Published: Sep. 5, 2009
Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) proved he’s on track to add another gold medal to his growing collection with another superb time trial victory Saturday in the rain in Valencia.
With the world championships on home roads less than three weeks away, the big Swiss time machine slogged through a rain-slickened course to claim his second win in a week at the Vuelta a España and regain the golden race leader’s jersey.
“The conditions were very difficult,” Cancellara said at the line. “I tried to go as fast as Formula 1, but the engine I have is my legs. It was a good test for me, a great race.”
Cancellara handily defeated two riders he’ll be facing in Mendrisio – Garmin-Slipstream’s time trial specialist David Millar and reigning time trial world champion Bert Grabsch (Columbia-HTC).
First Grabsch, then Millar each set the fastest time and it looked like Millar might be in with a chance when Cancellara started cautiously and then turned on the gas against strong headwinds when he carved out his winning, 32-second difference to Millar.
“I’ve already fallen twice in this Vuelta and a third would be too much, so I didn’t take any risks until I got to the open road with headwinds,” Cancellara said. “It’s great to be back in the leader’s jersey, but I think tomorrow it’s finished for me and someone else will take the jersey. I am not a climber and I here to help my teammates and to prepare for the worlds.”
Cancellara admitted that his growing form might induce him to try to win both gold medals at the worlds later this month. His earlier focus on the road race seems to be softening as his time trial performances give him encouragement he might be up to the task of racing both.
“My objective number 1 is the road race in Mendrisio and I was thinking about possibly not racing the time trial. But my form is improving and I have the motivation to try to win both titles,” he said. “The road race is the goal because it’s in my home country, in front of my fans, but I believe I am strong enough and I have a good mentality to try to win both.”
No one’s ever won both the road race and time trial titles at the same world championships.
Cancellara’s victory meant another bittersweet moment for Garmin-Slipstream. Millar revealed he’s on excellent form and came closest to knocking off Cancellara, setting an early fast time that stood for second in the stage at 32 seconds slower.
It’s the second consecutive second place for Garmin, which has been nibbling at the edge of a breakthrough grand tour stage victory all season long.
Garmin-Slipstream will take heart from the excellent ride by Tom Danielson, who stopped the clock at 50 seconds off the pace for seventh. Danielson, twice in the top 10 at the Vuelta, moved up to eighth at 1:19 back.
GC battle heats up
Cancellara’s victory was the closing act of the first week of racing in what’s been an interesting, if sprinter-dominated Vuelta so far.
Cancellara has won both time trials and sprinters ruled the roost for the remainder of the week, with Columbia-HTC taking three stage wins, book-ended by Gerard Ciolek and Borut Bozic, with Greg Henderson and two with André Greipel, who forfeited the leader’s jersey Saturday and sank to 27th at 2:19 back.
The climbers move center-stage in Sunday’s 204.7km stage from Alzira to Alto de Aitana, the first of five summit finishes and the opening salvo of the real battle for the overall crown.
The “virtual GC” is still very tight, with Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) well-positioned in sixth at 1:12 back.
Right behind him are Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) in seventh at 1:14, Danielson in eighth at 1:19, Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) in ninth at 1:20, Ivan Basso (Liquigas) in 17th at 1:52 back and Robert Gesink (Rabobank) in 19th at 1:5 7 – all separated by less than one minute.
“I am pretty satisfied with the time trial today. It was a course for specialists … and although I lost some seconds to my rivals, like Evans, Valverde and Sanchez, the differences are minimal,” Basso said. “These next two stages feature hard climbs and will be useful to try to recover some lost time. You don’t want to give up more time. My experience tells me that in a three-week tour you have to have patience. From here to Madrid, there will be plenty of climbs where I can take back time to try to take the golden jersey.”
Most observers points to Valverde and Basso as the two riders who look strongest so far. Valverde, twice a Vuelta podium-finisher, is poised to win his first grand tour if he can keep it together for three weeks and fend off Basso and the others.
“I believe the seconds won or lost today will have little importance from tomorrow on if we consider the fact that tomorrow is very hard to Aitana,” Valverde said. “I’ve had a good Vuelta up to now. I went through the first stages without any important crashes and didn’t lose any time. I hope now that we are arriving to the mountains, which are my favored terrain, the luck will stay with me.”
Others remain an enigma right now, including Astana’s Haimar Zubeldia and Alexander Vinokourov (12th and 14th, respectively), grand tour rookie Jakob Fuglsang (21st at 2:03), and Spanish mountain goats Ezequel Mosquera and José Angel Gómez Marchante (41st and 44th, respectively).
“Starting tomorrow I hope to be able to recover some of the lost time beginning with the summit at Aitana,” said Mosquera, fourth and fifth in past two editions of the Vuelta. “Not only will the summit finish make it hard, but it’s up and down all day, and that will prove costly. It’s the first mountaintop finish of the Vuelta, so I can play the cards face up.”
The Schleck brothers (Andy at 3:10 and Frank at 3:15 back) could vault back into contention, but seem to be living up to their promise of riding the Vuelta to gain fitness for the world championships and the Giro di Lombardia.
The Aitana summit is the first of five mountain-top finishes (Monday’s Xorret de Catí isn’t necessarily at the top of the climb, but organizers are calling it a summit finish anyway) spread over next seven stages.
Anyone who emerges from the Sierra de la Pandera finale in stage 14 with a commanding lead should be able to coast all the way to Madrid on cruise control.
