|
|
RACE REPORTS: LA VUELTA A ESPANA STAGE 15: FINALLY BARREDO, NIBALI HOLDS ONTO RED
Road Bike Action and AFP
September 12, 2010
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Carlos Barredo (Quick Step) finally has his chance to celebrate a Grand Tour stage win in Stage 15 of the 2010 Vuelta a Espana.
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Spaniard Carlos Barredo of Quick Step grabbed the first Grand Tour stage of his career when he tamed the rain and fog to win the Tour of Spain 15th stage atop the difficult Lagos de Covadonga climb.
Italy's Vincenzo Nibali, riding for Liquigas, held on to his slim lead over Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez after coming over the finish line of the 187 km nearly two and a half minutes in arrears. Nibali kept his 4 second lead on Caisse d'Epargne's Rodriguez intact but saw his 50 second overnight lead on Ezequiel Mosquera reduced to 39 seconds after the Spaniard battled to gain vital seconds in the final kilometers of the climb.
Despite several close calls, Barredo had yet to add a stage win from a Grand Tour to a relatively small honours list which notably includes the San Sebastian Classic last year. The Spaniard made amends in spectacular style, however, after battling to escape from the peloton with a six-man group which eventually broke free with 70 km remaining.
 Carlos Barredo with the eye of the tiger as he pedals away for the stage win. (Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Barredo made his second decisive move when he followed Peter Velits, of HTC-Columbia, after the Slovakian attacked just after the start of the 12 km climb to Covadonga, a climb which Spanish cycling fans liken to the legendary Tour de France climbs the Mont Ventoux or L'Alpe d'Huez. With the closest riders several minutes in his wake Barredo's eventual win never seemed under threat, although poor visibility and the rain-soaked roads gave him food for thought on the bends and some of the climb's flatter sections. Barredo came over the finish pointing to his jersey, and later paid credit to his team who he says has stuck by him despite him missing out on several big wins.
"I've been fighting for this for a long time. This season I've missed out on a number of big wins but now I've won this," said the 29-year-old Barredo. "Quick Step have been there for me, given me everything and helped me to progress. I want to thank them. This win is for them, and for my father."
Former Tour de France winner Carlos Sastre, riding for Cervelo, made a brief attempt to escape from the small peloton being led by Nibali, but his move only served as a launchpad for Mosquera.
When Sastre was countered by Nibali's Czech teammate Roman Kreuziger, Mosquera kept on going but made no impact on Barredo's lead and came over the finish line over two minutes behind his fellow Spaniard. Mosquera, fifth overall last year, is a weaker rider in the time trial than Nibali. Ahead of the final race against the clock on Wednesday, the Spaniard said he will use every possible chance to attack the Italian on the climbs.
"You can't forget he's a strong time triallist, and so we have to take every chance we get on the stages that are more favourable to us," said the Spaniard.
Nibali will carry his slim lead into Monday's 16th stage, a 179.3km ride over medium mountain terrain from Gijon which finishes on the Alto de Cotobello. With three category one climbs, the Italian will be on the lookout for attacks from both Rodriguez and Mosquera.
Tuesday is the race's second and final rest day.
Stage 15 Results:
Solares - Lagos de Covadonga 187.3 km
1. Carlos Barredo (ESP/Quick Step) 4:33:09
2. Nicol Sijmens (BEL/Cofidis) at 1:07
3. Martin Velits (SVK/HTC-Columbia) at 1:43
4. Greg Van Avermaet (BEL/Omega Pharma-Lotto) at 2:06
5. Pierre Cazaux (FRA/Francais des Jeux) 2:10
6. Olivier Kaisen (BEL/Omega Pharma-Lotto) 2:12
7. Ezequiel Mosquera (ESP/Xacobeo Galicia) 2:15
8. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/Liquigas-Doimo) 2:26
9. Peter Velits (SVK/HTC-Columbia) same time
10. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/Katusha) s.t.
Overall Standings after Stage 15:
1. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/Liquigas-Doimo) in 65 hours 31 minutes 14 seconds
2. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/Katusha) at :04
3. Ezequiel Mosquera (ESP/Xacobeo Galicia) :39
4. Peter Velits (SVK/HTC-Columbia) 2:29
5. Xavier Tondo (ESP/Cervelo TestTeam) 2:30
6. Nicolas Roche (IRL/Ag2r-La Mondiale) 2:47
7. Frank Schleck (LUX/Sxo Bank) 2:48
8. Tom Danielson (USA/Garmin-Tranistions) 3:48
9. Carlos Sastre (ESP/Cervelo TestTeam) 4:29
10. Vladimir Karpets (RUS/Katusha) 5:27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|