Commentaire:

Today's race, the 15th of 21 stages in this year's Vuelta had a particular contour that was ultimately favorable to climbers. After rolling its way nearly 150km over flat and undulating terrain, the tour encountered the Sierra Nevadas for the first time this year in a 35km ascent that reached a 15° pitch in places.

Roberto Heras indicated before the race that he would attempt something today; indeed, it's obvious that now is the time, as he has over 5 minutes to make up with just 4 mountanous stages left.

With a day of rest tomorrow, that gives leader Isidro Nozal valuable recovery time before another day in the mountains Teusday. Thus Heras is especially presssed to make his move sooner rather than later.

The first 140km or so unfurled in an ordinary fashion, marked by an escape of 4 riders (Calvo, Nieto, Barroso & Torrente) 35km into the race. Their lead extended to 5 minutes at one point, before rapidly diminishing as they reached the town of Los Villares, where the serious climbing began.

From this point onward the peloton was extremely active and in a continual state of flux, with nearly constant attacks being mounted, the most successful by Laiseka on the Alto de Viillares, where he'd gained a 30" lead on the peloton.

The peloton was highly motivated, though, and as they approached the last and most gruelling climb, La Pandera, Beltran & Heras were at the head of the peloton. As Laiseka was finally overtaken, Cardenas, the Columbian rider with the Labarca who wears the king of the mountains orange jersey. launched his own attack and reached a 29" lead on the peloton, in some of the steepest gradients yet encountered by the tour.

Heras chose this moment to make his move. At first accompanied by Unai Osa, Heras poured it on, standing on his pedals to catch Cardenazs all alone. He managed to pass the Columbian, but couldn't shake him. As the 2 dueled up this mounstrous pass, other things were developing in the peloton.

Nozal was struggling and fading back into a 2nd group, for a time without help in sight. Obviously in pain, he was finally rescued by Once teamates Galdeano & Serrano.

Heras' lead on Nozal was continuing to widen threateningly before stabilizing at around 1 minute.

Meanwhile Valverde & Sevilla launched a pursuit of Heras & Cardenas, and with 2km remaining had closed to within 11".

At the 1km mark Cardenas & Heras continued dueling, with Cardenas starting to show an advantage. Going into the last turns Valverde waz suddenly in their wheels, and as they broke into the final straighaway Valverde virtually stole the race, to take it by around 3 bicycle lengths from Cardenas, with Heras another 10 meters behind.

Heras would have been very happy, no doubt, to have won the stage. But did he accomplish his larger mission? Sort of. He gained 1'13" on Nozal who, although obviously exhausted, was still fresh enough to go through the ceremonies surrounding the Gold Jersey with grace, and to give interviews.

With 3 mountain stages left and now 4'03" to make up (plus a time trial coming up), Heras will have to do even better than he did today against Nozal, or pull off a major coup, or both. That's asking a lot!

le classement de l'étape

1 - VALVERDE
2 - CARDENAS même temps
3 - HERAS à 2"
4 - SEVILLA à 10"
5 - PERDIGUERO à 56"
6 - PEREZ à 57"
7 - RASMUSSEN à 57"
8 - BELTRAN à 57"
9 - MOLLER à 58"
10÷ 87 OSA, Unai a 1:02
11÷ 85 MANCEBO, Francisco a 1:12
12÷ 67 SCARPONI, Michele a 1:13
13÷ 125 DEL OLMO, Txema a 1:13
14÷ 21 GLEZ. GALDEANO, Igor a 1:13
15÷ 26 NOZAL, Isidro a 1:13


Le classement général

1- NOZAL
2 - GLEZ de galdeano 3' 03"
3 - HERAS à 4' 02"
4 - BELTRAN à 5'23"
5 - VALVERDE à 6'37"
6- MANCEBO à 7'11"
7 - RASMUSSEN à 8'28"

le classement des grimpeurs

1- CARDENAS 139 pts
2 - OSA Unai 106
3 - HORRACH 97
4 - PEREZ 62
5 - JUFRE 55

le classement par points

1 - ZABEL 134
2 - PETACCHI 130
3 - VALVERDE 109
4 - NOZAL 92
5 - RASMUSSEN 72

Le combiné

1 - VALVERDE 15
2 - NOZAL 17
3 - CARDENAS 18
4 - PEREZ 19
5 - RASMUSSEN 21