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RACE REPORTS: VUELTA A ESPAÑA STAGE 8: CUNEGO THE STAGE, EVANS THE OVERALL LEAD
Road Bike Action & AFP
September 6, 2009
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(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Australia's Cadel Evans took the overall lead of the Vuelta a España on Sunday following the race's eighth stage, the first to be held in the mountains, which was won by Italy's Damiano Cunego. Evans finished the 204.7-kilometer ride between Alzira and Aitana in fourth place, 44-seconds behind the leader, to take the golden jersey from Swiss Olympic time-trial gold medalist Fabian Cancellara, who finished over 25-minutes behind the Cunego.
The 32-year-old said he arrived at the Vuelta a España "refreshed" after taking a holiday following his worst performance at the Tour of France where he ended in 30th place. "I didn't come here with any special motivation for the Tour or with the idea to win something. But things have changed," he said. Evans, who finished in second place during the 2007 and 2008 Tour of France, is now just ahead of the two other favorites to win the Tour of Spain, Spanish riders Alejandro Valverde and Samuel Sanchez, after Sunday's stage. He is two seconds ahead of Valverde and eight seconds in front of Sanchez.
Cunego sprinted ahead of France's David Moncoutie in the final kilometer to win his first-ever stage of the Tour of Spain in 6:04:54. "I knew this could be my day. This is an important win for me," he said. Nicknamed the "Piccolo Principe" or "Little Prince" because he is considered to be one of cycling's biggest prodigies, Cunego won Giro d'Italia at just 22 in 2004.
Meanwhile, Luxembourg's Andy Schleck, who finished second in this year's Tour of France, pulled out of the race at the 88-kilometer mark. Race organizers did not specify the reason for his retirement, but it was reported in Spanish media that he was suffering from stomach problems. Schleck ended the seventh stage on Saturday in 51st position in the overall standings, 3:10 off the pace.
The Vuelta continues on Monday with the 188.8-kilometer ninth stage from Alcoy to Xorret del Cati that includes two category one climbs.
Vuelta a España Stage 8, 204.7km
1. Damiano Cunego (Ita/Lampre-NGC) 6:04:54
2. David Moncoutié (Fra/Cofidis) @ .33
3. Robert Gesink (Ned/Rabobank) @ .36
4. Cadel Evans (Aus/Silence-Lotto) @ .44
5. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) @ s.t.
6. Samuel Sánchez (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi)
7. Tadej Valjavec (Slo/AG2R La Mondiale) @ .50
8. Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas) @ s.t.
9. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa/Xacobeo Galicia)
10.Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne)
Overall Classification After Stage 8
1. Cadel Evans (Aus/Silence-Lotto) 31:05:02
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) @ .02
3. Samuel Sánchez (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi) @ .08
4. Tom Danielson (USA/Garmin-Slipstream) @ .13
5. Robert Gesink (Ned/Rabobank) @ .29
6. Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas) @ .46
7. Damiano Cunego (Ita/Lampre-NGC) @ 1:26
8. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa/Astana) @ 1:37
9. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa/Xacobeo Galicia) @ 1:46
10. Juan José Cobo (Spa/Fuji-Servetto) @ 2:03
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