- 1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Team Saxo Bank, 30km In 36:41
- 2. David Millar (GBR) Garmin-Slipstream, at 32
- 3. Bert Grabsch (GER) Team Columbia-HTC, at 36
- 4. David Herrero (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 40
- 5. Vasili Kiryienka (BLR) Caisse d'Epargne, at 46
- 6. Samuel Sánchez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 47
- 7. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Slipstream, at 50
- 8. Christophe Riblon (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 53
- 9. Lars Boom (NED) Rabobank, at 59
- 10. Cadel Evans (AUS) Silence-Lotto, at 01:02
- 11. Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick Step, at 01:03
- 12. Jesús Del Nero (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 01:04
- 13. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 01:05
- 14. Gustavo César Veloso (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 01:09
- 15. Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana, at 01:12
- 16. Daniele Bennati (ITA) Liquigas, at 01:12
- 17. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) Astana, at 01:18
- 18. Jens Mouris (NED) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 01:21
- 19. Adam Hansen (AUS) Team Columbia-HTC, at 01:22
- 20. Linus Gerdemann (GER) Team Milram, at 01:24
- 21. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 01:25
- 22. Lieuwe Westra (NED) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 01:26
- 23. Imanol Erviti (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 01:30
- 24. Daniel Moreno (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 01:31
- 25. Frantisek Rabon (CZE) Team Columbia-HTC, at 01:31
- 26. Markel Irizar (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 01:31
- 27. Carlos Barredo (ESP) Quick Step, at 01:31
- 28. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank, at 01:33
- 29. Anthony Roux (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 01:34
- 30. Dominik Roels (GER) Team Milram, at 01:34
- 31. Stijn Devolder (BEL) Quick Step, at 01:36
- 32. Svein Tuft (CAN) Garmin-Slipstream, at 01:37
- 33. David García (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 01:38
- 34. Arkaitz Durán (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 01:41
- 35. Jacob Fuglsang (DEN) Team Saxo Bank, at 01:43
- 36. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas, at 01:43
- 37. Manuel Vázquez (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 01:50
- 38. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU) Cervelo Test Team, at 01:50
- 39. Beñat Intxausti (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 01:51
- 40. Juan José Cobo (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 01:53
- 41. Xavier Tondo (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 01:59
- 42. Andy Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank, at 02:02
- 43. José Luis Rubiera (ESP) Astana, at 02:03
- 44. Damien Monier (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 02:03
- 45. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 02:06
- 46. J. Ángel Gómez Marchante (ESP) Cervelo Test Team, at 02:07
- 47. Daniel Navarro (ESP) Astana, at 02:07
- 48. Koos Moerenhout (NED) Rabobank, at 02:09
- 49. Michael Schär (SUI) Astana, at 02:09
- 50. Philip Deignan (IRL) Cervelo Test Team, at 02:12
- 51. Eros Capecchi (ITA) Fuji-Servetto, at 02:12
- 52. Sandy Casar (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 02:14
- 53. Christian Knees (GER) Team Milram, at 02:15
- 54. Ezequiel Mosquera (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 02:19
- 55. Alexander Efimkin (RUS) AG2R La Mondiale, at 02:21
- 56. Leonardo Duque (COL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 02:21
- 57. Frank Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank, at 02:22
- 58. Simon Gerrans (AUS) Cervelo Test Team, at 02:24
- 59. Bram Tankink (NED) Rabobank, at 02:27
- 60. Francis De Greef (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 02:27
- 61. Serafín Martínez Acevedo (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 02:28
- 62. Marcel Sieberg (GER) Team Columbia-HTC, at 02:30
- 63. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas, at 02:31
- 64. Iñigo Cuesta (ESP) Cervelo Test Team, at 02:32
- 65. Gustavo Domínguez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 02:32
- 66. Fco. José Martínez Pérez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 02:35
- 67. André Greipel (GER) Team Columbia-HTC, at 02:37
- 68. Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 02:38
- 69. Olivier Kaisen (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 02:39
- 70. Dominique Rollin (CAN) Cervelo Test Team, at 02:40
- 71. Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 02:40
- 72. Laurent Lefevre (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 02:42
- 73. Björn Schröder (GER) Team Milram, at 02:43
- 74. Gonzalo Rabunal Ríos (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 02:43
- 75. Borut Bozic (SLO) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 02:46
- 76. Eduard Vorganov (RUS) Xacobeo Galicia, at 02:48
- 77. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP) Rabobank, at 02:51
- 78. Kevin De Weert (BEL) Quick Step, at 02:52
- 79. Igor Anton (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 02:52
- 80. Mickaël Buffaz (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 02:55
- 81. Inaki Isasi (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 02:59
- 82. Antonio Piedra (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 03:00
- 83. Paolo Tiralongo (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 03:04
- 84. Maciej Bodnar (POL) Liquigas, at 03:05
- 85. Stuart O'grady (AUS) Team Saxo Bank, at 03:05
- 86. José Luis Arrieta (ESP) AG2R La Mondiale, at 03:06
- 87. Gabriel Rasch (NOR) Cervelo Test Team, at 03:08
- 88. Jesús Hernández Blázquez (ESP) Astana, at 03:09
- 89. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Slipstream, at 03:10
- 90. Amaël Moinard (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 03:10
- 91. Alessandro Ballan (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 03:12
- 92. Rubén Pérez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 03:13
- 93. Thomas Rohregger (AUT) Team Milram, at 03:13
- 94. Roger Hammond (GBR) Cervelo Test Team, at 03:14
- 95. Johnny Hoogerland (NED) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 03:14
- 96. Tadej Valjavec (SLO) AG2R La Mondiale, at 03:15
- 97. Sébastien Hinault (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 03:17
- 98. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 03:18
- 99. Mickael Delage (FRA) Silence-Lotto, at 03:18
- 100. Julien Loubet (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 03:20
- 101. Michael Albasini (SUI) Team Columbia-HTC, at 03:20
- 102. Amets Txurruka (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 03:22
- 103. Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE) Fuji-Servetto, at 03:23
- 104. Marco Velo (ITA) Quick Step, at 03:24
- 105. Matthias Russ (GER) Team Milram, at 03:26
- 106. Matteo Tosatto (ITA) Quick Step, at 03:27
- 107. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR) Team Saxo Bank, at 03:29
- 108. Matti Breschel (DEN) Team Saxo Bank, at 03:31
- 109. Matteo Carrara (ITA) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 03:33
- 110. Francisco Pérez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 03:34
- 111. Alexander Kolobnev (RUS) Team Saxo Bank, at 03:34
- 112. Sergio Domínguez (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 03:35
