David Moncoutie (Cofidis) knows how to pick them. For the third consecutive Vuelta a España, the veteran French climber has won a stage that he had checked off in the race book weeks before.

David Moncoutie survived the long break to take Stage 8 at the Vuelta.

In 2008, he won a stage in the Spanish Pyrénées. Last year, it was Sierra Nevada. In Saturday’s hard-fought 190km eighth stage over the short but very steep Xorret de Catí climb, Moncoutie dropped his companions in a five-man move to claim the hat-trick victory in the 2010 Vuelta’s first successful breakaway win.

“Today I wanted to gain points in the King of the Mountains competition and try to win the stage, so I fulfilled my goals on both scores,” said Moncoutie. “I skipped the Tour this year, so the Vuelta for me is an important goal.”

Moncoutie has also won two straight King of the Mountain titles at the Vuelta and wants to win a record-tying third, but he’s locked in a heated battle with Serafín Martínez (Xacobeo-Galicia). The Spanish rider also slipped into the day’s five-man move that was riddled with five rated climbs.

“I wanted to win a stage here and win a third mountain jersey. One is completed and there’s still some work for the other,” said Moncoutie, 10 points behind leader Martínez, 36-26. “There are many more hard mountain stages to come, so I must be attentive and go on the attack.”

Philippe Gilbert’s five-day run in the leader’s jersey ended on the steep, 15-percent grades of the Cat. 1 Xorret de Catí climb. Thousands of fans packed the narrow roads leading over the sharp summit just under 4km from the finish line.

Gilbert hung on as long as he could on the final climb and eventually sunk to 14th at 1:55 back

Gilbert shook off the effects of a massive pileup at 10km that also took down Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre), Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) and David Arroyo (Caisse d’Epargne), a crash that would later have major implications in determining the GC.

Race judges annulled a hot-sprint immediately following the pileup, a decision that would cost Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) the leader’s jersey. Rodríguez gained a two-second bonus, but since that was not awarded, and he ended the day just as he had started it: tied with Igor Antón (Euskaltel-Euskadi).

Rodríguez thought he would gain the jersey when he crossed the line first out of a leading chase group trailing end behind Moncoutie and three others from the breakaway.

Race judges later said Antón would take the jersey based on the accumulation of his overall finishing positions so far in the Vuelta. The normal tie-breaker, taken at tenths-of-seconds in individual time trials, does not apply because there hasn’t been one yet.

Despite the behind-the-scenes wrangling, Antón was content to don the Vuelta’s red leader’s jersey.

“I’m glad to get this jersey, just as I was happy to win the stage the other day,” Antón said. “We will defend it as long as we can. Whether I win or not is another story, but even having the jersey will be helpful for the future. Some riders lost time today, but this Vuelta is far from decided.”

The Catí climb saw the candidates for overall victory surge to the front. Following Rodríguez and Antón were Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) and the Cervélo duo of Carlos Sastre and Xavier Tondo.

Working together, the five gained more than one minute on Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) and two minutes on two-time Vuelta champ Denis Menchov (Rabobank).

“The legs responded today and the best part is that Carlos was with me,” said Tondo, now fourth at 42 seconds back. “These climbs are not my preferred terrain. I hope to be even better when the Vuelta heads north.”

Also riding strong were the American pair of Tom Danielson (Garmin-Transitions) and Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Columbia). Danielson stayed close to cross the line 13th at 31 seconds behind Rodríguez to slot into 12th overall at 1:42 back. Van Garderen crossed the line 21st at 2:36 back and slotted into 10th overall at 1:26 back. It appeared Van Garderen might have had to make a wheel change.

The 65th Vuelta continues Sunday with another rollercoaster stage across the mountains of Alicante, with seven medium mountains in the 187.7km ninth stage from Calpe to Alcoy. It’s another stage ideal for stage-hunters.

