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RACE REPORTS: CONTADOR'S DOUBLE & ASTANA STEAMROLLER DOMINATE IN VUELTA A ESPAÑA
Road Bike Action & AFP
September 14, 2008
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After a brilliant performance Saturday to win atop the brutal Alto di Angliru climb, Spain's 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Astana) won the 14th stage of the Tour of Spain Sunday atop the Fuentes de Invierno ski resort for his second consecutive stage win to retain the overall Vuelta race lead, while his American teammate on Astana Levi Leipheimer, was 2nd, just 2sec behind and retained his second place overall, while the day's key attacker Spanish rider Ezequiel Mosquera (Karpin-Galicia) was third and moved into 4th on gc. came in third place at 4sec from the leader.
Alberto's Double Dip
With his attack today in the last two kilometers for the win, Contador, who also won the 2008 Giro d'Italia is now well on his way track to becoming the first rider to win all three major Tours since Frenchman Bernard Hinault did it in 1978. "I didn't think I would win today, I was looking to maintain my time differences but I felt well, there were people cheering me on and I decided to go for the victory," said Contador. "I have a more than sufficient lead but I have not yet won the Vuelta," the 25-year-old added. Luckily, we recovered well (from the Alto di Angliru stage) and were not only able to increase the time differences today, but also win another stage."
Mosquera On The Move
Contador explained further that, "Ezequiel (Mosquera) had a great day today and we can't forget that he is a dangerous rider; he's in fourth place after finishing last year's Vuelta in fifth. He did much of the work today to gain time on GC and we could take advantage of it, but that was no reason to give him the win. For our fans, we need to win ourselves, as much as possible. Now we need to focus on controlling the race. We have a nice advantage, but we know attacks will come each day until we get to Madrid."
Contador's two most serious challengers, Spaniards Carlos Sastre, of CSC Saxo Bank, and Alejandro Valverde, of Caisse d'Epargne, trailed behind today on the 14th stage to Fuentes de Invierno. Sastre, the reigning Tour de France champion, finished sixth, 20" behind Contador while Valverde finished in 11th at 1'. A tired Sastre explained post-stage "The truth is that I am short on strength. I have more desire than strength. We saw a very powerful Astana team today that easily controlled the race and that have consolidated their lead." Monday, September 15th, the Vuelta a España continues with a 202k transitional stage with a difficult start that south out of the Burgos mountains from Cudillero to Ponferrada.
63rd Vuelta a España / Sunday, September 14
Stage 14: Oviedo- E. E. Fuentes de Invierno / 158.4km
1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana / 4h16'01" (37.12 km/hr avg. speed)
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana @ :02"
3. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia @ :04"
4. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank @ :20"
5. David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone
6. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank @ all same time
7. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre @ 1.00
8. Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
9. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
10. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
11. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne @ all same time
63rd Vuelta a España General Classification after Stage 14:
1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana / 55.56.58
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana @ 1'17"
3. Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC-Saxo Bank @ 3'41"
4. Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia @ 4'35"
5. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank @ 5'49"
6. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne @ 6"
7. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne @ 6'11"
8. Egoi Martinez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi @ 8'56"
9. David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone @ 9'32"
10. Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner @ 10'01"
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