- 113. Arnaud Gerard (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 03:36
- 114. Jesús Rosendo Prado (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 03:40
- 115. José Ruiz Sánchez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 03:44
- 116. Fco. José Pacheco (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 03:44
- 117. Christophe Brandt (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 03:45
- 118. Sylvester Szmyd (POL) Liquigas, at 03:46
- 119. Oliver Zaugg (SUI) Liquigas, at 03:46
- 120. Paul Voss (GER) Team Milram, at 03:49
- 121. Martin Velits (SVK) Team Milram, at 03:49
- 122. Jean-Eudes Demaret (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 03:50
- 123. Egoi Martínez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 03:50
- 124. Vicente Reynes (ESP) Team Columbia-HTC, at 03:50
- 125. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 03:52
- 126. Allan Davis (AUS) Quick Step, at 03:52
- 127. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Slipstream, at 03:53
- 128. Franck Bouyer (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 03:53
- 129. Óscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank, at 03:55
- 130. Rein Taaramae (EST) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 03:55
- 131. Daniel Martin (IRL) Garmin-Slipstream, at 03:56
- 132. Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ) Astana, at 03:57
- 133. Greg Henderson (NZL) Team Columbia-HTC, at 03:57
- 134. Alan Pérez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 03:59
- 135. Paul Martens (GER) Rabobank, at 03:59
- 136. Aitor Hernández (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 04:06
- 137. David López (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 04:07
- 138. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 04:09
- 139. Sébastien Chavanel (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 04:10
- 140. Martijn Maaskant (NED) Garmin-Slipstream, at 04:10
- 141. David Moncoutie (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 04:12
- 142. Davide Vigano (ITA) Fuji-Servetto, at 04:17
- 143. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 04:18
- 144. John Gadret (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 04:20
- 145. Julian Dean (NZL) Garmin-Slipstream, at 04:21
- 146. Julien El Fares (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 04:24
- 147. Rémy Di Gregorio (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 04:25
- 148. Xavier Florencio (ESP) Cervelo Test Team, at 04:26
- 149. Xabier Zandio (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 04:26
- 150. Matthew Lloyd (AUS) Silence-Lotto, at 04:29
- 151. Marco Marzano (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 04:30
- 152. Manuel Quinziato (ITA) Liquigas, at 04:31
- 153. Kjell Carlström (FIN) Liquigas, at 04:32
- 154. Maarten Wynants (BEL) Quick Step, at 04:33
- 155. William Bonnet (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 04:34
- 156. Aitor Pérez Arrieta (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 04:36
- 157. Javier Benitez (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 04:39
- 158. Gerald Ciolek (GER) Team Milram, at 04:41
- 159. Damien Gaudin (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 04:42
- 160. Adrián Palomares (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 04:47
- 161. Assan Bazayev (KAZ) Astana, at 04:50
- 162. Matthieu Sprick (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 04:50
- 163. Emanuele Bindi (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 04:54
- 164. Mikael Cherel (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 04:55
- 165. Javier Ramírez Abeja (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 04:58
- 166. Wesley Sulzberger (AUS) Francaise des Jeux, at 04:58
- 167. Bingen Fernández (ESP) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 05:03
- 168. Manuel Calvente (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 05:04
- 169. J. Vicente García Acosta (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 05:05
- 170. Olivier Bonnaire (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 05:08
- 171. Marco Marcato (ITA) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 05:10
- 172. Tom Leezer (NED) Rabobank, at 05:12
- 173. Fabio Sabatini (ITA) Liquigas, at 05:14
- 174. Massimiliano Mori (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 05:15
- 175. Mikel Gaztañaga (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 05:18
- 176. Karsten Kroon (NED) Team Saxo Bank, at 05:19
- 177. Fuente David De La (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 05:19
- 178. Ludovic Turpin (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 05:22
- 179. Pieter Weening (NED) Rabobank, at 05:33
- 180. Matheus Pronk (NED) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 05:35
- 181. J. Antonio López Gil (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 05:38
- 182. Wouter Weylandt (BEL) Quick Step, at 05:38
- 183. Vitaliy Buts (UKR) Lampre-N.G.C, at 05:39
- 184. Sergey Lagutin (UZB) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 05:43
- 185. Christian Meier (CAN) Garmin-Slipstream, at 05:47
- 186. Giovanni Bernaudeau (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 05:48
- 187. Julián Sánchez Pimienta (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 05:55
- 188. Francesco Tomei (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 06:09
- 189. Timothy Gudsell (NZL) Francaise des Jeux, at 06:09
- 190. Björn Leukemans (BEL) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 06:17
- 191. Alberto Fernández Sainz (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 06:23
- 192. Vincent Jerome (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 06:37
- 1. Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Team Saxo Bank
- 2. Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick Step, at 51
- 3. David Herrero (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 59
- 4. Daniele Bennati (ITA) Liquigas, at 01:03
- 5. Vasili Kiryienka (BLR) Caisse d'Epargne, at 01:08
- 6. Cadel Evans (AUS) Silence-Lotto, at 01:12
- 7. Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 01:14
- 8. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Slipstream, at 01:19
- 9. Samuel Sánchez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 01:20
- 10. David Millar (GBR) Garmin-Slipstream, at 01:20
- 11. Gustavo César Veloso (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 01:42
- 12. Haimar Zubeldia (ESP) Astana, at 01:43
- 13. Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 01:46
- 14. Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana, at 01:48
- 15. Imanol Erviti (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 01:51
- 16. Linus Gerdemann (GER) Team Milram, at 01:52
- 17. Ivan Basso (ITA) Liquigas, at 01:52
- 18. David García (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 01:53
- 19. Robert Gesink (NED) Rabobank, at 01:57
- 20. Bert Grabsch (GER) Team Columbia-HTC, at 02:00
- 21. Jacob Fuglsang (DEN) Team Saxo Bank, at 02:03
- 22. Lieuwe Westra (NED) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 02:05
- 23. Daniel Moreno (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 02:12
- 24. Arkaitz Durán (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 02:13
- 25. Carlos Barredo (ESP) Quick Step, at 02:16
- 26. Jesús Del Nero (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 02:17
- 27. André Greipel (GER) Team Columbia-HTC, at 02:19