Brief Results – Stage 8

Full Results

Overall Standings

Full Results

• 1. David Moncoutie, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne , at
• 2. Serafín MartÍnez, Xacobeo Galicia, at 54
• 3. Johann Tschopp, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 54
• 4. José Luis Arrieta, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 54
• 5. Joaquin Rodriguez, Team Katusha, at 1:29
• 6. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas-Doimo, at 1:29
• 7. Igor Anton, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:29
• 8. Assan Bazayev, Astana, at 1:32
• 9. Xavier Tondo, Cervélo TestTeam, at 1:32
• 10. Carlos Sastre, Cervélo TestTeam, at 1:35
• 11. Rigoberto Uran, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:48
• 12. Marzio Bruseghin, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:48
• 13. Thomas Danielson, Garmin-Transitions, at 2:00
• 14. Ruben Plaza, Caisse D’Epargne, at 2:00
• 15. Nicholas Roche, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2:00
• 16. Mikel Nieve, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:00
• 17. Ezequiel Mosquera, Xacobeo Galicia, at 2:02
• 18. Vladimir Karpets, Team Katusha, at 2:12
• 19. David GarcÍa, Xacobeo Galicia, at 2:33
• 20. Vladimir Gusev, Team Katusha, at 2:36
• 21. Tejay Van Garderen, HTC-Columbia, at 2:36
• 22. Luis León SÁnchez, Caisse D’Epargne, at 2:36
• 23. Frank Schleck, Team Saxo Bank, at 2:36
• 24. Giampaolo Caruso, Team Katusha, at 2:36
• 25. David Arroyo, Caisse D’Epargne, at 2:36
• 26. Carlos Barredo, Quick Step, at 2:49
• 27. Peter Velits, HTC-Columbia, at 2:49
• 28. Christophe Le Mevel, Française des Jeux, at 3:04
• 29. Iñigo Cuesta, Cervélo TestTeam, at 3:09
• 30. Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 3:09
• 31. Dmitriy Fofonov, Astana, at 3:09
• 32. Thomas Peterson, Garmin-Transitions, at 3:09
• 33. Alexsandr Dyachenko, Astana, at 3:09
• 34. Rinaldo Nocentini, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 3:09
• 35. Marcos Garcia, Xacobeo Galicia, at 3:30
• 36. Ludovic Turpin, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 3:30
• 37. Gustav Larsson, Team Saxo Bank, at 3:30
• 38. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 3:34
• 39. Guillaume Bonnafond, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 3:34
• 40. Laurens Ten Dam, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 3:44
• 41. Denis Menchov, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 3:44
• 42. Oscar Pujol, Cervélo TestTeam, at 3:44
• 43. Kanstantsin Sivtsov, HTC-Columbia, at 3:44
• 44. Gustavo CÉsar, Xacobeo Galicia, at 3:58
• 45. Gonzalo RabuÑal, Xacobeo Galicia, at 3:58
• 46. Alexandr Kolobnev, Team Katusha, at 4:05
• 47. Rémy Di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, at 4:05
• 48. Marco Marzano, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 4:17
• 49. Roy Sentjens, Milram, at 4:17
• 50. Romain Zingle, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 4:17
• 51. Gustavo Rodrigue Iglesias, Xacobeo Galicia, at 4:17
• 52. Jurgen Van Goolen, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 4:17
• 53. Andrey Kashechkin, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 4:19
• 54. Daniele Pietropolli, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 4:19
• 55. Jan Bakelandts, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 4:19
• 56. Alberto BenÍtez, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 4:39
• 57. Markus Fothen, Milram, at 4:52
• 58. Javier Moreno, Andalucia Cajasur, at 4:54
• 59. Johannes FrÖhlinger, Milram, at 5:01
• 60. Arthur Vichot, Française des Jeux, at 5:17
• 61. Joan Horrach, Team Katusha, at 5:55
• 62. Oliver Zaugg, Liquigas-Doimo, at 5:56
• 63. Matthieu Sprick, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 6:08
• 64. Josep JufrÉ, Astana, at 6:28
• 65. Filippo Pozzato, Team Katusha, at 6:59
• 66. Niki Terpstra, Milram, at 6:59
• 67. Juan Manuel Garate, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 7:05
• 68. Juan Jose Oroz, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 7:05
• 69. Egoi MartÍnez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 7:05
• 70. David LÓpez, Caisse D’Epargne, at 7:05
• 71. Luis Pasamontes, Caisse D’Epargne, at 7:05
• 72. Grischa Niermann, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 7:05
• 73. Jean-christophe Peraud, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 7:05
• 74. Óscar Freire, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 7:05
• 75. Mauricio Ardila, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 7:05
• 76. Stefan Denifl, Cervélo TestTeam, at 7:05
• 77. Andrey Zeits, Astana, at 7:12
• 78. José Vicente Toribio, Andalucia Cajasur, at 7:42
• 79. Imanol Erviti, Caisse D’Epargne, at 7:42
• 80. J. Ángel GÓmez Marchante, Andalucia Cajasur, at 7:58
• 81. Juan Javier Estrada, Andalucia Cajasur, at 8:04
• 82. Roman Kreuziger, Liquigas-Doimo, at 8:12
• 83. Andy Schleck, Team Saxo Bank, at 8:12
• 84. Ivan Santaromita, Liquigas-Doimo, at 8:13
• 85. Greg Van Avermaet, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 8:13
• 86. Dominik Roels, Milram, at 8:13
• 87. Maciej Paterski, Liquigas-Doimo, at 8:17
• 88. Dario Cataldo, Quick Step, at 8:34
• 89. Anders Lund, Team Saxo Bank, at 8:34
• 90. Philip Deignan, Cervélo TestTeam, at 8:34
• 91. J. Vicente GarcÍa Acosta, Caisse D’Epargne, at 9:03
• 92. Matteo Tosatto, Quick Step, at 9:03
• 93. Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 9:05
• 94. Sébastien Minard, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 9:35
• 95. Mauro Finetto, Liquigas-Doimo, at 9:35
• 96. David Zabriskie, Garmin-Transitions, at 9:42
• 97. Rémi Pauriol, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 10:42
• 98. Grega Bole, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 10:52
• 99. Biel Kadri, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 11:09
• 100. Gorka Verdugo, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 13:29
• 101. Delio Fernandez, Xacobeo Galicia, at 15:46
• 102. Björn SchrÖder, Milram, at 15:46
• 103. Martin Pedersen, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 15:46
• 104. Vladimir Isaichev, Xacobeo Galicia, at 15:46
• 105. Javier RamÍrez, Andalucia Cajasur, at 15:46
• 106. Perrig Quemeneur, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 15:46
• 107. Hubert Dupont, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 15:46
• 108. Sébastien Hinault, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 15:46
• 109. Tony Gallopin, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 15:46
• 110. Alexandre Pichot, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 15:46
• 111. Christian Vandevelde, Garmin-Transitions, at 15:46
• 112. David Gutierrez Gutierrez, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 15:46
• 113. Kasper Klostergaard, Team Saxo Bank, at 15:46
• 114. Xavier Florencio, Cervélo TestTeam, at 15:46
• 115. Antonio Piedra, Andalucia Cajasur, at 15:46
• 116. Enrique Mata, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 15:46
• 117. Manuele Mori, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 15:46
• 118. William Bonnet, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 15:46
• 119. Giampaolo Cheula, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 15:46
• 120. Nicolas Vogondy, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 15:46
• 121. Thor Hushovd, Cervélo TestTeam, at 15:46
• 122. Markus Eichler, Milram, at 15:46
• 123. Pierre Cazaux, Française des Jeux, at 15:46
• 124. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 15:46
• 125. Yauheni Hutarovich, Française des Jeux, at 15:46
• 126. Nico Sijmens, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 15:46
• 127. Mikael Cherel, Française des Jeux, at 15:46
• 128. Dmitry Kozontchuk, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 15:46
• 129. Pierre Rolland, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 15:46
• 130. Matthew Wilson, Garmin-Transitions, at 15:46
• 131. Nick Nuyens, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 15:46
• 132. Daniele Bennati, Liquigas-Doimo, at 15:46
• 133. Frederik Willems, Liquigas-Doimo, at 15:46
• 134. David Millar, Garmin-Transitions, at 17:25
• 135. Valentin Iglinskiy, Astana, at 20:51
• 136. Angelo Furlan, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 20:51
• 137. Stuart O’grady, Team Saxo Bank, at 20:51
• 138. Yoann Offredo, Française des Jeux, at 20:51
• 139. Allan Davis, Astana, at 20:51
• 140. Martin Velits, HTC-Columbia, at 20:51
• 141. Hayden Roulston, HTC-Columbia, at 20:51
• 142. Matthew Harley Goss, HTC-Columbia, at 20:51
• 143. Enrico Gasparotto, Astana, at 20:51
• 144. Tyler Farrar, Garmin-Transitions, at 20:51
• 145. Paul Voss, Milram, at 20:51
• 146. Davide Malacarne, Quick Step, at 20:51
• 147. Kevin De Weert, Quick Step, at 20:51
• 148. Juan Jose Haedo, Team Saxo Bank, at 20:51
• 149. Christophe Riblon, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 20:51
• 150. Manuel Ortega, Andalucia Cajasur, at 20:51
• 151. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Columbia, at 20:51
• 152. Denis Galimzyanov, Team Katusha, at 20:51
• 153. Sergey Renev, Astana, at 20:51
• 154. Wouter Weylandt, Quick Step, at 20:51
• 155. Jacopo Guarnieri, Liquigas-Doimo, at 20:51
• 156. Manuel A. Leal Cardoso, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 20:51
• 157. Beñat Intxausti, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 20:51
• 158. Larrea Koldo FernÁndez De, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 20:51
• 159. Nikolas Maes, Quick Step, at 20:51
• 160. Jorge Montenegro, Andalucia Cajasur, at 20:51
• 161. Gianni Meersman, Française des Jeux, at 20:51
• 162. David Vitoria Cano, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 20:51
• 163. Danilo Hondo, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 20:51
• 164. Pablo Urtasun, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 20:51
• 165. Robert FÖrster, Milram, at 20:51
• 166. Johnnie Walker, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 20:51
• 167. Theo Bos, Cervélo TestTeam, at 20:51
• 168. Michel Kreder, Garmin-Transitions, at 20:51
• 169. Olivier Kaisen, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 20:51
• 170. Julian Dean, Garmin-Transitions, at 20:51
• 171. Mickael Delage, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 20:51
• 172. Lars Ytting Bak, HTC-Columbia, at 20:51
• 173. Samuel Dumoulin, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 20:51
• 174. Vincent Jerome, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 20:51
• 175. Mikhail Ignatiev, Team Katusha, at 20:51
• 176. Leif Hoste, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 20:51
• 177. Daniele Righi, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 20:51
• 178. Freddy Bichot, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 20:51
• 179. Sébastien Chavanel, Française des Jeux, at 20:51
• 180. Arnaud Labbe, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 20:51
• 181. Sebastian Langeveld, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 20:51
• 182. Fabian Cancellara, Team Saxo Bank, at 21:03
• 183. Andreas Stauff, Quick Step, at 21:03
• 184. Domenik Klemme, Team Saxo Bank, at 21:03
• 185. Sergio Carrasco, Andalucia Cajasur, at 21:03

