2014 La Vuelta Ciclista a España

[Eugene Oppelt]

Sadly the IAM Cycling teams has lost two riders today with Dominic Klemme and Johann Tschopp abandoning the race.

[pe3nguin]

Louis Meintjes in the breakaway today.

 

25km left to ride with a gap back to the peloton just over 6min

 

Last 8km is all uphill - Time for an MTN stage win?

[Eugene Oppelt]

The weather is sunny and warm at the moment but there is a risk of rain showers later, perhaps as the riders hit the climb to the finish.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Yet again, race leader Alberto Contador has placed riders in the break, so that his teammates do not have to lead the chase behind.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Riders in the break include Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp), Romain Sicard (Europcar), Adam Hansen (Lotto Belisol), Louis Meintjes (MTN-Qhubeka), Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-QuickStep), Luke Rowe (Team Sky), Oliver Zaugg and Sergio Paulinho (Tinkoff-Saxo).

[Eugene Oppelt]

As we join the race, the break of the day includes 23 riders and is on the first climb. The riders have a lead of 5:20 on the peloton.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Javier Guillén, general director of the Vuelta, describes La Camperona as a “bestial climb”. “This finale is part of our philosophy to create spectacular finishes,” he said.

[Eugene Oppelt]

!!!

 

The stage is 200km long but includes 60km of climbing.

 

[Eugene Oppelt]

Indeed the gap is rising and is now 5:30. The break could stay away today. We'll know in 115km.

[Eugene Oppelt]

 

Luis Leon Sanchez (Caja Rural) is in the break and was the first to the top of the Collada la Hoz climb.

The gap is still around 5:30 as the riders cover the descent.

[Eugene Oppelt]

The break has reached the feedzone for a late lunch. The gap remains close to 5:30.

[Eugene Oppelt]

 

As the break begins the Puerto de San Glorio clmib, the Caja Rural duo of Arrayo and Sanchez has accelerated away. The climb is 20.9km long and so will no doubt shake up the break.

[tombeej]

Come on Louis my boy!

[Eugene Oppelt]

The two Spanish riders have opened a 20-second gap after Jacques Van Rensburg (MTN-Qhubeka) was unable to stay with them.

 

[Eugene Oppelt]

Arroyo and Sanchez lead the peloton by 8:00 with the 12 chasers at 40 seconds.

[Eugene Oppelt]

The sprinters have been dropped as a consequence of OPQS upping the pace. John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) is one of them.