- 28. Manuel Vázquez (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 02:19
- 29. Markel Irizar (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 02:24
- 30. Juan José Cobo (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 02:26
- 31. Koos Moerenhout (NED) Rabobank, at 02:35
- 32. Damien Monier (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 02:36
- 33. Daniel Navarro (ESP) Astana, at 02:37
- 34. Xavier Tondo (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 02:38
- 35. Christian Knees (GER) Team Milram, at 02:42
- 36. Marcel Sieberg (GER) Team Columbia-HTC, at 02:46
- 37. Leonardo Duque (COL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 02:46
- 38. Eros Capecchi (ITA) Fuji-Servetto, at 02:48
- 39. Philip Deignan (IRL) Cervelo Test Team, at 02:48
- 40. Borut Bozic (SLO) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 02:51
- 41. Ezequiel Mosquera (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 02:52
- 42. Beñat Intxausti (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 02:52
- 43. José Luis Rubiera (ESP) Astana, at 02:58
- 44. J. Ángel Gómez Marchante (ESP) Cervelo Test Team, at 03:00
- 45. Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Slipstream, at 03:01
- 46. Dominik Roels (GER) Team Milram, at 03:02
- 47. Bram Tankink (NED) Rabobank, at 03:07
- 48. Sandy Casar (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 03:07
- 49. Björn Schröder (GER) Team Milram, at 03:09
- 50. Matthieu Ladagnous (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 03:09
- 51. Andy Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank, at 03:10
- 52. Alexander Efimkin (RUS) AG2R La Mondiale, at 03:11
- 53. Frank Schleck (LUX) Team Saxo Bank, at 03:15
- 54. Gonzalo Rabunal Ríos (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 03:15
- 55. Simon Gerrans (AUS) Cervelo Test Team, at 03:17
- 56. Serafín Martínez Acevedo (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 03:18
- 57. Laurent Lefevre (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 03:22
- 58. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Liquigas, at 03:25
- 59. Francis De Greef (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 03:31
- 60. Eduard Vorganov (RUS) Xacobeo Galicia, at 03:32
- 61. Gustavo Domínguez (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 03:34
- 62. Stuart O'grady (AUS) Team Saxo Bank, at 03:34
- 63. Juan Manuel Garate (ESP) Rabobank, at 03:37
- 64. Roger Hammond (GBR) Cervelo Test Team, at 03:38
- 65. Tadej Valjavec (SLO) AG2R La Mondiale, at 03:41
- 66. Alessandro Ballan (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 03:41
- 67. Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 03:42
- 68. Inaki Isasi (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 03:43
- 69. Svein Tuft (CAN) Garmin-Slipstream, at 03:44
- 70. Kevin De Weert (BEL) Quick Step, at 03:46
- 71. Johnny Hoogerland (NED) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 03:50
- 72. Michael Schär (SUI) Astana, at 03:50
- 73. Matteo Tosatto (ITA) Quick Step, at 03:53
- 74. Thomas Rohregger (AUT) Team Milram, at 03:53
- 75. Mickael Delage (FRA) Silence-Lotto, at 03:56
- 76. Francisco Pérez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 03:59
- 77. Igor Anton (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 03:59
- 78. Paolo Tiralongo (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 04:03
- 79. Marco Velo (ITA) Quick Step, at 04:14
- 80. Amaël Moinard (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 04:15
- 81. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 04:17
- 82. Jesús Hernández Blázquez (ESP) Astana, at 04:25
- 83. Fredrik Kessiakoff (SWE) Fuji-Servetto, at 04:29
- 84. Adam Hansen (AUS) Team Columbia-HTC, at 04:29
- 85. Alexander Kolobnev (RUS) Team Saxo Bank, at 04:36
- 86. Paul Martens (GER) Rabobank, at 04:41
- 87. Óscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank, at 04:47
- 88. Egoi Martínez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 04:48
- 89. Amets Txurruka (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 04:52
- 90. Manuel Quinziato (ITA) Liquigas, at 04:53
- 91. Davide Vigano (ITA) Fuji-Servetto, at 04:54
- 92. Christophe Brandt (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 04:54
- 93. Sylvester Szmyd (POL) Liquigas, at 04:57
- 94. Alan Pérez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 05:04
- 95. Xavier Florencio (ESP) Cervelo Test Team, at 05:12
- 96. David López (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 05:17
- 97. Oliver Zaugg (SUI) Liquigas, at 05:22
- 98. David Moncoutie (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 05:25
- 99. José Luis Arrieta (ESP) AG2R La Mondiale, at 05:27
- 100. Jesús Rosendo Prado (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 05:44
- 101. Mikael Cherel (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 05:49
- 102. Mickaël Buffaz (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 06:27
- 103. Manuel Calvente (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 06:30
- 104. Olivier Bonnaire (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 06:32
- 105. Assan Bazayev (KAZ) Astana, at 06:35
- 106. Gabriel Rasch (NOR) Cervelo Test Team, at 06:39
- 107. Rémy Di Gregorio (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 06:42
- 108. Michael Albasini (SUI) Team Columbia-HTC, at 06:43
- 109. Allan Davis (AUS) Quick Step, at 06:45
- 110. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Slipstream, at 06:54
- 111. Sébastien Hinault (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 07:04
- 112. Matti Breschel (DEN) Team Saxo Bank, at 07:10
- 113. Daniel Martin (IRL) Garmin-Slipstream, at 07:31
- 114. Antonio Piedra (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 07:32
- 115. Iñigo Cuesta (ESP) Cervelo Test Team, at 07:36
- 116. Christophe Riblon (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 07:38
- 117. Björn Leukemans (BEL) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 07:46
- 118. William Bonnet (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 08:00
- 119. Kjell Carlström (FIN) Liquigas, at 08:13
- 120. Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 08:18
- 121. Greg Henderson (NZL) Team Columbia-HTC, at 08:51
- 122. Matteo Carrara (ITA) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 08:56
- 123. Julien Loubet (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 09:06
- 124. Dominique Rollin (CAN) Cervelo Test Team, at 09:26
- 125. Olivier Kaisen (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 09:31
- 126. Sébastien Chavanel (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 09:35
- 127. Fuente David De La (ESP) Fuji-Servetto, at 09:47
- 128. Martin Velits (SVK) Team Milram, at 10:55
- 129. Pieter Weening (NED) Rabobank, at 11:06
- 130. Rein Taaramae (EST) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 11:13
- 131. Jean-Eudes Demaret (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 11:23
- 132. Jurgen Roelandts (BEL) Silence-Lotto, at 11:25
- 133. Julian Dean (NZL) Garmin-Slipstream, at 11:49
- 134. Fco. José Pacheco (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 11:51
- 135. Matthieu Sprick (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 11:52
- 136. Javier Benitez (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 11:58
- 137. Rubén Pérez (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 11:58
- 138. John Gadret (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 12:12
- 139. Bingen Fernández (ESP) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 12:26
