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63rd Vuelta a España - GT
Spain, August 30 - September 21, 2008
Main Page Results & report Stage Details Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 19 - September 19: Las Rozas - Segovia, 145.5km
Complete live report
Live commentary by Hedwig Kröner
14:53 CEST
Holà aficionados de ciclismo! Welcome back to the Vuelta. Today's stage 19 is the third-to-last, and again, it features nice little peaks on its profile, another two category one climbs. The stage heads from Las Rozas to Segovia over 145.5 kilometres. The Puerto de Navacerrada and the Puerto de Navafria come in the first part of the race. From there it is mostly downhill/flatfish to the finish, but with some rollers that will allow for a small group to stay away. The finish Segovia is still at 1,190 metres of altitude.
At the moment, the riders are approaching the Puerto de Navacerrada, and many breakaway attacks occur at the front of the race. But none of the attackers actually get a decent gap - the race started very fast one hour ago and hasn't slowed down yet.
The climb is a total of 17 kilometres long, with an average gradient of 5.6 percent. To the top if the ascent, there are ramps of 10 percent gradient, making the climb more difficult in the second part.
15:01 CEST
At the start in Las Rozas, three riders did not sign in nor take up the journey to Segovia: Paolo Bettini (Quick Step), Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) and Filippo Pozzato (Liquigas). Without a doubt, these prominent riders have chosen to take a few days rest before gearing up for the Worlds again - except for Pozzato, who was left out of the Italian team by national coach Franco Ballerini.
15:04 CEST
Temperatures in Spain are again summery, with 29° Celsius at the start in Las Rozas. The stage will be a hot one.
The riders have now taken on the first climb. The breakaway attempts continue. Let's see if a group makes it.
15:12 CEST
Finally, a breakaway went clear: It consists of 13 riders, namely Volodymir Gustov (CSC), Julien Loubet (AG2R), Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez, David Arroyo and Alberto Losada (Caisse d'Epargne), Javier Moreno (Andalucia), Christophe Kern (Crédit Agricole), Ruben Perez Moreno and Ivan Velasco Murillo (Euskaltel), Rémy Di Grégorio (FDJ), Iban Mayoz (Xacobeo), Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) and Vasili Kiryienka (Tinkoff).
Note the threefold Caisse d'Epargne assault, and two Euskaltels.
15:15 CEST
The group has nearly two minutes over the main bunch now. A fourth Caisse d'Epargne rider is trying to bridge up to them: Daniel Moreno Fernandez.
15:18 CEST
But instead of Moreno, it is Joaquin Rodriguez who drove up to the break and has joined them now. Moreno was too slow for the bunch. This is Caisse d'Epargne fireworks! Looks like Alejandro Valverde's men want to make up for their leader's missed out chances...
15:22 CEST
Rodriguez' presence in the front triggers reaction in the bunch. Race leader Alberto Contador (Astana) attacked, taking with him Sastre (CSC), Gesink (Rabobank), Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Zaugg (Gerolsteiner) and Mosquera (Xacobeo)...
15:23 CEST
The favourites quickly make it up to the break - 16 seconds behind.
15:24 CEST
Leipheimer, Contador, Valverde, Mosquera, Zaugg, Bruseghin, Sastre, Gesink, Moncoutié, Roche and Zandio are all there.
15:26 CEST
But the front group doesn't give in and extends its advantage again, now to 46 seconds. With Joaquin Rodriguez in front, some riders fear they could lose their podium spots in Madrid!
15:32 CEST
The riders made it over the top of the climb. The bunch came back on the favourites' group, and Astana is getting organised to take over the chase.
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15:33 CEST
Here's a little colour story from our man on the ground, Bjorn Haake:
The fender benders continue. Today it was Astana that had a little incident. Viatcheslav Ekimov was patiently waiting while the large Astana bus was parking in the start area. An Astana staff member hadn't noticed and bumped him from behind. Ekimov looked awake after the incident, which concluded without any injuries.
A few days ago it was the Crédit Agricole bus that got smashed. To be continued...
15:36 CEST
Christian Kux from Milram abandoned earlier during the stage. The pace today has been tremendous right from the start.
15:37 CEST
They are descending the mountain now - the gap between the group of 14 off the front and the reduced peloton is 1.04. Astana controls the rhythm of the gold jersey peloton.
15:40 CEST
There are only 13 riders in front now, as Kern did not hold on in the descent and was caught by the bunch.
