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 13: Valls to Castelldefels

Yesterday's stage did turn out to be a bunch finish, after the three man break was brought back in the resort of Salou in the final 20km. Nicolas Roche (TST) sneaked back 2 seconds coming second in the sprint at Port Aventura behind Ivan Basso (CAN). After which Tony Martin (OPQ) went clear of the peleton, but he was pulled back just before they entered the last 10km.

Domenico Pozzivivo (ALM) suffered a flat tyre with 4.5km to go, but thanks to the extension of the 3km rule to 5km he ended up not losing precious time.

But then it also ended what was looking to be a year of drought for the man in the rainbow jersey. In his last race before he had to relinquish the jersey Philippe Gilbert (BMC) had been desperate to not end the year without crossing the line first. Only Stephen Roche, the father of Nicolas had completely failed in the rainbow jersey but he suffered an injury affected 1988 the year after his triple crown. But it wasn't easy for him as Edvald Boasson Hagen (SKY) was launched off the last bend with 300m to go and opened up a gap, which only one man, in the rainbow jersey went to chase down and only managed to overhaul the Norwegian, who is looking to win a stage in the third Grand Tour, in the final 10m.

Today however, we return to a day for the climbers athough most of the day is merely bumpy with 50km to go to the finish there is a Alto del Rat Penat, It is basically a wall in the road after 115km of cycling. It is only 4.5km long, but does have an average of 10%, peaking at 16%.

Afterwards there is loop back down to the coast, there are a couple of ramps on that last run in and the last 300m is also a little ramp to the line. But the Alto del Rat Penat will make a selection of those who will ride on for the line honours. As we saw yesterday, Stephen Roche is prepared to tried for bonus seconds and the second intermediate comes after the last climb and along with the seconds on the line there may be more chances for him to nibble away at Nibali's 31 second lead.

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.

Vuelta a España Stage 10: Torredelcampo to Güéjar Sierra. Alto Hazallanas

Yesterday started with a break of three including debutant Luke Rowe (SKY), Johnny Hoogerland ( Lloyd Mondory (ALM), Anthony Roux (FDJ) and the man who seems to be in a lot of escapes Javier Aramendia (CJR). However, within the last 30km they started to get captured by the peleton, Aramendia lasted teh longest only being caught with 25km to go, as the peleton were preparing for 2nd Category climb of the Alto de los Frailes.

But on the climb Robert Kiserlovski (RLT) tried a solo attack. But nearer the summit Edvald Boasson Hagen (SKY) went after him and zoomed past, Nicolas Edet (COF) tired to go after the Norwegian but didn't close the gap but was second over the summit. But Edat was caught soon after on the descent, on the descent Luis Leon Sanchez (BEL) made his own bid, but he too didn't stay away long.

Moreno launches his attack

Boasson Hagen was finally caught with 1.7km remaining but 1km of that was up the incredibly steep final ascent. At the km banner Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) and Rigoberto Uran (SKY) had been dropped by the lead group. But Daniel Moreno (KAT) , who lives nearby, went about 700m from the finish, Alejandro Valverde (MOV) tried to go with him but couldn't and the race leader Nicolas Roche (TST) looked dead in the water.

But Moreno struggled in the final 50m and lost some of his advantage, but he did cross the line first picking up the 10 second time bonus. Followed by Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez completing a Spanish 1-2-3 Roche had started the day with a 17 second advantage on the local man, and was fighting to prevent the gap costing him his lead. However, coming in 4th some 8 seconds down meant he lost two of his jerseys the red by 1 second and although tied on points the all around as Moreno leads both the GC and Points.

Today sees the first Especial Category climb of La Vuelta 2013 as the race enters the Sierra Nevada range. It comes at the end after the race has negotiated the 1st Category Alto de Monachil which is 8.5km with an average gradient of 7.7%, with a maximum of 15% and gain of 665m.

However, it is the Alto de Hazallanas that is making its debut that will prove a test in what is already a tight head of the race.

It comes in two stages, the foothills are relatively gentle and then there is a section of descent before the final 7km that are the killer. There are two sections that the road reaches 18% and there are three other ramps of 15% or greater. So although the average over the 15.8km of the climb is only 5% that is an illusion that will become clear to the riders in that final section.

With only one second in the first two spots and the top five Vincenzo Nibali (AST), Alejandro Valverde and Chris Horner (RLT) all within 28 seconds you can expect there to be a shift in the top of the field once again as we head into the rest day on Tuesday.

Vuelta a España Stage 9: Antequera to Valdepeñas de Jaén

 Yesterday the break was formed of 14 riders from 14 squads but as they went up the final climb only three remained at the front Dario Cataldo (SKY), Valls Ferri Rafael (VSD) and Dominik Herz (BMC). But one of the men they had dropped Matthew Bunche (RSL) took over the pacing of the peleton from his team mate Fabian Cancellara about 8 km from the finish.

He kept closing the gap splintering some good names such as Bauke Mollema and Samuel Sanchez as he did so. Finally the last of the day's escape were captured with about 6km to go. Then Igor Anton (EUS) attacked, then at two km to go a counter attack was launched by Leopold Konig (NAE) and Thibaut Pinot (FDJ), eventually Ivan Basso tried to get across the gap.