- 140. Paul Voss (GER) Team Milram, at 12:29
- 141. Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 12:30
- 142. Wouter Weylandt (BEL) Quick Step, at 12:52
- 143. Wesley Sulzberger (AUS) Francaise des Jeux, at 13:07
- 144. Ludovic Turpin (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 13:10
- 145. Fabio Sabatini (ITA) Liquigas, at 13:25
- 146. Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ) Astana, at 13:29
- 147. Arnaud Gerard (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 13:31
- 148. Adrián Palomares (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 13:34
- 149. Matthew Lloyd (AUS) Silence-Lotto, at 14:00
- 150. Aitor Hernández (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 14:27
- 151. Xabier Zandio (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 14:27
- 152. Stijn Devolder (BEL) Quick Step, at 14:28
- 153. Emanuele Bindi (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 14:31
- 154. Lars Boom (NED) Rabobank, at 14:34
- 155. Matthias Russ (GER) Team Milram, at 14:35
- 156. Javier Ramírez Abeja (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 14:44
- 157. Vicente Reynes (ESP) Team Columbia-HTC, at 14:49
- 158. J. Vicente García Acosta (ESP) Caisse d'Epargne, at 14:51
- 159. Fco. José Martínez Pérez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 14:52
- 160. Maarten Wynants (BEL) Quick Step, at 14:53
- 161. Marco Marcato (ITA) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 15:08
- 162. Karsten Kroon (NED) Team Saxo Bank, at 15:09
- 163. Vitaliy Buts (UKR) Lampre-N.G.C, at 15:18
- 164. Aitor Pérez Arrieta (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 15:55
- 165. Julien El Fares (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 15:56
- 166. Sergio Domínguez (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 16:03
- 167. Maciej Bodnar (POL) Liquigas, at 16:14
- 168. Anthony Roux (FRA) Francaise des Jeux, at 16:17
- 169. Franck Bouyer (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 17:10
- 170. Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU) Cervelo Test Team, at 17:40
- 171. Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) AG2R La Mondiale, at 19:21
- 172. Christian Meier (CAN) Garmin-Slipstream, at 19:23
- 173. Tom Leezer (NED) Rabobank, at 19:45
- 174. Jens Mouris (NED) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 20:02
- 175. Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR) Team Saxo Bank, at 20:53
- 176. Massimiliano Mori (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 20:57
- 177. Frantisek Rabon (CZE) Team Columbia-HTC, at 22:14
- 178. Timothy Gudsell (NZL) Francaise des Jeux, at 22:19
- 179. Vincent Jerome (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 23:11
- 180. Francesco Tomei (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 23:43
- 181. Marco Marzano (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C, at 24:31
- 182. Sergey Lagutin (UZB) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 25:19
- 183. Giovanni Bernaudeau (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 26:08
- 184. Gerald Ciolek (GER) Team Milram, at 26:09
- 185. J. Antonio López Gil (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 26:21
- 186. Matheus Pronk (NED) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team, at 29:31
- 187. Martijn Maaskant (NED) Garmin-Slipstream, at 29:48
- 188. Mikel Gaztañaga (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 30:03
- 189. Julián Sánchez Pimienta (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo, at 30:39
- 190. José Ruiz Sánchez (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 30:49
- 191. Alberto Fernández Sainz (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 31:31
- 192. Damien Gaudin (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom, at 31:33
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Pretty amazing, these guys can rev up to almost 60kph!
The uphill looks less exiciting. But the downhill was really something!
Still early to tell. Standings may change. Next stage is gonna be another interesting one.
Of course it is still early to tell. in fact it's too early. this is just the first week. Not all is going there for the overall title. different teams, different riders, they all have different objective in a grand tour. and i'm looking into all these details. that's why to me, every day's standing and happening are very interesting, not just the overall. Fabian Cancellara is one of favourite riders. He's no climber but he can won stages and he can time trial really well. to me, he is a very classy rider. the other favourite cyclist that i like very much is Jesus Luis Ocana Pernía. This is the man who rode himself into yellow jersey in 1971 with 8 minutes over merckx. amazing. Then he was strucked by bad luck and Merckx won in the end. critics said that Merckx won that 1971 TDL because Ocana had a bad accident and had to abandon the race.
This year Vuelta, my bet is on Ivan Basso. he is very committed and serious aobut this race. after the banned, he'd better be serious.
I don't know. He juts came out from the ban. I will not put my wager on him as of moment. But anyway, it's early to tell. The top 10 in GC are closely timed each other. I think with the absence of few favorites, this is expected.
I am not gonna miss the delay tonight. The mountain stage will be the one to watch and boys will be separated from men...;)
Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Slipstream) finally got his stage win on Wednesday at the 2009 Vuelta a Espana.
It was a desperately long sprint for the American, racing in his third grand tour of the year. And he had to fight his way back to the lead group to do it, having been dropped on the final climb of the day, the Cat. 2 Alto Campo de San Juan.
But Farrar gutted it out to take his first victory in a grand tour, crossing just ahead of Philippe Gilbert (Silence-Lotto) and Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil).
“When I started the stage I wasn’t feeling very optimistic because there were 3,000 meters of climbing, so I didn’t think it would be a sprint,” Farrar said. “After the second climb, I saw that Greipel was dropped, so we had people working together. Anything from now on is a bonus.
“I’ve been on the hunt for a stage win for all year. It’s true I didn’t win at the Tour, but I came out of there with great form. That’s why I won at Vattenfall and Eneco Tour, and that’s why I won today.”
Race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne) finished safely in the bunch to retain his golden jersey by seven seconds over Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) with Robert Gesink (Rabobank) third at 36 seconds.
A long time coming
Farrar’s victory was an important milestone for Garmin-Slipstream, which has been racking up a string of heart-breaking close calls in grand tours since it started with a bang with victory in the team time trial at the 2008 Giro d’Italia.
Garmin team boss Jonathan Vaughters jokingly wrote on his Twitter he was ready to “sacrifice virgins” after Ryder Hesjedal was second in Wednesday’s Vuelta stage and Peter Stetina was second at the Tour de l’Avenir in France.
Vaughters said Farrar’s victory was just a matter of time.
“He just had to work for it. It paid off,” Vaughters said. “Tyler is part of a generation of exceptionally fast sprinters. There’s a lot of strong competition out there. It’s taken a little while to get the bugs worked out in our lead-out train. Now they have that experience.”
