Vuelta a España Stage 18: Burgos to Peña Cabarga

Yesterday was a 'flat' stage so there shouldn't have been any drama, right? No!

At 30km to go the race went over a narrow bridge and got strung out just as the race was heading into the cross winds. So the 150 or so riders that are left in this Vuelta were split into four echelons. The top four had all made the front group, but then we got to Domenico Pozzivivo (ALM) who had missed out and his five second lead over Nicolas Roche (TST) was in danger as he and a number of his team mates were in the front group. Also missing was 7th place Thibaut Pinot.

In that front group were also three of the four remaining Belkin riders and near the end it was one of there number Bauke Mollema who launched an attack. The sprinters who were left in the pack Edvald Boasson Hagen (SKY), Tyler Farrar (GRS) and Maximilano Richeze (LAM) were holding off until a little nearer the line. But they waited to long and Mollema took the stage. Boason Hagen still looking for that illusive win in the third Grand Tour came second once again, ahead of Richeze and Farrar. But for Nicolas Roche it was the fact that the group of Pozzivivo and Pinot that came in 1'31" later that sees he somewhat more secure as a top five finisher.

Today's stage travels 186.5km mostly towards the Bay of Biscay and Santander. However, just before they reach the city outskirts there is a whip back inland to face the Peña Cabarga.

5.9km long, climbing 545m to a height of 565m and the average gradient is 9.2%. But it is the final km that is a real sting in the tail. It climbs to a maximum of 20% but is largely over 15% for most of that final km.

It is the sort of finish that Joaquim Rodriguez (KAT) loves to attack. It also seems to be one that Chris Horner (RSL) can make ground on Nibali. But what if Nicolas Roche goes earlier, can he hang on. There will be a lot of questions asked today and we will just have to wait to see the answers. One question is can Nibali hang on to the red jersey never mind his time advantage.

Vuelta a España Stage 17: Calahorra to Burgos

So on the last stage before the rest day on Monday we learnt two things.

First that Vincenzo Nibali, despite having one of only two complete squads in this year's Vuelta can still be found vulnerable. Second Warren Barguil after his win earlier in the race doesn't know when he beaten, even if the rider who comes up behind him has been on the podium at the end of Grand Tours.

Monday's stage was the last of the Pyrenées stages and was relatively modest compared to the others. But on the back of two tough days there were a lot of tired legs out there. So it was that 16 men were able to stay away from the main contenders until the end.

A sprinter's finish on a climb!

On the final climb the young French rider Warrer Barguil (ARG) set off on his own, and only in the later stages did Rigoberto Uran (SKY),  Bartosz Huzarski (TNE) and Dominic Nerz (BMC) start to close him down. After one hair pin Barguil appeared to almost come to a stand still and then Uran pounced. But the young man fought to stay on his will. The two of them making their way up towards the line with the Columbian doing all the work. The other two almost got back to them with 200m to go before Uran launched his bid for the line only for Barguil to respond and win by centimetres on the line. He may well with his second more fighting win of this Vuelta have also ridden himself into contention for a spot on the French team for the forthcoming world championships.

Down the road behind them though there was a shake up waiting to happen. The first to attack was Alejando Valverde (MOV) but he was soon pulled back. Then it was the turn of Nicolas Roche (TST) to try and claw back a few of those seconds he had lost the day before. Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT) launched a bid over the top of him Roche responded with Domenico Pozzivivo (ALM). But behind Robert Kiserlovski (RSL) was applying the pressure for his team leader Chris Horner and finally the elastic broke on the race leader and Giro d'Italia champion. Horner ended up moving away with Valverde and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) in his wheel but the red jersey was doing all he could to just stop losing too much to all his rivals (except Leopold Konig who was left with him).