15:42 CEST
As we told you before, it is another hot day at the Vuelta, at the outskirts of Madrid. Before Karsten Kroon talked to Cyclingnews' Bjorn Haake at the start in Las Rozas, he wanted to get into the shade. "Don't want to sweat too much," he said. "My legs have recovered, I feel OK."
Kroon, who escaped yesterday, added that a break with that many people was difficult to control. "It was a really exciting, tactical game, and I came up short in the end. With one km to go all I would have needed was a little moment of hesitation [of the front group], then I would have been with the front four guys. Then I would have had a chance in the sprint. Now I got fifth and I have nothing."
As for the Worlds, Kroon was one of the riders who haven't seen the course yet. "But I know what it is like and I think it suits me. The Vuelta was a good preparation for it."
15:45 CEST
The break's advantage grows to 1.20. We now also have the order of passage at the KOM point on the summit of the Alto de Navacerrada:
Kern, Losada, Pasamontes, Rodriguez, Gustov, Velasco, Mayoz, Perez and Moreno. None of these are any threat to Cofidis' David Moncoutié's mountain jersey.
15:45 CEST
As we told you before, it is another hot day at the Vuelta, at the outskirts of Madrid. Before Karsten Kroon talked to Cyclingnews' Bjorn Haake at the start in Las Rozas, he wanted to get into the shade. "Don't want to sweat too much," he said. "My legs have recovered, I feel OK."
Kroon, who escaped yesterday, added that a break with that many people was difficult to control. "It was a really exciting, tactical game, and I came up short in the end. With one km to go all I would have needed was a little moment of hesitation [of the front group], then I would have been with the front four guys. Then I would have had a chance in the sprint. Now I got fifth and I have nothing."
As for the Worlds, Kroon was one of the riders who haven't seen the course yet. "But I know what it is like and I think it suits me. The Vuelta was a good preparation for it."
15:48 CEST
Just as a reminder, the current race situation has 13 riders in front - Volodymir Gustov (CSC), Julien Loubet (AG2R), Luis Pasamontes Rodriguez, David Arroyo, Alberto Losada and Joaquin Rodriguez (Caisse d'Epargne), Javier Moreno (Andalucia), Ruben Perez Moreno and Ivan Velasco Murillo (Euskaltel), Rémy Di Grégorio (FDJ), Iban Mayoz (Xacobeo), Valerio Agnoli (Liquigas) and Vasili Kiryienka (Tinkoff) - and the bunch led out by Astana at 1'14 minutes.
15:49 CEST
At the start, Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) told Cyclingnews that he would like to be in the break, but didn't think it was going to be easy. "Everybody wants to be in the break. But I will try and I hope I can be in it."
Unfortunately for Nocentini, it didn't work out for today, although the gap is still small and with Rodriguez in there, the break may be brought back anyway. "The stages always started out very fast, except one day, I think," he said.
15:52 CEST
Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La Mondiale) also stopped by to chat with Cyclingnews He is feeling well, but is now only hoping for Madrid. "On Sunday the team will ride for me again." He was launching the sprint for Usov on stage 17, which he did well. The day before, his sprint wasn't going too well, though. "With one kilometre to go I still was placed perfectly, but then it got hairy and I had to hit my brakes to avoid a crash."
Nonetheless, Mondory has gained a lot of confidence. "I am already looking forward to next year."
15:55 CEST 75km/70.5km to go
The riders have just passed the feed zone at km 74. The gap between the two groups in down to 1'04. Soon, they will start climbing again - another Cat. 1 mountain is waiting, the Puerto de Navafria.
15:56 CEST
Lloyd Mondory (AG2R La Mondiale) also stopped by to chat with Cyclingnews before the stage. He is feeling well, but is now only hoping for Madrid. "On Sunday the team will ride for me again." He was launching the sprint for Usov on stage 17, which he did well. The day before his sprint wasn't going too well, though. "With one kilometre to go I still was placed perfectly, but then it got hairy and I had to hit my brakes to avoid an crash."
Nonetheless, Mondory has gained a lot of confidence. "I am already looking forward to next year."
16:01 CEST
The intermediate sprint at km 78 was won by Joaquin Rodriguez ahead of his teammates Arroyo and Pasamontes. Rodriguez really wants to take every little second he can get for GC... He certainly is a good time trialist.
16:03 CEST
Readers have asked if Australian/German Heinrich Haussler has found a team yet and Cyclingnews is happy to report that it is looking good for the Gerolsteiner rider. "I can't say details yet, though." Ok, we will wait until he can. Haussler wasn't sure about some of his teammates. "I only know the ones that have already been announced. But for example I don't know about Frösi [Robert Förster]."
