2014 La Vuelta Ciclista a España

[Eugene Oppelt]

Sky's Brailsford still believes that Froome can take GC in a recent interview

[Eugene Oppelt]

The leaders are onto the third category Alto de O Largo with a gap of 6:12 as the pace in the peloton eases up. Astana sitting on the front of the main group.

[Eugene Oppelt]

It looks like the peloton are a bit more comfortable with this margin. There will be a lot of riders in this group that will be looking for the stage victory on the final climb and these four won't be allowed to go to the line.

[Eugene Oppelt]

57 kms to go

[Eugene Oppelt]

 

Niemiec leads the escapees over the second climb of the day and the time begins to tick away to the peloton. This descent comes in two parts. The riders will descend for around 6-7 kilometres before a short unclassified climb and then comes the second descent.

Edited September 13, 2014 by ' Dale

[Eugene Oppelt]

 

The leaders are riding the uncategorised climb. It might not be categorised, but it's fairly steep. Wout Poels is the only one of the escapees to be riding it in the saddle.

[Eugene Oppelt]

48km remaining from 185.7km

 

Quite a few riders have been dropped from the peloton, as Astana and Sky turn the power on again. They've brought the gap down to 5:21.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Astana are likely to be setting Aru up for the stage victory. He is down in fifth position and a second stage win would cap a brilliant race for him.

[Eugene Oppelt]

The gap continues to drop and is now below 5 minutes at 4:44, behind the leaders the peloton is slowly getting smaller.

[Eugene Oppelt]

The gap continues to drop and is now below 5 minutes at 4:44, behind the leaders the peloton is slowly getting smaller.

[Eugene Oppelt]

 

Finally the leaders are on the proper descent and the peloton is in hot pursuit.. The leaders are going over 70koh, while the peloton is going more than 10kph faster. Needless to say the advantage is tumbling.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Poels looks like he's struggling a little on the back of the leading group. He was off the back on the last climb too, perhap yesterday's efforts are taking their toll on the Dutch rider.

[Eugene Oppelt]

A bike change for Luis Leon Sanchez. He takes one of his teammates bikes. Fortunately for the Spaniard the peloton is climbing again and the pace has dramatically slowed.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Poels is well and truely out the back door now and we only have three men left out front.

[Eugene Oppelt]

It is still Luke Rowe on the front of the main group. The young Welshman has been putting in a huge effort, we've hardly seen him off the front for the last 30 kilometres. All the big teams still seem to have good numbers.

[Eugene Oppelt]

The catch is inevitable now and the break seem unable to hold the peloton off. As they struggle up the penultimate climb, they've seen their lead slashed to 1:42.