Konig caught Anton and fought on for the line, Daniel Moreno (KAT) and Nicolas Roche (TST) were also closing in on Anton. Konig did claim the victory with Moreno behind, but in the race for 3rf to 5th the Polka Dots on Roche won securing a 4 second time bonus which he didn't even need as Chris Horner (RSL) was 18 seconds behind him and Vincenzo Nibali (AST) 22 relinquishing the red jersey. With Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff also going into the lead as best team it means that as well as climbing into the leader's jersey Roche has secured a lead in every category of this Vuelta. Indeed he still holds the Mountain and combined classification leads, only the points belongs to someone else (Moreno) today.

Today's stage looks innocuous there is only one second category climb on the route and that is 16km from the end of the stage. But there are plenty of bumps along the way that could sap energy from those who already struggled yesterday then there is a little kick at the end up through the narrow streets of the town of Valdepeñas de Jaén. At places the street that leads up to above the town can reach a gradient of 30%, getting past people might be a problem if you are in the wrong place should someone stall.

When La Vuelta was last here in 2010 Rigoberto Uran started to attack at the foot of the climb, but he was captured by the small group that remained, coming home 10th at 19 seconds, then Igor Anton launched what proved to the stage winning attack. Behind him Vincenzo Nibali lead the chase to come second, Joaquim Rodriquez was 4th and Nicolas Roche 8th. So four of the main favourites for this year's Vuelta are not strangers to the finish today.

Vuelta a España 2013 Stage 3: Vigo to Mirador de Lobeira

Yesterday La Vuelta got off to a rather violent start with the climb of taking the last 11 km and proving a real test that found some of the GC contenders lacking. But there was a breakaway that went from the off which started with Greg Henderson (OGE) going about 10m before 0km. He was joined by Alex Rasmussen (GAR) and Francisco Aramendia of Caja Royal (CJR) and the three were to stay away until the final climb.

Movistar took up the pace for the peleton at the start of the climb and set a tempo that nobody looked capable of challenging. That was until Amets Txurruka (CJR) formerly of Euskaltel-Euskadi put in a little bit of a dig, but José Herada (MOV) just kept his pace at the front of the group and brought it all back together.

Sammy Sanchez (EUS) was the first of the big GC contenders to be dropped out of the back. Sky's Sergio Henao was another who suffered with more than 4km to go.

With 1.5km to go Leopold Konig of NetApp-Endura (TNE) went on the attack. With this attack, Janez Brajkovič (AST) who had been holding on to the tail of the peleton finally popped out the back. He eventually ended 51 seconds behind the stage winner, dropping to 16th overall.

Daniel Moreno (KAT) and Nico Roche (TST) launched the counter attack followed by Dominco Pozzavivo (AGM) and caught Konig at the Flame Rouge. Then in the climb towards the finish Roche made a bid for the line and nobody was able to keep up with him. It completes the father-son set of Grand Tour stage wins as his father Stephen never managed to three in the Tour de France and two in the Giro d'Italia, but had only taken part in one Vuelta towards the end of his career. Moreno was second and Pozzavivo third.

Stephen Roche in combination jersey

Alejandro Valverde (MOV) it was who lead the peleton across the line, though there were gaps and only Diego Ulisso (LAM) and Jaoquin Rodriguez (KAT) finished on the same time, 2 seconds ahead of a group of 16 lead by Ivan Basso (CAN), Bauke Mollema (BEL) and Rigoberto Uran (SKY), Giro Champion Vincenzo Nibali (AST) and the stage winner's cousin Dan Martin (GRS) were also in that group. Laurens Ten Dam (BEL) was in a quartet at 21 seconds and Michele Scarponi (LAM) at 27 seconds.

Nibali's performance was good enough to lift him into the red jersey after his team mate Brajkovič, 8 seconds ahead of Roche. Roche possesses the Green Point Jersey, Blue Mountain Jersey (being worn by Daniel Moreno) and like his father had worn in Tour the all around White Jersey (worn today by Alejandro Valverde).

Henao finished 2'41" back, so it looks like Uran sitting 5th overall is now the de facto team leader of Sky. Samuel Sanchez finished in the same time paced by three team mates leaving just Mikel Nieve up with the leaders in the Basque team's farewell to Grand Tours.

Today's stage starts in Vigo which La Vuelta passed through yesterday, but instead of heading straight to Pontevedra (yesterday's start town) after crossing the bridge over the Estreito de Rande takes a detour round most of the headland before returning to yesterday's start town. From where it continues to hug the coast the whole way around the next headland before heading inland, though not going up anything steep this time.

The loop inland comes across the first intermediate sprint at A Escusa (Ribadumia) before circling around the finish town before returning to the coast at the town of Vilagarcia de Arousa, where once again the riders will hug the coast until they take a turn out to sea, and visit the island of Ria de Arosa, where the second intermediate sprint takes place. They take another shorter loop before heading for home and the only real ramp of the day comes at the line.