• 1. Igor Anton, Euskaltel-Euskadi , 32h 28′ 49”
• 2. Joaquin Rodriguez, Team Katusha, at m.t.1º
• 3. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas-Doimo, at 2
• 4. Xavier Tondo, Cervélo TestTeam, at 42
• 5. Marzio Bruseghin, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:10
• 6. Ruben Plaza, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:15
• 7. Ezequiel Mosquera, Xacobeo Galicia, at 1:18
• 8. Nicholas Roche, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:19
• 9. Peter Velits, HTC-Columbia, at 1:26
• 10. Tejay Van Garderen, HTC-Columbia, at 1:26
• 11. Rigoberto Uran, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:28
• 12. Thomas Danielson, Garmin-Transitions, at 1:42
• 13. Frank Schleck, Team Saxo Bank, at 1:47
• 14. Philippe Gilbert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:55
• 15. Vladimir Karpets, Team Katusha, at 1:57
• 16. David Arroyo, Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:58
• 17. Carlos Sastre, Cervélo TestTeam, at 2:11
• 18. Luis León SÁnchez, Caisse D’Epargne, at 2:21
• 19. Mikel Nieve, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:35
• 20. Denis Menchov, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 3:16
• 21. David GarcÍa, Xacobeo Galicia, at 3:24
• 22. Carlos Barredo, Quick Step, at 3:30
• 23. Vladimir Gusev, Team Katusha, at 3:51
• 24. Alexsandr Dyachenko, Astana, at 4:10
• 25. Jan Bakelandts, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 4:59
• 26. Kanstantsin Sivtsov, HTC-Columbia, at 5:06
• 27. Andrey Kashechkin, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 5:07
• 28. Thomas Peterson, Garmin-Transitions, at 5:29
• 29. Iñigo Cuesta, Cervélo TestTeam, at 5:39
• 30. Alexandr Kolobnev, Team Katusha, at 5:41
• 31. Gustav Larsson, Team Saxo Bank, at 5:47
• 32. Markus Fothen, Milram, at 6:01
• 33. Laurens Ten Dam, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 6:22
• 34. Christophe Le Mevel, Française des Jeux, at 6:23
• 35. Javier Moreno, Andalucia Cajasur, at 6:24
• 36. Guillaume Bonnafond, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 6:56
• 37. Jean-christophe Peraud, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 6:59
• 38. Ludovic Turpin, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 7:35
• 39. Greg Van Avermaet, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 9:18
• 40. Roy Sentjens, Milram, at 10:17
• 41. Luis Pasamontes, Caisse D’Epargne, at 10:29
• 42. Marco Marzano, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 10:29
• 43. David Lopez, Caisse D’Epargne, at 10:53
• 44. Filippo Pozzato, Team Katusha, at 11:32
• 45. David Moncoutie, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 11:45
• 46. Josep JufrÉ, Astana, at 11:47
• 47. Rémy Di Gregorio, Française des Jeux, at 12:28
• 48. Marcos Garcia, Xacobeo Galicia, at 12:30
• 49. Roman Kreuziger, Liquigas-Doimo, at 13:10
• 50. J. Ángel Gómez Marchante, Andalucia Cajasur, at 13:18
• 51. Alberto BenÍtez, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 13:22
• 52. Giampaolo Caruso, Team Katusha, at 14:15
• 53. Juan Manuel Garate, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 15:50
• 54. Assan Bazayev, Astana, at 16:00
• 55. Egoi MartÍnez, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 17:20
• 56. Serafín MartÍnez, Xacobeo Galicia, at 17:59
• 57. Juan Jose Oroz, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 18:27
• 58. Mikael Cherel, Française des Jeux, at 18:40
• 59. Ivan Santaromita, Liquigas-Doimo, at 19:17
• 60. Jurgen Van Goolen, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 19:28
• 61. Oscar Pujol, Cervélo TestTeam, at 20:29
• 62. Manuele Mori, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 21:07
• 63. Gonzalo Rabuñal, Xacobeo Galicia, at 22:09
• 64. Andrey Zeits, Astana, at 22:15
• 65. Maciej Paterski, Liquigas-Doimo, at 22:40
• 66. Johannes Fröhlinger, Milram, at 23:14
• 67. Daniele Pietropolli, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 23:20
• 68. Mauro Finetto, Liquigas-Doimo, at 23:53
• 69. Amets Txurruka, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 24:49
• 70. Gorka Verdugo, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 25:07
• 71. Sébastien Minard, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 25:12
• 72. Arthur Vichot, Française des Jeux, at 25:52
• 73. Gustavo CÉsar, Xacobeo Galicia, at 26:03
• 74. Niki Terpstra, Milram, at 26:34
• 75. Dario Cataldo, Quick Step, at 26:48
• 76. Xavier Florencio, Cervélo TestTeam, at 29:19
• 77. Daniele Bennati, Liquigas-Doimo, at 29:37
• 78. Romain Zingle, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 30:10
• 79. Matthieu Sprick, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 30:38
• 80. Joan Horrach, Team Katusha, at 30:42
• 81. Johann Tschopp, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 30:42
• 82. Grega Bole, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 31:03
• 83. Gustavo Rodriguez Iglesias, Xacobeo Galicia, at 32:41
• 84. Dmitriy Fofonov, Astana, at 33:25
• 85. Enrico Gasparotto, Astana, at 34:11
• 86. Delio Fernandez, Xacobeo Galicia, at 35:22
• 87. Andy Schleck, Team Saxo Bank, at 36:33
• 88. Matteo Tosatto, Quick Step, at 36:33
• 89. Grischa Niermann, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 36:50
• 90. Juan Javier Estrada, Andalucia Cajasur, at 37:10
• 91. José Luis Arrieta, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 37:13
• 92. Tony Gallopin, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 37:33
• 93. Imanol Erviti, Caisse D’Epargne, at 37:48
• 94. Pablo Urtasun, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 39:21
• 95. Rinaldo Nocentini, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 39:47
• 96. Oliver Zaugg, Liquigas-Doimo, at 41:35
• 97. Biel Kadri, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 44:49
• 98. Pierre Rolland, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 45:03
• 99. Perrig Quemeneur, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 45:50
• 100. Sergey Renev, Astana, at 46:44
• 101. Samuel Dumoulin, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 47:22
• 102. Björn SchrÖder, Milram, at 47:26
• 103. Anders Lund, Team Saxo Bank, at 47:50
• 104. Jelle Vanendert, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 47:54
• 105. Vincent Jerome, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 48:06
• 106. Markus Eichler, Milram, at 48:32
• 107. Dominik Roels, Milram, at 49:05
• 108. Óscar Freire, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 50:18
• 109. J. Vicente GarcÍa Acosta, Caisse D’Epargne, at 50:23
• 110. Rémi Pauriol, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 51:17
• 111. Nicolas Vogondy, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 51:36
• 112. Javier RamÍrez, Andalucia Cajasur, at 51:45
• 113. Hubert Dupont, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 51:47
• 114. Sébastien Hinault, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 52:57
• 115. Manuel Ortega, Andalucia Cajasur, at 53:11
• 116. Danilo Hondo, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 53:12
• 117. Paul Voss, Milram, at 53:51
• 118. Frederik Willems, Liquigas-Doimo, at 54:37
• 119. Thor Hushovd, Cervélo TestTeam, at 54:43
• 120. Allan Davis, Astana, at 54:45
• 121. Christian Vandevelde, Garmin-Transitions, at 55:15
• 122. Antonio Piedra, Andalucia Cajasur, at 55:19
• 123. Giampaolo Cheula, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 55:21
• 124. Stefan Denifl, Cervélo TestTeam, at 55:56
• 125. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 58:11
• 126. Daniele Righi, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 58:28
• 127. William Bonnet, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 58:56
• 128. Enrique Mata, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 58:57
• 129. Manuel A. Leal Cardoso, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 59:44
• 130. Martin Velits, HTC-Columbia, at 1:00:01
• 131. Gianni Meersman, Française des Jeux, at 1:00:24
• 132. Philip Deignan, Cervélo TestTeam, at 1:01:10
• 133. Sergio Carrasco, Andalucia Cajasur, at 1:01:16
• 134. Yoann Offredo, Française des Jeux, at 1:01:31
• 135. Alexandre Pichot, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 1:01:35
• 136. Mauricio Ardila, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:01:50
• 137. Nico Sijmens, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 1:03:01
• 138. Pierre Cazaux, Française des Jeux, at 1:03:05
• 139. Kasper Klostergaard, Team Saxo Bank, at 1:03:19
• 140. Michel Kreder, Garmin-Transitions, at 1:03:21
• 141. Kevin De Weert, Quick Step, at 1:03:28
• 142. Sébastien Chavanel, Française des Jeux, at 1:03:48
• 143. Yauheni Hutarovich, Française des Jeux, at 1:04:28
• 144. David Millar, Garmin-Transitions, at 1:04:29
• 145. Vladimir Isaichev, Xacobeo Galicia, at 1:05:39
• 146. Nikolas Maes, Quick Step, at 1:05:55
• 147. Larrea Koldo FernÁndez De, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:06:23
• 148. Stuart O’grady, Team Saxo Bank, at 1:06:38
• 149. David Gutierrez Gutierrez, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 1:06:42
• 150. Andreas Stauff, Quick Step, at 1:06:56
• 151. Martin Pedersen, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 1:07:44
• 152. Leif Hoste, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:07:52
• 153. Tyler Farrar, Garmin-Transitions, at 1:08:04
• 154. Davide Malacarne, Quick Step, at 1:08:20
• 155. Wouter Weylandt, Quick Step, at 1:08:38
• 156. Robert FÖrster, Milram, at 1:09:38
• 157. Hayden Roulston, HTC-Columbia, at 1:10:22
• 158. José Vicente Toribio, Andalucia Cajasur, at 1:11:04
• 159. Jacopo Guarnieri, Liquigas-Doimo, at 1:11:30
• 160. Nick Nuyens, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:12:01
• 161. Beñat Intxausti, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:12:18
• 162. Olivier Kaisen, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:12:23
• 163. David Zabriskie, Garmin-Transitions, at 1:12:24
• 164. Matthew Harley Goss, HTC-Columbia, at 1:12:43
• 165. Dmitry Kozontchuk, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:13:14
• 166. Matthew Wilson, Garmin-Transitions, at 1:13:18
• 167. Sebastian Langeveld, Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:13:41
• 168. Lars Ytting Bak, HTC-Columbia, at 1:15:24
• 169. Angelo Furlan, Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 1:15:37
• 170. Mark Cavendish, HTC-Columbia, at 1:15:58
• 171. David Vitoria Cano, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 1:16:02
• 172. Jorge Montenegro, Andalucia Cajasur, at 1:16:45
• 173. Johnnie Walker, Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 1:16:45
• 174. Freddy Bichot, BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 1:16:57
• 175. Juan Jose Haedo, Team Saxo Bank, at 1:16:58
• 176. Theo Bos, Cervélo TestTeam, at 1:17:08
• 177. Denis Galimzyanov, Team Katusha, at 1:17:44
• 178. Mikhail Ignatiev, Team Katusha, at 1:17:46
• 179. Christophe Riblon, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:18:07
• 180. Mickael Delage, Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:20:58
• 181. Domenik Klemme, Team Saxo Bank, at 1:21:00
• 182. Fabian Cancellara, Team Saxo Bank, at 1:22:39
• 183. Valentin Iglinskiy, Astana, at 1:31:15
• 184. Arnaud Labbe, Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 1:31:26
• 185. Julian Dean, Garmin-Transitions, at 1:46:52

