procycling
…G…
19, HL
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel – Euskadi
…I…
20, MT
Sergio Henao
SKY Procycling
…O…
21, FL
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
Sergio Henao
For Euskaltel – Euskadi the Vuelta has been a story of much success. Four stage wins are the equal amount of Tour de France and Giro d’Italia stage wins. This totals us at 8 stage wins this season, a worthy account of wins. Obviously all of our victories were secured in hilly or mountaineous terrain. Nearly all of them being breakaway wins shows the right nose the team once more proved. However the maybe sweetest victory was Samuel Sánchez’ time trial victory. A splendid performance by him and a prove that he is still one of our best riders despite a tad disappointing Giro d’Italia.
Lastly, some conclusions: Peter Sagan appears to come into top shape for the World Championships in Firenze. We are not sure about Betancur and Henao but if they continue like this, Colombia will be a force to be reckoned with in Firenze. Our basque did some fantastic racing, but hardly anybody of them will play much role in Firenze. They are already a bit too tired and need some rest. Igor Antón especially spent much of the three weeks in Vuelta claiming that he “was dying” in his bed. It’s likely that the Spanish squad will focus its effort on Alejandro Valverde, current World Tour #1.
Thanks everybody who voted for Gora Euskadi and made it Story of the Month February and also a huge thanks to all the comments and support throughout the story's run.
@Atlantius: Mikel Landa surely made a statement here in Spain and people should watch out for more of him in the future.
@24sebaf1: Euskaltel definitely profits from the late campaign so far with quite some wins. It'd be soemthing if they could continue that trend up until Lombardia.
@duxili: Of course no one. At least no one with a sane mind.
@sutty68: The team most definitely is happy about it. The season has been very generous in terms of Grand Tour stage wins for Euskaltel.
@Ian Butler: Great to have you back here.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
