Cycling: The pros had to cover 200 kilometers and almost three and a half thousand meters in altitude today at the Vuelta a Espana from Santander up to La Camperona. There were three mountain classifications to overcome, the most difficult in the final. Canadian Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) showed the best rhythm. In the overall standings, Alberto Contador (Tinoff-Saxo) defended the overall leader's red jersey.
It took a while for the group of the day to find each other. However, by the first climb, 21 riders had found themselves, taking more than six minutes from the field. On the climb, 12 riders emerged who were to determine the race from then on. Among them were the eventual winner on Luis Leon Sanchez (Caja Rural), who took over the mountain jersey, Louis Meintjies (MTN-Qhubeka) Ermanol Erviti (Movistar), Alexander Kolobnev (Katusha) and Oliver Zaugg (Tinkoff-Saxo).
The group worked very well together and maintained their lead up to the finish line. Although this was short at just over two kilometers, it was also extremely steep with sections of 19 percent.
The South African Meintjies was the first driver to open the final. The runner-up at last year's U23 World Championship increased the pace and reduced the group to six riders. After that it was Hesjedal who looked for the decision, but seemed to find his match in Zaugg. The winner of the 2011 Tour of Lombardy literally left the Canadian standing. But Hesjedal bit his heels and finally overtook him with 200 meters to go. Zaug was second, Erviti third.
In the field, the Omega Pharma-QuickStep team set the pace before the finish climb, supported by Sky. It was all the more astonishing that both Rigoberto Uran and Chris Froome lost touch when Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), who had been second overall to date, blew up the field with an attack at the beginning of the climb.
Only Contador and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and his teammate Dani Moreno were able to follow the start of the southern Spaniard. Froome, like Fabio Aru (Astana), was able to catch up later. And when Contador managed to put Valverde in trouble, it was the Brit who took charge and led the group across the finish line.
This resulted in some changes in the overall standings. Contador was able to increase his lead over Valverde, second overall, to 42 seconds. New third is Froome, 1:13 behind. Rodriguez improved to fourth while Uran slipped to fifth.
Another difficult day is scheduled for tomorrow with the final at the Lagos de Covadonga. This will certainly cause further changes in the overall standings.