The Queen Stage of the Vuelta a Venezuela is upon us and just looking at the profile, should scare the living daylight out of at least 80 percent of the riders here. Some are of course anticipating this day. Pereiro would like to live without it I’m sure with as he has a comfortable lead in the GC, but on a day like this some crazy things could happen very easily. We should see all the GC favourites stay with each other until the penultimate or the very last time before they make their move, but with the time differences that already are in the GC, some must feel compelled to take off from longe range here. No matter what legends will be build today.
At the start of the stage a big group of 12 riders including KoM Jersey wearer, Hungerbühler, got away. The pack would have none of it though and they were reeled back in. A shame for Hungerbühler really, as there are a whopping 170 KoM Points up for grabs today, so theoretically any rider could win the jersey.
He got away with Albert, Del Nero, Ciccarese, Barberi and Salerno. You would think that he would just leave them behind immediately but they wouldn’t be dropped. With 1.8 kilometres to the summit, Chacon attacks and it looks like he has got rid off them as he goes over the top alone.
But he was caught again in the descend by some of them. As the pack neared in on the summit an interesting scenario unfolded as the KoM Leader Hungerbühler and 2nd in that Competition Rui Costa battled it out for 8 points at the top. Costa took them and he is now just 8 points behind Hungerbühler.
Also Bernhard Kohl was dropped on the first climb. He would make it back though and stay in there for some time before he was inevitably dropped for good.
Del Nero and Salerno caught Chacon in the descend as Del Nero led Salerno and Chacon over the top of the 2nd, quite small climb. Actually Salerno is outfoxing Hungerbühler and Costa for the KoM Jersey as he already had 65 points coming into this stage and he also wore the jersey a few stages back.
It was very surprising that Chacon couldn’t seem to leave the others behind as the riders in the break just made their way back after being dropped time after time. Barberi, Albert and Ciccarese all made contact with Chacon, Del Nero and Salerno just before the third climb and Ciccarese went straight past everybody as he attacked just as he made the junction. Salerno countered and these two would now make up the front group.
Leaving the cooperation shattered among the four others.
Albert then attacked quickly afterwards which sparked up the speed again, but they all rode alone with Del Nero being the strongest and not Chacon! At the bottom of the third climb with about 115 kilometres to go, the pack was at about 14 minutes, meaning Chacon is now the virtual leader as he was no more than one minute behind Ciccarese and Salerno at the front.
With 4 kilometres to the top Ciccarese couldn’t keep up with Salerno anymore though, and Salerno is really gunning for the KoM Jersey right now.
He leads Ciccarese by over one minute at the top.
The pack is starting to shatter now as Fed-Ex are picking up the pace no doubt looking to set up an attack on the leader’s jersey with Danielson. Kohl is now dropped for good.
At the top the pack trailed Salerno by 12 minutes and 10 minutes behind Chacon, who was 4th out on the road, not able to bridge up with Del Nero. The pack is now down to just 17 riders with all the favourites still hanging in there.
On the fourth climb it was still Salerno who had built up a very big gap to his nearest chaser, who was in front. Ciccarese had been overtaken and dropped by Del Nero and he could only stay with Chacon for so long.
Pereiro takes the front as we are now down to just 14 riders!
12th in the GC, Francisco Colorade is dropped!
It is extremely surprising that riders like Mori, Celestino and Rast are still in the pack when a rider like Colorado is dropped.
Salerno goes over the top with a 3-minute lead on Del Nero, he is now leading the KoM Competition!
The pack hasn’t come over the top yet, and now Medina is dropped! Somehow Jörg Jaksche is still in there!
Jaksche is not the British Airways rider right in front of Medina in that picture. That’s Albert who has been reeled in. Jaksche was dropped quickly thereafter though as we’re now down to just 7 riders as we go down the descend!
They are Ochoa Quinterto, Pereiro Sio, Danielson, Astarloza, Garate, Efikmin and Leipheimer. Efimkin doesn’t relay a whole lot, and Ochoa Quintero is not too fond of this.
As we hit the penultimate climb Gárate is dropped almost right away!
The early attackers are still out in front but not by much anymore. Their advantage will shrink even faster as Pereiro now attacks with 9.3 kilometres to the top!
He is just so unbelievably strong! Danielson, Ochoa Quintero and Astarloza all tried to go with him, but they are not near Pereiro in this race. It seems like no-one can touch him.
But who is this? Aleksandr Efimkin comes blasting past Pereiro! What an attack by the Russain! Pereiro has nothing to answer this acceleration with!
Efimkin quickly catches and drops Chacon!
So Efimkin leads Pereiro, who has caught Del Nero and Chacon. Behind Pereiro we have a group with Leipheimer, Danielson, Ochoa Quintero and Astarloza.
Efimkin was sitting 8th in the GC before today, at 5’58, so Danielson and Ochoa Quintero has to keep him on a leash. But he has to take more than three minutes on Danielson and two minutes on Ochoa Quintero and I’m not sure how likely that is. Let’s see if he can hold on for starters.
Efimkin being spurred on by a French fan.
With 2.2 kilometres to the top Efimkin catches and drops Salerno!
Astarloza has to let go of the group with Leipheimer, Danielson and Ochoa Quintero now!
Efimkin leads over the the top. Let’s have a situation report.
Efimkin commences the final climb with 12 kilometres to go he has now over one minute on Pereiro and he is now climbed onto the podium and pushed Ochoa Quintero into 4th.
He is really putting the hammer down this guy, what a performance he is putting in! Chacon hasn’t come through for Champion in this race but Efimkin is doing it right now!
Not only Ochoa Quintero but also Danielson are endangered by Efimkin, but the Russian just keeps increasing his advantage!
Look at this. Astarloza has made his way back as Leipheimer has gone clear of Danielson and Ochoa Quintero!
3 kilometres to go for Efimkin and he now leads Pereiro by 2’25, he is heading for 2nd place in the GC right here!
Efimkin being carried up the mountain by the fans.
He’s coming towards the final kilometre he had the stage win all wrapped up, but how much will he gain on Danielson and Ochoa Quintero. Surely Pereiro he can’t touch Pereiro.
The Devil guides him up the final kilometre of this epic stage!
Unbelievable! What a win for Aleksandr Efimkin! He has somehow managed to crush the pure climbers today. That shouldn’t almost not even be possible, but he has done it!
Pereiro comes in at 2’43 in 2nd place.
Leipheimer takes 3rd on the stage as will gain a few places in the GC. He comes in at 4’45. Danielson and Ochoa Quintero arrives 10 seconds later, this means that Efimkin is 2nd in the GC after today!
Astarloza lost 24 seconds on Danielson and Ochoa Quintero in the last kilometres and he finished 6th today, ahead of team-mate Garate who loses 7’15.
Medina takes 8th, 10’06 later.
Chacon comes in in 20th place losing 15’11 on his team-mate Efimkin, who had singlehandedly salvaged this tour for Champion and brought them an enormous step closer to promotion. Of course he has to stay on his bike tomorrow, but let’s hope all the GC riders stay clear of anymore crashes.
What a day this turned out to be.
The riders kept crossing the line for an hour and a half.