Three new riders will join RadioShack for the 2011 season.

Jesse Sergent, Portuguese rider Manuel Cardoso and Michael Kwiatkowski all will ride for the U.S.-registered team next year.

“All three riders are classy riders. They have a lot of potential,” said team manager Johan Bruyneel in a statement. “We believe in them. These talents will be well surrounded by our experienced riders. Currently, we are negotiating with other potential riders for our 2011 team.”

There’s still no news on whether Tyler Phinney will ride with the team next season. Phinney is racing with RadioShack as a stagiaire for the remainder of the calendar. He denied Friday that he’s signed a four-year deal to join BMC.

Cardoso (Paços de Ferreira, Portugal, April 7, 1983) this year scored his first ProTour victory over Alejandro Valverde, Cadel Evans and Peter Sagan in the sprint in Stirling during the Tour Down Under.  In the last five years the 2009 national road champion has won 33 races as a pro for the teams Carvalhelhos-Boavista, Riberalves-Boavista, Liberty Seguros and Footon-Servetto).

Sergent (Feilding, NZ, July 8, 1988) won the silver medal in the 2010 world pursuit championship.  In May he won the time trial stage in the Tour of Gila over specialists Levi Leipheimer and Dave Zabriskie. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Sergent won the bronze medal as part of the New Zealand pursuit team. In August the Trek-Livestrong rider was called up to ride as a stagiaire for Team RadioShack.

Kwiatkowski (Poland, June 2, 1990) won the junior world time trial championship in 2008 over Jakob Steigmiller and Taylor Phinney. Kwiatkowski is also a double European champion (road race 2007, time trial 2008). In 2009 he became national road champion in the U23 category. This year he rode for the Spanish continental Caja Rural team. On Sunday he will start in the Tour de l’Avenir with the Polish national team.

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Team Sky pulled out Saturday of the 2010 Vuelta a España following a death of a staff member who died of a bacterial infection.

The British-backed ProTour team announced overnight it would not start Saturday’s eighth following the death of Txema González, a masseur well-known within the tightly-knit European cycling community.

González, 43, died Friday in Sevilla and Team Sky officials were quick to point out that his death was not connected to the early departure of three riders in the first week of the Vuelta.

In a team statement released overnight Saturday, Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford said in a team release that “this is the only decision we can make.”

“We have considered all the elements very carefully and this is the only decision we could take. It’s the right one — to show respect to Txema and to look after our team,” Brailsford said. “Others – staff and riders – have been ill during this Tour and Juan Antonio Flecha pulled out on. The medical conditions are different, but we need to take care of our team.”

The team’s unexpected departure from its third grand tour of its debut season suggests deep emotions within the team structure. González was a popular figure on the European cycling circuit and several riders at the Vuelta have suffered upset stomachs, fever and vomiting.

Earlier Friday, Team Sky officials were quick to clarify there was no medical connection between Gonzalez’ unexpected death and the early departure of three Team Sky riders in then first week of the 2010 Vuelta.

Team Sky officials said Friday that González died of a bacterial infection.

“Txema contracted a bacterial infection which entered the bloodstream and developed in a sepsis,” Team Sky’s head of medical Dr. Steve Peters said in a statement. “The toxins from this had damaged the organs in his body and he went into a septic shock and unfortunately succumbed to that.

“I should also clarify that this bacterial infection has nothing to do with the viral infection which many of the team have suffered with in Spain, causing stomach upset.”

Riders were unaware of the bad news until they arrived at the Team Sky bus at the end of the stage in Orihuela.

A native of Vitoria in Spain’s Basque Country, González raced as an amateur and worked with Euskaltel-Euskadi and Saunier Duval before joining Team Sky.

Speaking on Spanish TV, Vuelta race director Javier Guillén expressed his condolences.

“We just found about it. It’s disastrous news,” Guillén said. “We had heard that he was in bad condition, but we never expected this. We never could have imagined this would have happened. He’s part of the cycling family, part of the Vuelta. We will honor his memory tomorrow morning before the start, that’s the least we can do. This is very, very sad news.”

Team Sky officials had kept the news under wraps, but Spanish journalists noticed that the veteran assistant was not on the race as planned.

Three Team Sky members have pulled out of the Vuelta since Sunday’s start. Juan Antonio Flecha was admitted to a hospital overnight, but started Friday’s stage only to abandon midway through the race.

Earlier this week, John Lee Augustyn and Ben Swift pulled out with a mysterious virus that’s sweeping through the team.

The source of the virus is not clear, but Team Sky officials have ruled out food poisoning.

“We are devastated to report that Txema tragically passed away on Friday evening in hospital in Sevilla. His close family were with him,” said Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford. “Txema will be remembered as a warm-hearted colleague who was a joy to work with and was universally respected by our team and throughout the pro cycling scene. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Floyd Landis, former teammate of Lance Armstrong, has filed a federal “whistle-blower” lawsuit, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Citing anonymous sources, the newspaper reported that Landis filed a suit under the U.S. federal False Claims Act, which allows Americans to sue on behalf of the government alleging the government has been defrauded.