Long ride and a man short
The 200km ride from Murcia to Caravaca de La Cruz included a couple of hurdles for the sprinters. The most significant, the Category 1 Alto Collado Bermejo, came early in the day, summiting at the 50.8km mark. The second, the Cat. 2 Alto Campo de San Juan, summited at the 150.7km mark, giving the fast men and their squads 49.3km — much of it downhill — to regroup before the finish.
The Vuelta has finished in Caravaca de la Cruz just once before, during the 2004 Vuelta, when another American — Dave Zabriskie — found himself soloing almost the entire route to win the 161km stage.
As strong as his performance was, Zabriskie got an assist from a major crash that happened after his attack. Valverde was banged up pretty seriously in that one, but because he was seen as a major GC contender, the peloton showed respect to him and his condition, and spent most of the day riding at a moderate pace.
Also banged up a bit is Saxo Bank's Fränk Schleck, who pulled out of the Vuelta before the start and will undergo surgery for knee issues. "Apparently the pain in his knees has returned and he will be operated this week," Saxo Bank said in a statement. Brother Andy left the Vuelta on stage 8 with stomach issues.
The break du jour
The break of the day included David Moncoutie (Cofidis), Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel) and the perpetually aggressive Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil).
Moncoutie, intent upon regaining the KOM jersey he won in 2008, scored top points on the Collado Bermejo at 50.8km to move back into the lead in that contest.
Hoogerland was the danger man in the break, sitting 16th on GC, just 4:41 behind race leader Valverde. He became the virtual leader on the road as the break reached its maximum advantage of 10 minutes at 68km, and Caisse d'Epargne set about shortening the leash, trimming the break’s advantage to 8:30 at the 93km mark.
And that’s where it stayed for a while, until Ivan Basso’s Liquigas team joined in. Rabobank pitched in, too, and with 60km to race the escapees held less than four minutes on the bunch with the Alto Campo de San Juan just ahead.
Going up
The gap plummeted to less than a minute as Liquigas drilled it on the climb, perhaps thinking of Daniele Bennati for the finale, and one by one his fellow sprinters drifted out the back of the chase.
The soon-to-be-former mountains leader David De La Fuente was back there with them, too far back to see as Moncoutie took the top honors at the summit of the Alto Campo de San Juan, padding his lead in the KOM competition.
The break led the chase by a minute going over the top, with De La Fuente, Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) and Rabobank teammates Oscar Freire and Juan Manual Garate summiting a further 25 seconds in arrears, driving hard to rejoin the GC group. They caught back on with 44km to go, largely due to the efforts of the Swiss champion, and the breakaway was just 12 seconds up the road.
A kilometer further along and the escapees were back in the fold. Remy Di Gregorio (Française des Jeux) attacked at once, quickly taking a 10-second lead, then doubling it with 41km to race.
No hurry
The peloton seemed unconcerned as Di Gregorio rocketed along at 72 kph (44.7 mph). Liquigas set the tempo as the Française des Jeux rider stretched his advantage to half a minute.
Two sprinters left behind on the final climb were Farrar and green jersey André Greipel (Columbia-HTC). Farrar was without teammates, but Adam Hansen and Marcel Sieberg were there for Greipel.
With 30km to race the Farrar-Greipel group had rejoined the main chase, while Di Gregorio was allowed to dangle some 45 seconds off the front, pounding along alone in the 86-degree heat.
The catch finally came just outside the small vilage of Archivel with 17km to race, and Linus Gerdemann (Milram) rolled off the front, perhaps seeking redemption after crashing out of the lead late on Tuesday’s stage.
But the sprinters weren’t having any of it — Liquigas continued to set tempo with some Rabobank assistance, and Gerdemann was soon back in the bunch.
Serafin Martinez (Xacobeo Galicia) scampered off to win the sprint solidario in Barranda with 13km to go. Then the peloton set about arranging itself for the bunch sprint in Caravaca de La Cruz.
With 6km to go Garmin began moving forward for Farrar. There was something of a respite, even a bit of disorganization, until 3km to go, when Liquigas once again began cranking up the volume.
But the Liquigas train found itself suddenly short-handed, having expended most of its riders in the chase. And it was a tricky finale, with a 360-degree exit off a highway with 2km to go and a straight, slightly rising final kilometer.
As the bunch hit that final kilometer Cancellara drilled it. Cyclo-crosser Lars Boom was leading out teammate Freire, but Farrar was up there too — and finally, he got his stage victory.
And Liquigas? After all that work, not a single lime-green jersey in the top 10.
The Test
Over the course of 14 days I rode a full-suspension bike and hardtail bike 28 times on our 3.1-mile test course. Both bikes were built from aluminum and the position of the bikes was matched. The weight of the bikes differed by roughly one pound. The same wheelset was used on both bikes and tire pressure was kept the same. The bikes also used the same gearing. They were ridden in the same smooth-pedaling manner; riding out of the saddle created power spikes and was therefore avoided. Data was gathered using Garmin’s 705 GPS unit and a PowerTap Disc hub.
The constant was our power output, keeping in mind that it’s very hard to keep anything constant on a mountain bike. Climbing was limited to 300 watts and flats limited to 250 watts. In reality the closest I could get was to keep the ranges within 25 watts of each side of these set parameters. Downhills were all ridden at zero watts, simply coasting, and we abstained from pedaling out of corners.
The test course consisted of just under a mile of rolling, lightly technical terrain, a half-mile climb gaining 50 feet in elevation, 1.2 miles of non-technical but bumpy flat double track and a half-mile of twisty, fast-descending singletrack with three moderately technical sections.
It took roughly 15 minutes to complete each loop. The fastest lap recorded stopped the clock at 13:26 and the longest took 15:48.
Following the same protocol I tested Gary Fisher’s Paragon 29-inch-wheeled aluminum hardtail. As equipped for our test, it split the weight difference between the 26-inch hardtail and full-suspension bike.
The surprising results of our measured and timed trials put the 29-inch hardtail ahead of both of the 26-inch-wheeled bikes. The fastest lap recorded on the 29er was 13:26, four seconds faster than the fastest of the full-suspension bike. The 29er reigned supreme, however, because of its consistency on our test terrain; the big bike’s averages were significantly better than either of the small-wheeled bikes. The 29er’s average lap time was 13:39, the lowest by about a minute, but it also posted the lowest heart rate and power averages, which means that I was going faster and doing less work.