There is a 3rd category climb over the last 4km kicking up at the end of 184.8km of racing. It should not be enough of a kick to dislodge all the sprinters but some might suffer because of the efforts of today. But it should produce a bunch sprint even if not quite a straight forward as they may expect.

Tour de France 2013: The Teams 7 - Saxo-Tinkoff

Team Saxo-Tinkoff were always going to build their team around one man, the man who has won the Tour twice before, Spaniard Alberto Contador. So here is the team that they are hoping can deny Team Sky from winning their second Tour in a row.

Alberto Contador returns to the Tour after his suspension, although he has already won last year's Vuelta since he resumed racing. There is perhaps a little irony that the last time a Saxobank sponsored rider won the Tour de France was when Andy Schleck was promoted as a result of the exclusion of Contador. In the recent Critérium du Dauphiné Contador say he was only at 75%, that lead to him finishing 10th some 4'27" down on Chris Froome of Sky. This season Contador's best finishes have been second in the Tour of Oman (behind Froome) and third in Tirreno-Adriatico (behind Vincenzo Nibali and Froome) it means that while he is good the other two have been better. It has yet to be seen if he can find the other 25% he says he is short and even if he does whether his team will be able to overcome the persistance that Sky can produce.

First of those supporters is Michael Rogers who knows exactly how Sky turn the screw as he was part of the team around Bradley Wiggins last year doing just that. In the the Critérium du Dauphiné towards the end it was actually Contador who was riding for him. But don't forget the Aussie was actually 23rd in last year's Tour after often being the last Sky rider to peel off before Froome and Wiggins went for the final assault as was second in support of his team leader in last year's Dauphiné. It will be the 9th time in the Tour, his best finish being his 9th place in 2006 when he was with T-Mobile. As with the Sky boys last year he will be there through most of the mountain passes give Contador some much needed support and he can ride at the Team Sky tempo.

Another strong Lieutenant is another new arrival at Saxo-Tinkoff Nicolas Roche. Being the son of a famous father is never easy but apart from his first Grand Tour Nico has never been outside the top 25 in his other eight attempts, only in the 2010 did his 7th place finish take him inside the top 10. But Nico is always there or there abouts, just like his famous father you may think he has been dropped but he always manages to somehow hang on a limit his loses. This time of course he can ride for someone else without the pressure of being the best placed rider in his team.Plus he also has Rogers doing exactly the same thing. It wouldn't surprise me if Nico ends up with a top 10 finish even though he is riding to support Contador.

Italian Matteo Tosatto will be starting his 25th Grand Tour and 6th Tour. In the 2006 Tour he won his only Tour stage over a medium mountain stage to Mâcon. He is however, mainly a classics specialist coming 7th in last season's Paris-Roubaix. 

His fellow Italian Daniele Bennati is the sprinter on the team. He took the points jersey in the 2007 Vuelta and 2008 Giro and two stages in the 2007 Tour. Of course all that success was BC (Before Cavendish) because Bennati has not finished ahead of the Manx man in a Grand Tour sprint that they have both been in the top 20 since that 2008 Vuelta. The 32 year old is still going to try in the bunch sprints but he may need a little luck to overcome all the young guns who will be gunning for the win alongside him and it is unlikely that most of the team will be riding in a train for him so he will be having to follow in wheels of other trains. 

Sérgio Paulinho from Portugal has won two stages in the Tour, one a Team Time Trial the other in 2010 was the medium mountain stage into gap. Last month he came second in the Tour of Norway behind Edvald Boasson Hagen. It will be his 6th Tour his best finish was 34th in 2009, so he'll be largely riding in support on the early stages of the mountain stages.

Jesus Hernandez is the first of two Spaniards who will be riding in support of Contador. He will be riding in third tour after his debut for Astana in 2010, he appeared for Saxobank in 2011. He has also ridden in the Vuelta four times and has his best Grand Tour finish in the 2009 edition of his home Grand Tour when he came 19th.

The other is Benjamin Noval is 34 years old with a long if not distinguished career since turning pro in 2001. He has ridden in 9 Grand Tours 6 of them in France. Though he can climb which is the sort of help you need for a GC contender.

The final member of the team is Roman Kreuziger who has twice been in the top ten of the GC at the Tour, 9th in 2009, 8th in 2010. He was also 5th in the 2011 which may well have resulted in his worst result in the Tour that year. Earlier this season he won the Amstel Gold Race and was third in the Tour de Suisse, so he is a rider with form this year and another of the super domestiques that Contador can call upon in the high passes.

Saxo-Tinkoff have picked a team that should be able to maintain a high number of riders to the fore even if Sky set a strong tempo. They also have enough tough riders that they could set off attacks to try and disrupt the way Sky are doing things, whether this will be enough to help Contador or whether it will just make Sky rider harder is something that will unveil itself once we get into those mountains. We'll also then see if Contador has the acceleration we know from old, recently he has merely gone up the road and hung off the front as Sky rode back at their tempo.



- Roman Kreuziger, Tjekkiet