According to the Journal, the lawsuit is currently sealed so its exact contents are not known.

But in the article posted on its website the newspaper noted that Landis and Armstrong were teammates on the squad sponsored by the US Postal Service, an independent government whose funds are considered to be public.

Landis has alleged that some of the team’s riders, including himself and Armstrong, used performance enhancing drugs – a charge Armstrong has strenuously denied.

“Such a lawsuit is likely to claim a fraud was committed against the Postal Service in relation to the alleged doping,” the Wall Street Journal wrote.

Landis won the Tour de France in 2006 but was stripped of the title after testing positive for synthetic testosterone.

This year he ended years of denials and admitted he doped, and he accused Armstrong and others in the cycling world of doing the same.

Armstrong won six of his seven Tour de France titles with the U.S. Postal Service team.

Landis’ claims have already sparked a reported probe by U.S. authorities into doping in professional cycling.

Federal investigators, who have met with Landis, are investigating whether Armstrong or anyone else committed fraud or conspiracy in connection with the alleged doping.

Under the whistle-blower law, the government can intervene in Landis’ suit, essentially pursuing the case on its own behalf. If it doesn’t, Landis is free to carry on the action on his own.

As a whistle-blower, Landis could collect up to 30 percent of any money the government recovers if fraud is determined.

“This news that Floyd Landis is in this for the money reconfirms everything we all knew about Landis,” Armstrong spokesman Mark Fabiani said Friday in a statement.

“By his own admission, he is a serial liar, an epic cheater, and a swindler who raised and took almost a million dollars from his loyal fans based on his lies. What remains a complete mystery is why the government would devote a penny of the taxpayer’s money to help Floyd Landis further his vile, cheating ambitions. And all aimed directly at Lance Armstrong, a man who earned every victory and passed every test while working for cancer survivors all over the world.”

