Yes,I'm sorry for Robert Gesink.The Dutch rider today has lost 4 minutes and 44 seconds to Valverde,Basso,Mosquera,S.Sanchez,Evans,Tiralongo,Cobo and Moreno and is now 6th in the GC (this morning instead he was 2nd).Robert fell 2 days ago and injured his knee.Today he had some problems in getting over the penultimate climb of the stage but eventually managed to join the group again before of the beginning of the last climb.Unfortunately for him,after about 2 kms uphill he was already losing 30 seconds from the other GC men. Of course Gesink's adversaires didn't feel sorry for him and so Euskaltel riders went to set the pace at the head of the peloton.Then it was Szmyd's turn to set the pace at the "cabeza de la carrera",that on the top of the climb was formed by Valverde,Samu Sanchez,Basso,Mosquera,Evans,Tiralongo,Cobo and Moreno.
As soon as the descent began,Sanchez attacked and was followed just by Valverde,who descended better than the Euskaltel rider.After some kms downhill the 2 men at the front of the race were joined also by the other riders that were with them on the top of the climb.
As soon as the road returned flat,Mosquera attacked.As soon as the other riders caught him,it was Tiralongo's time for attacking.The Italian didn't have a lot of luck and was soon caught again by the other riders.
As soon as the road returned flat,Mosquera attacked.As soon as the other riders caught him,it was Tiralongo's time for attacking.The Italian didn't have a lot of luck and was soon caught again by the other riders.
With 2 kms to go Juan José Cobo set the winning attack and managed to win the stage.Valverde came in 2nd and Evans got 3rd.
As I already wrote,Gesink crossed the finish line 4'44" after Cobo.He was with 2 teammates and with other riders.Unfortunately the 23 year-old Dutch rider probably won't be on the podium in Madrid and me's very sorry for him,since he rode very well during the whole Vuelta and it must be very disappointing to miss a podium in a Grand Tour just because of an injury.And then you mustn't forget that Gesink also had to quit the Tour de France because of an injury,so 2009 wasn't actually a very lucky year for him (or at least it wasn't a very lucky year for him so far-who knows,he may manage to win the Worlds or the Lombardy Tour).
Anyway.tomorrow there is the penultimate stage of the race,a TT that will probably decide who will win this year's Vuelta.At the moment the GC Top Ten is the following:
1 Alejandro Valverde,Caisse d'Epargne
2 Samuel Sanchez,Euskadi Euskaltel 01.26
3 Ivan Basso,Liquigas 01.45
4 Cadel Evans,Silence-Lotto 01.59
5 Ezequiel Mosquera,Xacobeo Galicia 02.11
6 Robert Gesink,Rabobank 05.30
7 Paolo Tiralongo,Lampre 06.49
8 Joaquin Rodriguez,Caisse d'Epargne 07.42
9 Deignan Philip,Cervélo Test Team 09.37
10 Juan José Cobo,Fuji-Servetto 10.40
As I already wrote,Gesink crossed the finish line 4'44" after Cobo.He was with 2 teammates and with other riders.Unfortunately the 23 year-old Dutch rider probably won't be on the podium in Madrid and me's very sorry for him,since he rode very well during the whole Vuelta and it must be very disappointing to miss a podium in a Grand Tour just because of an injury.And then you mustn't forget that Gesink also had to quit the Tour de France because of an injury,so 2009 wasn't actually a very lucky year for him (or at least it wasn't a very lucky year for him so far-who knows,he may manage to win the Worlds or the Lombardy Tour).Anyway.tomorrow there is the penultimate stage of the race,a TT that will probably decide who will win this year's Vuelta.At the moment the GC Top Ten is the following:
1 Alejandro Valverde,Caisse d'Epargne
2 Samuel Sanchez,Euskadi Euskaltel 01.26
3 Ivan Basso,Liquigas 01.45
4 Cadel Evans,Silence-Lotto 01.59
5 Ezequiel Mosquera,Xacobeo Galicia 02.11
6 Robert Gesink,Rabobank 05.30
7 Paolo Tiralongo,Lampre 06.49
8 Joaquin Rodriguez,Caisse d'Epargne 07.42
9 Deignan Philip,Cervélo Test Team 09.37
10 Juan José Cobo,Fuji-Servetto 10.40
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