So what does this mean? Did I get rid of my full-suspension bike in addition to proclaiming the death of the 26-inch hardtail?
The Take Away
29-inch wheels are quite fast in the context of cross-country racing. The big wheels seem to smooth out moderately bumpy terrain and they definitely make descending easier, especially when it’s steep, due to the larger diameter wheel. It’s much harder to go over the handlebars of a big-wheeled bike.
In addition to the testing I carried out on the test 29er, I also raced it in both short track and technical cross-country races. My findings here were twofold. I expected it to be slower for short track because of the importance of quick acceleration in this type of racing. In practice I found it faster than a 26-inch-wheeled bike and was even able to win a local weeknight race on our 29-inch test bike.
In a technical cross-country race, however, I found myself wishing for my full-suspension bike. Even with the larger wheels I was bounced around, which lead to fatigue, not to mention a greater fear of flatting than when on a full-suspension bike.
The prowess of the big wheels in my measured testing and racing leads me to continue to pronounce the death of the 26-inch-wheeled hardtail. At this point, if you’re racing one I truly believe that you’re at a disadvantage.
For the one-bike quiver, I still conclude that a full-suspension bike is more practical. It’s more fun, more comfortable and the fastest both down the hill and in technical terrain. If you could have two bikes, however, my pick for that second bike would surely be a 29-inch hardtail. I believe the big-wheeled bike is the fastest for smooth-to-moderately bumpy terrain. A 29er is a great tool for racing and is my new go-to short-track racer.
It looks as thought Specialized’s Todd Wells might have the perfect quiver right now as his team allows him both a 29er hardtail and 26-inch-wheeled, full-suspension bike. Both of his bikes weigh about 20-pounds, so weight doesn’t factor into his choice and he can focus his decision on which is best for each individual racecourse.
It would be interesting to see how it fares. But I would doubt it is suitable for climbing up the Pg Hill...;)
I think it is quite possible because elite racers have started to use the 29. And i believe the kind of terrain that they raced on are very tough also. If the podiums at the recent Mountain Bike Nationals in Granby, Colorado, are any indication, the hardtail 26-incher may soon be going the way of thumbshifters and beartrap pedals. The elite podiums in Granby were dominated by 29ers (both hardtail and full-suspension) and full-suspension 26ers.The elite men’s podium, for example, looked like this: First place: Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski, Gary Fisher SuperFly 29er; Second place: Adam Craig, Giant Anthem X Advanced full suspension; Third: Sam Schultz, Gary Fisher SuperFly 29er; Fourth: Jeremiah Bishop, Cannondale Scalpel full suspension; Fifth: Jay Henry, Gary Fisher SuperFly 29er.
Sixth place did go to a traditional 26-inch hardtail (Andy Shultz, Tomac Type X), but seventh, eighth, and tenth places all went to 29ers or full suspension bikes. In fact Kona’s Barry Wicks took tenth place on Kona’s Hei Hei 2-9 Deluxe, a 29-inch full suspension bike.
So is the 26-inch hardtail dead? It sure looks that way on the American circuit. But why? The simple answer is technology. There are two distinct areas where technology has made breakthroughs: Suspension performance and efficiency and weight reduction. Not more than a year or two ago, it was a challenge to reduce a 26-inch wheeled hardtail’s weight to the 20-pound mark. Metal bikes all seemed to hover around the 21-pound mark and full suspension bikes all posted up in the 24- to 26-pound range. Back then, you could see the carbon revolution coming, but now it’s truly here. Today’s carbon technology allows manufacturers to build 20-pound full suspension bikes, sub-20-pound 29ers and 26-inch hardtails that, amazingly, hover in the 16- to 18-pound range.
Now technology lets racers choose the benefits of a specific bike platform (29er, full suspension) without any real drawback. Take newly crowned American cross-country champion Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski who rides for Subaru-Gary Fisher. He’s whole heartedly thrown himself into the 29-inch wheel revolution, as has his sponsor, but it’s only now, since Fisher figured out how to build him a super light big wheeled bike with light wheels and tires, that he has advantage over those on light 26-inch hardtails. The big wheels likely kept him safe on the national course’s treacherous downhill because of a better ability to keep a rider centered and rolling over obstacles on the steeps. Another technological advantage JHK had were his prototype 400-gram tires. Slow acceleration plagues 29ers because of their heavier rotating weight, but when you minimize those penalties, as Bontrager has with its carbon wheels and prototype tires, then the penalty can be justified for the advantage.
I know Bikepro in KL already brings in 29ers. So far I have not heard anyone in Penang ride one, yet. Maybe they are already in.
Yup, I watched the live telecast last night.
No race tonight though....:(
Published: Sep. 7, 2009
A heavy Spanish accent was back on the Vuelta a España in Monday’s wild and unpredictable seven-climb stage from Alcoy to Xorret de Catí.
After a week of stages dominated by non-Spanish riders, Gustavo Cesar Veloso (Xacobeo-Galicia) found himself the sole survivor of a daylong breakaway that tore itself to shreds on the final obstacle, the Category 1 Alto Xorret de Cati at 185.6km.
Veloso became the first Spanish winner so far in the 64th Vuelta, having just enough in the tank to fend off the fast-chasing GC favorites.
“It was a hard-fought victory. My legs didn’t let me down in the end and experience taught me to regulate the efforts and not go too hard, too early because I knew the final was very difficult,” said Veloso, who crossed the line 21 seconds ahead of the chasing Marco Manzano (Lampre).
“Any victory in a grand tour multiplies the value of a rider by three. The bad moments make the good times taste even better.”
But the real story was Valverde’s last-ditch attack to grab third and a crucial time bonus that put him into the leader’s golden jersey.
Valverde cleared the first-category summit with Rabobank’s Robert Gesink, overnight leader Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) and Ivan Basso (Liquigas), and the quartet ripped down the 3.2km descent to the line to sprint for a third-place time bonus worth eight seconds.
“Evans was mad at the finish because he thought Gesink shut down his sprint, but I didn’t see it like that. These things happen in a race,” said Valverde, in the leader’s jersey for the first time in this Vuelta.