Mobile version

• 1. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, in 4:36:12
• 2. Mark CAVENDISH, (GBR) HTC-Columbia, at 0
• 3. Juan José HAEDO, (ARG) Team Saxo Bank, at 0
• 4. Andreas STAUFF, (GER) Quick Step, at 0
• 5. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 0
• 6. Denis GALIMZYANOV, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 0
• 7. Robert FöRSTER, (GER) Milram, at 0
• 8. Sébastien HINAULT, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
• 9. Daniele BENNATI, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 0
• 10. Wouter WEYLANDT, (BEL) Quick Step, at 0
• 11. Enrico GASPAROTTO, (ITA) Astana, at 0
• 12. Yauheni HUTAROVICH, (BLR) Française des Jeux, at 0
• 13. Philippe GILBERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 0
• 14. Jacopo GUARNIERI, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 0
• 15. William BONNET, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 0
• 16. Yoann OFFREDO, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 0
• 17. Theo BOS, (NED) Cervélo TestTeam, at 0
• 18. Thor HUSHOVD, (NOR) Cervélo TestTeam, at 0
• 19. Danilo HONDO, (GER) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0
• 20. Roy SENTJENS, (BEL) Milram, at 0
• 21. Allan DAVIS, (AUS) Astana, at 0
• 22. Nikolas MAES, (BEL) Quick Step, at 0
• 23. Valentin IGLINSKIY, (KAZ) Astana, at 0
• 24. Ian STANNARD, (GBR) Team Sky, at 0
• 25. Andrey KASHECHKIN, (KAZ) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0
• 26. Koldo FERNANDEZ, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0
• 27. Greg VAN AVERMAET, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 0
• 28. Pablo URTASUN PEREZ, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0
• 29. Manuel Antonio Leal CARDOSO, (POR) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 0
• 30. Frederik WILLEMS, (BEL) Liquigas-Doimo, at 0
• 31. Matthew Harley GOSS, (AUS) HTC-Columbia, at 0
• 32. David ARROYO DURAN, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 0
• 33. Samuel DUMOULIN, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 34. Vincenzo NIBALI, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 0
• 35. Enrique MATA, (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 0
• 36. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, (USA) HTC-Columbia, at 0
• 37. Sébastien MINARD, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 38. Jan BAKELANDTS, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 0
• 39. Sébastien CHAVANEL, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 0
• 40. Josep JUFRE POU, (ESP) Astana, at 0
• 41. Stefan DENIFL, (AUT) Cervélo TestTeam, at 0
• 42. Maciej PATERSKI, (POL) Liquigas-Doimo, at 0
• 43. Markus FOTHEN, (GER) Milram, at 0
• 44. Johannes FRÖHLINGER, (GER) Milram, at 0
• 45. Mikael CHEREL, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 0
• 46. Ezequiel MOSQUERA MIGUEZ, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 0
• 47. Alexandre PICHOT, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 0
• 48. Denis MENCHOV, (RUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0
• 49. Markus EICHLER, (GER) Milram, at 0
• 50. Thomas DANIELSON, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 0
• 51. Marzio BRUSEGHIN, (ITA) Caisse D’Epargne, at 0
• 52. Nicolas ROCHE, (IRL) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
• 53. Thomas PETERSON, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 0
• 54. Peter VELITS, (SVK) HTC-Columbia, at 0
• 55. Gustavo CESAR VELOSO, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 0
• 56. Rinaldo NOCENTINI, (ITA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
• 57. Angelo FURLAN, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0
• 58. Imanol ERVITI, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 0
• 59. Ruben PLAZA MOLINA, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 0
• 60. Carlos BARREDO LLAMAZALES, (ESP) Quick Step, at 0
• 61. Igor ANTON HERNANDEZ, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0
• 62. Joaquin RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, (ESP) Team Katusha, at 0
• 63. Dario CATALDO, (ITA) Quick Step, at 0
• 64. Xavier FLORENCIO CABRE, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 0
• 65. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0
• 66. Assan BAZAYEV, (KAZ) Astana, at 0
• 67. Romain ZINGLE, (BEL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 68. Arnaud LABBE, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 69. Niki TERPSTRA, (NED) Milram, at 0
• 70. Frank SCHLECK, (LUX) Team Saxo Bank, at 0
• 71. Gonzalo RABUNAL RIOS, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 0
• 72. Guillaume BONNAFOND, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
• 73. Manuel ORTEGA OCANA, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 0
• 74. David GARCIA DA PENA, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 0
• 75. Jean-Christophe PERAUD, (FRA) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 0
• 76. Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, (BLR) HTC-Columbia, at 0
• 77. Luis Leon SANCHEZ GIL, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 0
• 78. Laurens TEN DAM, (NED) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0
• 79. Tony GALLOPIN, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 80. Oliver ZAUGG, (SUI) Liquigas-Doimo, at 0
• 81. Gustav LARSSON, (SWE) Team Saxo Bank, at 0
• 82. Giampaolo CARUSO, (ITA) Team Katusha, at 0
• 83. Mauricio ARDILA CANO, (COL) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0
• 84. Vladimir GUSEV, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 0
• 85. Delio FERNANDEZ CRUZ, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 0
• 86. Juan Jose OROZ UGALDE, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0
• 87. Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, (ESP) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0
• 88. Serafin MARTINEZ, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 0
• 89. Filippo POZZATO, (ITA) Team Katusha, at 0
• 90. Xavier TONDO VOLPINI, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 0
• 91. Rigoberto URAN URAN, (COL) Caisse D’Epargne, at 0
• 92. Ludovic TURPIN, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
• 93. Alexandr KOLOBNEV, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 0
• 94. Mikel NIEVE ITURALDE, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0
• 95. Javier MORENO BAZAN, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 0
• 96. Björn SCHRÖDER, (GER) Milram, at 0
• 97. Grischa NIERMANN, (GER) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0
• 98. Peter KENNAUGH, (GBR) Team Sky, at 0
• 99. José Angel GOMEZ MARCHANTE, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 0