16:07 CEST
Halfway up the climb, the gap is down to 37 seconds. CSC-Saxo Bank and Xacobeo are working hard. The average speed during the second hour of racing was 30.5 km/h!! And that with a Cat. 1 climb on the menu...
16:10 CEST
Today there was a meeting with the three Grand Tour organisers (ASO, RCS and UniPublic) together with representatives from the teams to talk about the future of cycling and especially the ProTour and the newly proposed World Calendar. How did the UCI fit into the picture? It didn't. Apparently they weren't invited....
We will get you more details from the meeting later.
16:14 CEST
There are maybe 50 riders left in the "bunch" chasing the breakaway. The Caisse d'Epargne riders in front are driving it hard, too. 45 seconds.
Sastre attacks out of the peloton, followed by Contador! They're lined up single file.
16:15 CEST
Mosquera also digs in, now. Leipheimer, Contador, Valverde, Sastre follow him. Gesink tries to bridge up.
16:16 CEST
Klöden is there, too. The favourites' group has the breakaway in eyesight.
16:17 CEST
Klöden struggles to keep contact - he can't. One kilometres to the summit.
16:19 CEST
Sastre, Mosquera, Contador, Leipheimer, Valverde have made it to the former breakaway. Now everybody's driving together. Gesink, Klöden and Pasamontes are left behind a bit as they go over the top.
16:24 CEST
In the descent, Loubet escaped off the front. He is joined now by Arroyo and Kiryienka.
16:26 CEST
Today there was a meeting with the three Grand Tour organisers (ASO, RCS and UniPublic) together with representatives from the teams to talk about the future of cycling and especially the ProTour and the newly proposed World Calendar. How did the UCI fit into the picture? It didn't. Apparently they weren't invited....
We will get you more details from the meeting later.
16:27 CEST
But Julien Loubet (AG2R), David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne), Vasili Kiryienka (Tinkoff) only have 18 seconds at the moment, although flying down the winding road.
16:29 CEST
They're almost in the flat now. It will be hard for the trio to resist the favourites' group - except if they let them go deliberately. 30 seconds.
16:30 CEST 101.5km/44km to go
Caisse d'Epargne and Astana are sharing the "burden" of chasing - they don't do it flat out though.
16:31 CEST
Contador is enjoying a banana...
16:32 CEST
Sastre eats a piece of cake. The gap grows to 38 seconds.
16:36 CEST
Situation is under control. Caisse d'Epargne riders lead out while Valverde gets some mechanical assistance - change of front wheel.
16:37 CEST
Sébastien Hinault of the team with the damaged bus (Crédit Agricole) was relaxed looking at the start. The stage 10 winner didn't think today would be a good day for him. "I think the profile is a bit too difficult for me to get into a break, with the two cat 1 climbs. But you'll never know, maybe I will try at the start."
As it turns out, Hinault didn't make it. Despite that he has a positive balance of the race so far. "On paper we do not have a strong team here, with great leaders. But we came here very motivated. I won my stage and the whole team was showing itself every day."
Hinault agreed that the race was heading sort of the wrong way today. "This morning we could see the skyline of Madrid... Everybody is getting very tired, but there are three more days and we will stay focused on the race until Sunday."
16:40 CEST
The leading trio has extended its advantage to 52 seconds. Not bad, but still a bit short to make it to the finish especially if Caisse d'Epargne has some unfinished business to do about GC... But then again, where on this rather flattish stage finish could they make an attack?
But this approx. 30-rider group could also go for the stage win.
16:42 CEST 109.5km/36km to go
Joaquin Rodriguez is getting his race radio receiver fixed, as three of his teammates do the job of pacing the race, with Astana riders just behind them.
16:43 CEST
Dimitri Champion shared his thoughts about half the team of Bouygues Telecom already out of the Vuelta. "Yes, it is a bit difficult, we are quite isolated. But we try to huddle together as much as we can."
Champion said it won't be easy for the five Bouygues riders left to get into the break. "We will try. Unfortunately we missed the big break yesterday. It's a pity. Today we have to try to be in it, as it is likely the break will go all the way."
It doesn't look good for the French team, though. It does look really good for Caisse d'Epargne, though. They must have felt yesterday was a good win, so today the doubled the number of riders in the break compared to yesterday.
Champion also thought it was a bit difficult to head away from Madrid again. "I think tonight everybody will be happy to have crossed the finish line. Today will be hard physically and mentally." So it seems.
16:46 CEST
We can make out three Rabobanks, five Astanas, four Euskaltels, three Lampres... in the bunch.