“I didn’t dream about taking the leader’s jersey, but it’s better to have it than to dream about it. I am very happy to have it and tomorrow I ride into my home region. I will try not to spend too much energy in these next few days because there’s still a lot of mountains ahead.”
Tom Danielson (Garmin-Slipstream) survived an explosive stage that cost some of the other GC contenders, namely Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), who forfeited 1:29 on the day and slipped to sixth at 1:03 back.
Danielson stayed close on the Catí climb and came through in the second group at 10th at 1:12 back to keep his podium hopes alive going into a trio of decisive climbing stages in Sierra Nevada this week.
Twice in the top 10 at the Vuelta, Danielson slotted into fourth overall at 51 seconds back.
How it unfolded
Coming after Sunday’s eight-climb stage, Monday’s 188.8km ride from Alcoy to Xorret del Catí offered no rest for the weary, serving up a steady succession of climbs — two Category 3s, four Cat. 2s and a short, tough Cat. 1 that summited 3km from the finish.
• Category 3 Puerto de Onil, which summits at 17.5km
• Category 3 Alto de Tibi, at 48.7km
• Category 2 Puerto de la Carrasqueta, at 67km
• Category 2 Puerto de Tudons, at 95km
• Category 2 Puerto de Torre Manzana, at 122.3km
• Category 2 Puerto de la Carrasqueta, at 151.5km
• Category 1 Alto Xorret de Cati, at 185.6km
The final climb was just 4.3km, but averaged 10.6 percent, steepening to 15 percent near the top. A quick 3km drop followed, with a little rise covering the final 200 meters to the line.
The route mirrored one used in the 2004 Vuelta. The last time the Vuelta finished here the winner of the day was Eladio Jiménez from the old Kelme team.
Hot and heavy
It was another warm one — temperatures of 25 Celsius (83F) and humidity at 70 percent with east-northeast winds of 19kph (11.8 mph).
A group of five formed on the day's first climb, the Cat. 3 Puerto de Onil. Gustavo Dominguez (Xacobeo Galicia) couldn’t follow the pace and dropped back, leaving four riders out front — David de la Fuente (Fuji-Servetto), Julian Sanchez (Contentpolis-Ampo), Marco Marzano (Lampre-NGC) and Rein Taaramae (Cofidis).
Three others bridged up over the next 16km — Veloso, Javier Ramirez (Andalucia Cajasur) and Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) — and the now-seven-man break set about building its advantage. At the 49km mark, they had 4:55 over the main field.
De la Fuente — who made a big splash during the 2006 Tour de France when he won the most aggressive rider’s prize — was the most dangerous rider on GC at 51st at 13:31.
A few riders had had enough of the daily drama of break and chase. Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) abandoned the Vuelta, suffering from gastrointestinal issues. Also peeling off their numbers were Allan Davis (Quick Step) and Laurent Lefevre — the third BBox rider to leave the race in two days after Giovanni Bernaudeau and Jerome Vincent bailed Sunday.
Meanwhile, De la Fuente was busily collecting KOM points, and the gap went out to just under seven minutes as the break cleared the Puerto de Torre Manzano. None of the escapees was a threat to Evans, and with 66km to race it was beginning to seem as though the day’s winner might be in the break.
A casual chase
Forty kilometers from the line and the gap remained just under seven minutes, with Silence-Lotto setting a moderate tempo in the bunch. As De la Fuente led the break over the Puerto de la Carrasqueta for the second time, padding his KOM collection to 49 points, the peloton had taken about a minute of that back.
Veloso and Ramirez popped off the front briefly to battle for the sprint solidario, with the Xacobeo Galicia rider grabbing the gold, then sat up to wait for their comrades. The peloton was keeping a light hand on the leash, content to keep the break within six minutes or so. Liquigas was moving forward, keeping Basso at the sharp end of the bunch.
"Today the objective is not to lose time,” said Liquigas director Mario Scirea on Spanish television. “Ivan is good, but today is not his type of climb. Yesterday he tried, but it wasn't as hard as he thought it was going to be."
With 20km to race the gap was six and a half minutes, and Silence-Lotto was freewheeling at the front, apparently saving energy for a final-climb donnybrook among the overall contenders. Caisse d'Epargne boss Eusebio Unzue told Spanish TV that he expected the favorites to test each other on the Alto Xorret de Cati.
“Gaining the leader's jersey today isn't the goal, but you never know what can happen on a climb like this. More important to try to make some differences if you can with the eye on Madrid than worry about taking the leader's jersey,” he said.
With 12km to go and the final climb just a few kilometers ahead the gap was back under six minutes. Caisse d’Epargne had taken over the chase on behalf of Valverde, and Euskaltel-Euskadi was moving forward for Sanchez.
The hunt gets serious
And then the chase began in earnest — with 8km to go the gap had come down dramatically, to less than four minutes. Two kilometers further along it was two and a half minutes.
The break ate itself alive as Taaramae cranked up the volume on the lower slopes of the Alto Xorret de Cati. Only De la Fuente could stay with him, and not for long. Soon the Estonian national champion was all alone on a 15-percent grade — but the peloton was closing in, just two minutes behind.
Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d’Epargne) attacked out of the chase as Evans, Valverde and Basso were all marking each other on the ascent. The race leader took the lead at one point and the trio of contenders brought Rodriguez back. Sanchez was dropped, as were Tom Danielson (Garmin-Slipstream) and Gesink.
Valverde was next to turn the screw, but Evans marked him, as did Basso.
Ahead, meanwhile, Taaramae detonated in spectacular fashion just short of the summit. Veloso and Manzano overhauled him, and then Veloso shot away to clear the summit alone.
Valverde attacked once more, shedding Basso but not Evans on the narrow, crowded climb. The Italian rejoined on the descent.
Veloso hit the final kilometer alone, glancing over his shoulder. He kissed his hands, then raised his arms and crossed the line for the stage win as Manzano followed for second.
Then the audacious Valverde attacked on the run in and passed De la Fuente for third and the crucial time bonus that put him into the leader’s jersey. Evans was furious, claiming that Gesink put him into the barriers in the final dash to the line.
But when the shouting died down, it was Valverde in the golden jersey. Evans would have to content himself with the white jersey awarded in the combined classification, for the Vuelta's most consistent rider.
You have to see the last 4km before the finishing line. 20% gradient! Man that was really something!