Bike World News

Today’s stage of the Tour of Spain (Vuelta a Espana) was a (relatively) light effort 193.6-kilometer ride from Ciudad Real to Talavera de la Reina. This will be the last chance for the riders to take it a little easy before two mountain stages and Saturday’s individual time trial.

Anthony Roux of Francaise des Jeux survived a long breakaway from km 6 to barely take the win today. Alejandro Valverde still sits atop the G.C., but there is a change below him as Robert Gesink has lost some time, presumably from a crash during the stage.

Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) did not start today after injuring his hand in a fall in the final kilometers of yesterday’s stage. Damiano Cunego and Alessandro Ballan also dropped out of the race today, presumably to focus on preparation for the World Championships.

The break of the day formed at the km 6 and contained Markel Irizar (Euskaltel), Francisco Jose Martinez (Andalucia Cajsur), Anthony Roux (FdJ), Martijn Maaskant (Garmin) and Lieuwe Westra (Vaconsoleil). As has been the case, none of these riders pose any G.C. threat, but they will be going for that stage win glory. That said, the peloton seems to be keeping a bit of a close rein on these guys as the gap had failed to go much beyond the 5 minute mark over the first 60 km.

Milram and Columbia-HTC seemed to be leading the chase and looked to be impatient about making the catch. At km 131, the gap was down to 3’35″ and falling.

Around the 60 km mark, there was a crash back in the peloton that slowed things down a bit. Robert Gesink was one of the folks who went down. He was able to get back on the bike, albeit with a little bit of tender road rash. The gap to the leaders briefly bumped back out to 4’04″ before returning to the peloton’s comfort point of about 3’30″.

Things continue in the same vein, with the gap hovering between 3 and a half and 4 minutes as the leaders approach the solidario sprint. Martinez gets the bonus and the red race numbers tomorrow.

Liquigas began to work their way into the chase, hoping to put Daniele Bennati into place for a win today.

With 24 km to go, the gap was – surprise – about 3’30″. The peloton seemed to be trying to stir themselves into collaboration, but it could possibly be too late.

13km to go and the gap is down to 1’43″. Milram, Columbia and Liquigas are fighting it out back in the peloton.

6 km to go and the gap is 43 seconds.

Martijn Maaskant attacks with 2.5km to go and is marked by Anthony Roux. Roux makes the move in the final kilometer and Maaskant is not able to hang on. The peloton swept by the remnants of the break in the final kilometer and nearly made the catch, but Roux was able to hang on for the win.

Brief Results:

1. Anthony Roux (FdJ)

2. William Bonnet (Bouyges Telecom)

3. Andre Greipel (Columbia)

4, Gerald Ciolek (Milram)

General Classification:

1. Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d’Epargne)

2. Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel)

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