Today's Stage: Sprint stage
coming off a rest day. This doesn't often happen but then again, what
about this route has been conventional.
Who won today's stage? It was a
bunch sprint stage. If you've been reading during this race, you know
that John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano) was the favorite. And the
favorite won...again. For Degenkolb, the sprint win was his fourth of
this Vuelta in four attempts to sprint.
What matters in the GC race?
Nothing matters today. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha), Chris Froome
(Team Sky), Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff) and Alejandro
Valverde (Movistar) remain the top four in that order.
What matters in the other
competitions?
Green Jersey (Points) –
Degenkolb was wearing the Green Jersey on this stage, but only
because those in front of him were wearing other jerseys as leaders
in those classifications. That won't be a problem tomorrow as
Degenkolb regained the lead with his stage win. He also picked up a
couple of extra points on the road as the breakaway only had two
riders in it leaving the 3rd point at the intermediate
sprints available to the peloton. Overall leader Joaquin Rodriguez is
second and Alejandro Valverde is still third.
Polka Dot Jersey (King of the
Mountains, it's blue in Spain, not red) – Another climbless day
leaves Valverde in the Polka Dots for another day. This Vuelta semms
to go back and forth. It's either a ton of climbs and a summit finish
or no climbs whatsoever.
White Jersey (Allround, instead of
young rider, calculated by adding the rankings in GC, Points and KoM,
lowest score wins) – Rodriguez is going to lead here for the
foreseeable future over Valverde. Other than them, only Froome and
Contador are even close.
Team Classification (top 3 times by
team on each stage) – No time gaps of note here. Rabobank still
lead Ag2r La Mondiale by 2'27”
Biggest surprise: Everyone
allowed Degenkolb's Argos-Shimano team to not be the main team
chasing the breakaway. At this point, nobody, even the other sprinter
teams should do any work. Make argos tire themselves out, even if it
means giving a stage away. That's the only way to beat Degenkolb
here.
Biggest disappointment: Only two
riders went into the breakaway and they were from the dead weight
teams of Andalucia and Caja Rural. At this point, I wonder why they
are in the race. They just can't compete at this level unlike the
French and Italian Pro Continental teams.
Other items of note: The USA Pro
Challenge finished with a time trial on Sunday and got a surprise
overall winner in Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp). Behind Vande
Velde was Tejay van Garderen (BMC) and then Levi Leipheimer (OPQS)...
For those not at the Vuelta, there is some time off before the
Canadian World Tour races in Montreal and Quebec. Philippe Gilbert
(BMC) won both of those last season but won't be defending those
titles as he is racing the Vuelta.
What is coming tomorrow? Time
trial. The race of truth and a huge day that will determine tactics
for the massive mountains days that are coming this weekend. Oh, and
there is a category 3 climb on the TT course. Since we can't have an
important day in this Vuelta without climbing of course.
Tomorrow's Prediction: Tony
Martin is the only TT specialist in the field so he is a good pick as
are Chris Froome and Alberto Contador.
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