• 100. Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0
• 101. Luis PASAMONTES RODRIGUEZ, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 0
• 102. Dmitriy FOFONOV, (KAZ) Astana, at 0
• 103. Sergey RENEV, (KAZ) Astana, at 0
• 104. Juan Manuel GARATE, (ESP) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0
• 105. Grega BOLE, (SLO) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 0
• 106. Alexsandr DYACHENKO, (KAZ) Astana, at 0
• 107. Hayden ROULSTON, (NZL) HTC-Columbia, at 0
• 108. Kevin DE WEERT, (BEL) Quick Step, at 0
• 109. Juan HORRACH RIPPOLL, (ESP) Team Katusha, at 0
• 110. Jose Alberto BENITEZ ROMAN, (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 0
• 111. Vladimir KARPETS, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 0
• 112. Inigo CUESTA LOPEZ DE CASTRO, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 0
• 113. Sergio CARRASCO GARCIA, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 0
• 114. Rémi PAURIOL, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 115. Jurgen VAN GOOLEN, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 0
• 116. José Luis ARRIETA LUJAMBIO, (ESP) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 0
• 117. David LOPEZ GARCIA, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 0
• 118. Carlos SASTRE CANDIL, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 0
• 119. Nico SIJMENS, (BEL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 120. Gustavo Rodriguez IGLESIAS, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 0
• 121. Matthieu SPRICK, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 0
• 122. Nick NUYENS, (BEL) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0
• 123. Mauro FINETTO, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 0
• 124. Vincent JEROME, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 0
• 125. Simon GERRANS, (AUS) Team Sky, at 0
• 126. Oscar PUJOL MUNOZ, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 0
• 127. Lars Petter NORDHAUG, (NOR) Team Sky, at 0
• 128. Christophe LE MEVEL, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 0
• 129. David MONCOUTIE, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 0
• 130. Michel KREDER, (NED) Garmin-Transitions, at 0
• 131. Sebastian LANGEVELD, (NED) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 0
• 132. Manuele MORI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 33
• 133. Marcos GARCIA, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 38
• 134. Fabian CANCELLARA, (SUI) Team Saxo Bank, at 39
• 135. Paul VOSS, (GER) Milram, at 42
• 136. Rémy DI GREGORIO, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 43
• 137. Daniele PIETROPOLLI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 43
• 138. José Vicente GARCIA ACOSTA, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 48
• 139. Dominik ROELS, (GER) Milram, at 49
• 140. Stuart O’GRADY, (AUS) Team Saxo Bank, at 58
• 141. Matteo TOSATTO, (ITA) Quick Step, at 58
• 142. Anders LUND, (DEN) Team Saxo Bank, at 58
• 143. Matthew WILSON, (AUS) Garmin-Transitions, at 58
• 144. Antonio PIEDRA PEREZ, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 58
• 145. David MILLAR, (GBR) Garmin-Transitions, at 58
• 146. Ivan SANTAROMITA, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 1:02
• 147. Andrey ZEITS, (KAZ) Astana, at 1:02
• 148. Amets TXURRUKA, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:02
• 149. Juan Javier ESTRADA RUIZ, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 1:02
• 150. Perrig QUEMENEUR, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 1:02
• 151. Jose Vicente TORIBIO ALCOLEA, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 1:02
• 152. Roman KREUZIGER, (CZE) Liquigas-Doimo, at 1:02
• 153. Nicolas VOGONDY, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 1:02
• 154. Vladimir ISAICHEV, (RUS) Xacobeo Galicia, at 1:02
• 155. Daniele RIGHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 1:02
• 156. Javier RAMIREZ ABEJA, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 1:02
• 157. Hubert DUPONT, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:02
• 158. Andy SCHLECK, (LUX) Team Saxo Bank, at 1:02
• 159. Mickael DELAGE, (FRA) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:02
• 160. Philip DEIGNAN, (IRL) Cervélo TestTeam, at 1:02
• 161. Johnnie WALKER, (AUS) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 1:02
• 162. Pierre CAZAUX, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 1:02
• 163. Gianni MEERSMAN, (BEL) Française des Jeux, at 1:02
• 164. Arthur VICHOT, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 1:02
• 165. Thomas LÖVKVIST, (SWE) Team Sky, at 1:02
• 166. Kjell CARLSTRÖM, (FIN) Team Sky, at 1:02
• 167. Jorge Martin MONTENEGRO, (ARG) Andalucia Cajasur, at 1:02
• 168. Kasper KLOSTERGAARD LARSEN, (DEN) Team Saxo Bank, at 1:02
• 169. Giampaolo CHEULA, (ITA) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 1:02
• 170. Branislau SAMOILAU, (BLR) Quick Step, at 1:25
• 171. Dmitry KOZONTCHUK, (RUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:32
• 172. Christian VANDEVELDE, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 1:36
• 173. David ZABRISKIE, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 1:36
• 174. Biel KADRI, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:36
• 175. Julian DEAN, (NZL) Garmin-Transitions, at 1:36
• 176. Leif HOSTE, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:36
• 177. David GUTIERREZ GUTIERREZ, (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 1:36
• 178. Martin VELITS, (SVK) HTC-Columbia, at 1:36
• 179. Johann TSCHOPP, (SUI) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 1:36
• 180. Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:01
• 181. David VITORIA, (SUI) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 2:09
• 182. Mikhail IGNATYEV, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 2:09
• 183. Marco MARZANO, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 2:09
• 184. Jelle VANENDERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 2:16
• 185. Olivier KAISEN, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 2:16
• 186. Freddy BICHOT, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 2:24
• 187. Christophe RIBLON, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2:26
• 188. Dominic KLEMME, (GER) Team Saxo Bank, at 2:34
• 189. Martin PEDERSEN, (DEN) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 3:20
• 190. Lars Ytting BAK, (DEN) HTC-Columbia, at 6:04
• 191. Pierre ROLLAND, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 13:52
• 192. Davide MALACARNE, (ITA) Quick Step, at 13:52
• DNF. Juan Antonio FLECHA GIANNONI, (ESP) Team Sky, at