In front, Loubet temporarily lost contact with his two breakaway mates. He just made it back. The pace is awesome with more than 60 km/h at times!
16:48 CEST
KOM jersey holder Moncoutié is also in the big chase group. He's got his prize secured unless something stupid happens.
16:51 CEST
The break has 1'12 minutes over the bunch now, looking good. They take turns bravely in this flat, desert-like stretch of the race leading to Segovia.
16:55 CEST 119.5km/26km to go
A second chase group is now making it back to the bunch of favourites. Caisse d'Epargne drives it at 83 km/h on a light descent!!
16:56 CEST
CSC's directeur sportif Scott Sunderland was playing down the Carlos Sastre comments in the Spanish press yesterday. There, he had said he was unhappy that Bjarne Riis didn't put the strongest team together.
Sunderland told Cyclingnews that there was some misinterpretation. "The comments were taken out of context. What Sastre said was that it was a difficult race overall, also with all the news about the new Cervélo team."
Sunderland indicated that Sastre would clear up the confusion soon. We will keep you posted.
16:57 CEST
A mere 20 metres separate the two chase groups now. They're maybe another 25 riders, and have made it - now.
16:59 CEST 123.5km/22km to go
The gap is shrinking again. It has dropped below the minute: 53 seconds. With just over 20 kms to go, it looks like we will have a bunch sprint finish in Segovia!
17:02 CEST
Arroyo isn't actually working - sitting in third position all the time. No wonder with four of his teammates chasing hard behind.
17:03 CEST 126.5km/19km to go
Erik Zabel (Milram) is in the group! He could be a good rival for Alejandro Valverde if it comes down to a sprint. We don't know how many teammates he has with him, though.
17:06 CEST 129.5km/16km to go
They're just outside Segovia now. 45 seconds, still. The street is lined with spectators.
17:08 CEST
They ride on some cobble stones along the ancient aqueduct of Segovia. It's beautiful!
17:09 CEST
It's still Caisse d'Epargne leading the bunch. Strange that no other team is willing to lend them a hand.
17:12 CEST
Julien Loubet (AG2R) and Vasili Kiryienka (Tinkoff) are doing a great job. They're on the circuit around the old city of Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the castle of Alcazar.
17:14 CEST
42 seconds - the gap is dropping. They're on cobblestones again, passing the finish line for the first time now. It's slightly uphill. These cobbles must hurt after such hard racing today.
17:15 CEST 135.5km/10km to go
Loubet is having trouble, barely holding on. Ouch - now he must close that small gap and we all know what it's like. 15 metres or so.
17:16 CEST
Argh. The other two are go-oo-ne. Poor Frenchman - so close to the finish! He's only 23 years old.
17:18 CEST 138.5km/7km to go
37 year-old Kiryienka is driving it hard - getting no help from Arroyo of course. He's doing an excellent job, but even if they come to the finish together, Arroyo will be fresher than him...
17:20 CEST 140.5km/5km to go
Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel) has countered out of the bunch with Carlos Castano from Xacobeo. 51 seconds to the front duo.
17:22 CEST
Will they make it? It will be tight, that's for sure.
17:24 CEST
Loubet is caught. Euskaltel is coming to the front now. The counter of Txurruka and Castano did not work out.
17:25 CEST 143.5km/2km to go
38 seconds - but now it's the uphill, cobblestone part again. The race is on!
17:26 CEST
Caisse d'Epargne still doing the pace - maybe slowing things down? 1 km to go. Kiryienka leads, tries to stay on the smoother side of the road.
17:26 CEST
Arroyo waits, comfortably, while the Tinkoff rider gives it all. This is mean!
17:27 CEST
The bunch comes up from behind... But they won't come any closer, it's too late.
17:27 CEST
Arroyo outsprints Kiryienka easily. Nuyens is third!
17:30 CEST
Another win for Caisse d'Epargne. And a smart one, too. Arroyo is happy... But it was Nick Nuyens from Cofidis who took third! Sorry about that.
17:38 CEST
Thanks for reading and join us again tomorrow for the 2008 Vuelta GC showdown, the last time trial over 17 kilometres. But unlike its traditional flat affair close to Madrid, this one is an uphill finish atop the Alto de Navacerrada, the same climb that was used today. But tomorrow, the riders will be going up on the other – the Segovian – side. See you then!
Provisional results
1 David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) 2 Vasili Kiryienka (Tinkoff) 3 Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) 4 Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) 5 Greg van Avermaet (Silence-Lotto) General classification after stage 19 1 Alberto Contador (Spa) Astana 2 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana 3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) CSC-Saxo Bank 4 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia
