|
|
RACE REPORTS: VUELTA A ESPAÑA STAGE 9: VELOSO TAKES STAGE AS VALVERDE MOVES INTO OVERALL LEAD
Road Bike Action & AFP
September 7, 2009
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Valverde now leads the Vuelta by 7-seconds over Cadel Evans
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Controversial Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde took the overall lead of the Vuelta a España from Australian Cadel Evans following the race's ninth stage on Monday which was won by his compatriot Gustavo Cesar Veloso. Veloso, riding for Xacobeo Galicia, finished the 188.8-kilometer mountain stage between Alcoy and Xorret del Cati that included one category one climb in 5:21:04. The 29-year-old attacked in the final climb of the stage to arrive 21-seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Italy's Marco Manzano. "You have to win to know how hard achieving a victory is," said Veloso after winning the stage, adding he was determined to help his team achieve the highest possible classification.
Valverde, who is looking to win his first major tour after twice finishing on the podium in the Tour of Spain, came in third, 40-seconds behind the winner, thanks to a late surge. "There was a lot of tension in the peloton and I decided to attack because some of the favorites were struggling," he said.
The time bonus which Valverde won for his third place finish allowed him to take the overall leader's yellow jersey from Australia's two-time Tour de France runner-up Evans, who dropped to second, 7-seconds behind. Valverde is still serving a two-year ban for doping in Italy, which he is contesting, which prevented him from taking part in the Tour de France this year as it briefly passed through the country.
"I am very happy, and even more so because I might be able to ride into Murcia tomorrow as leader," said Valverde, who was born in Murcia. The Vuelta continues on Tuesday with a 171.2-kilometer ride between Alicante and Murcia which includes a second category climb a little over 11-kilometers from the finish.
Vuelta a España Stage 9, 186km
1. Gustavo César Veloso (Spa/Xacobeo Galicia) 5:21:04
2. Marco Marzano (Ita/Lampre-NGC) @ 21
3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) @ .40
4. David De La Fuente (Spa/Fuji-Servetto) @ .41
5. Robert Gesink (Ned/Rabobank) @ s.t.
6. Cadel Evans (Aus/Silence-Lotto)
7. Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas)
8. Javier Ramírez (Spa/Andalucía-Cajasur) @ .53
9. Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) @ 1:12
10.Tom Danielson (USA/Garmin-Slipstream) @ s.t.
Overall Classification After Stage 9
1. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Caisse d'Epargne) 36:26:40
2. Cadel Evans (Aus/Silence-Lotto) @ .07
3. Robert Gesink (Ned/Rabobank) @ .36
4. Tom Danielson (USA/Garmin-Slipstream) @ .51
5. Ivan Basso (Ita/Liquigas) @ .53
6. Samuel Sánchez (Spa/Euskaltel-Euskadi) @ 1:03
7. Damiano Cunego (Ita/Lampre-NGC) @ 2:04
8. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa/Xacobeo Galicia) @ 2:24
9. Haimar Zubeldia (Spa/Astana) @ 3:01
10. Juan José Cobo (Spa/Fuji-Servetto) @ 3:08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|