In the end Rodriguez was the best of the GC contended some 1'41`" behind the photo finish for first. But these are the gaps that mattered:

• Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT)
• Alejandro Valverde (MOV) +3"
• Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) +6"
• Chris Horner (RSL) +6"
• Samuel Sanchez (EUS) +15"
• Nicolas Roche (TST) +22"
• Igor Anton (EUS) +23"
• Domenico Pozzivivo (ALM) +23"
• Leopold Konig (TNE) +27"
• Vincenzo Nibali (AST) +28"

It means that the men within 5 minutes of Nibali now are:

1. Nibali 64h 06'01"
2. Horner +28"
3. Valverde +1'14"
4. Rodriguez +2'29"
5. Pozzivivo +3'38"
6. Roche +3'43"
7. Pinot +4'37"

Worse for Nibali is that none of those gaps look insurmountable should one of his opponents have a good day and he finds himself on a bad one.

Today's stage is the last flat stage until the race enters Madrid on Sunday. So if there are any sprinters left in the field this is their chance to shine, providing the days in the Pyrenées and the rain and cold having affected them. When we say flat in the Vuelta there are tow 3rd category climbs on the route. But there aren't any surprises for them at the end as the last 5km into Burgos is a flt bit of road.

Vuelta a España Stage 11: Tarazona to Tarazona ITT

Remember when we said the other day that the oldest man ever has won a stage in any Grand Tour and as a result the oldest man to pull on a Grand Tour leader's jersey. Well the record didn't last long, but the holder won't be too upset about that.

There were a couple of Euskaltel Euskadi riders in the main group, probably relieved with the news earlier in the day that F1 driver Fernando Alonso was going to buy the racing licence for the team to ensure they would continue to operate next year.

Horner launching the attack

However, the field thinning out at 5 km to go the red jersey on Daniel Moreno's shoulders was dropped from a select group of 12. Shortly after Vincenzo Nibali tried to attack but and only Ivan Basso, Joaquim Rodriguez, Alejandro Valverde and Chris Horner went with him. Then at 4.5km from the end Chris Horner (RSL) went on the attack, with Nicolas Roche and Thibaut Pinot bridging the gap to the others, Roche kept losing contact when one of them attacked and getting back on.

Eventually at 2km to go Nibali launched an attack of his own just after Basso has put in an effort, there was nothing left from anyone else in that group and he was off in pursuit of Horner. However, the gap seemed to remain constant around 47 seconds for most of that pursuit. Thus is was that Horner crossed the line some 48 seconds ahead of Nibali. Some 14 seconds later Basso, Rodriguez, Valverde and Pinot crossed together with another 8 seconds before Roche crossed the line.

Therefore Horner has added 7 days to the record oldest man to win a Grand Tour stage and to pull on a Grand Tour leader's jersey one week after he had set the records. Nibali also goes ahead of Roche in the GC who held on well not losing too much time just like in his famous father's emergence from the mist behind Pedro Delgado on La Plagne in his famous 1987 Tour leg of the triple crown.

After the rest day yesterday La Vuelta returns with a individual time trial of 38.8km around the Aragon town of Tarazona. It is the only individual time trial of the 2013 Vuelta. It climbs about 600m over the first 18km to the high point at 1090m at the top of a 3rd category climb before descending all the way back to Tarazona. There do however, appear to be a number of technical turns on the descent and although it isn't all that steep. But there shouldn't be any threat with rain so it should just come down to pure power and how it is managed in the early stages as the riders are climbing.

Horner is not the best time trialist and in the last Grand Tour he faced second place Vincenzo Nibali, the 2012 Tour he lost 3'17" and 1'55" over a longer ITT. To Nicolas Roche it was 2'17 on the first one but gained 1'06" on the second but Roche was just riding around at that point in a sub par performance for him. Valverde and and Basso were much on a power with Horner in that same Tour de France so they shouldn't pose a threat unlike Nibali and Roche. We may well have another change in the race lead to one of the two men who have worn the jersey already with Horner possibly slipping down to 3rd.