• 1. Philippe GILBERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 27:12:38
• 2. Igor ANTON HERNANDEZ, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 10
• 3. Joaquin RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, (ESP) Team Katusha, at 10
• 4. Vincenzo NIBALI, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 12
• 5. Peter VELITS, (SVK) HTC-Columbia, at 16
• 6. Tejay VAN GARDEREN, (USA) HTC-Columbia, at 29
• 7. Xavier TONDO VOLPINI, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 49
• 8. Frank SCHLECK, (LUX) Team Saxo Bank, at 50
• 9. Ruben PLAZA MOLINA, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 54
• 10. Ezequiel MOSQUERA MIGUEZ, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 55
• 11. Nicolas ROCHE, (IRL) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 58
• 12. Marzio BRUSEGHIN, (ITA) Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:01
• 13. David ARROYO DURAN, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:01
• 14. Denis MENCHOV, (RUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 1:11
• 15. Rigoberto URAN URAN, (COL) Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:19
• 16. Thomas DANIELSON, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 1:21
• 17. Luis Leon SANCHEZ GIL, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 1:24
• 18. Vladimir KARPETS, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 1:24
• 19. Jean-Christophe PERAUD, (FRA) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:33
• 20. Mikel NIEVE ITURALDE, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:14
• 21. Carlos SASTRE CANDIL, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 2:15
• 22. Jan BAKELANDTS, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 2:19
• 23. Carlos BARREDO LLAMAZALES, (ESP) Quick Step, at 2:20
• 24. Greg VAN AVERMAET, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 2:24
• 25. Andrey KASHECHKIN, (KAZ) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 2:27
• 26. Markus FOTHEN, (GER) Milram, at 2:28
• 27. David GARCIA DA PENA, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 2:30
• 28. Alexsandr DYACHENKO, (KAZ) Astana, at 2:40
• 29. Vladimir GUSEV, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 2:54
• 30. Kanstantsin SIVTSOV, (BLR) HTC-Columbia, at 3:01
• 31. Javier MORENO BAZAN, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 3:09
• 32. Alexandr KOLOBNEV, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 3:15
• 33. Gustav LARSSON, (SWE) Team Saxo Bank, at 3:56
• 34. Thomas PETERSON, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 3:59
• 35. Inigo CUESTA LOPEZ DE CASTRO, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 4:09
• 36. Laurens TEN DAM, (NED) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 4:17
• 37. Mikael CHEREL, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 4:33
• 38. Christophe LE MEVEL, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 4:58
• 39. Luis PASAMONTES RODRIGUEZ, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 5:03
• 40. Guillaume BONNAFOND, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 5:21
• 41. David LOPEZ GARCIA, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 5:27
• 42. Ludovic TURPIN, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 5:44
• 43. Lars Petter NORDHAUG, (NOR) Team Sky, at 6:10
• 44. Filippo POZZATO, (ITA) Team Katusha, at 6:12
• 45. Roman KREUZIGER, (CZE) Liquigas-Doimo, at 6:37
• 46. Josep JUFRE POU, (ESP) Astana, at 6:58
• 47. José Angel GOMEZ MARCHANTE, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 6:59
• 48. Manuele MORI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 7:00
• 49. Roy SENTJENS, (BEL) Milram, at 7:39
• 50. Marco MARZANO, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 7:51
• 51. Rémy DI GREGORIO, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 10:02
• 52. Jose Alberto BENITEZ ROMAN, (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 10:22
• 53. Juan Manuel GARATE, (ESP) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 10:24
• 54. Marcos GARCIA, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 10:39
• 55. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 11:54
• 56. Ivan SANTAROMITA, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 12:43
• 57. Juan Jose OROZ UGALDE, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 13:01
• 58. Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 13:17
• 59. Giampaolo CARUSO, (ITA) Team Katusha, at 13:18
• 60. David MONCOUTIE, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 13:48
• 61. Enrico GASPAROTTO, (ITA) Astana, at 14:59
• 62. Xavier FLORENCIO CABRE, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 15:12
• 63. Daniele BENNATI, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 15:30
• 64. Mauro FINETTO, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 15:57
• 65. Maciej PATERSKI, (POL) Liquigas-Doimo, at 16:02
• 66. Assan BAZAYEV, (KAZ) Astana, at 16:09
• 67. Andrey ZEITS, (KAZ) Astana, at 16:42
• 68. Jurgen VAN GOOLEN, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 16:50
• 69. Sébastien MINARD, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 17:16
• 70. Oscar PUJOL MUNOZ, (ESP) Cervélo TestTeam, at 18:24
• 71. Serafin MARTINEZ, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 18:56
• 72. Gonzalo RABUNAL RIOS, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 19:50
• 73. Johannes FRÖHLINGER, (GER) Milram, at 19:52
• 74. Dario CATALDO, (ITA) Quick Step, at 19:53
• 75. Pablo URTASUN PEREZ, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 20:09
• 76. Daniele PIETROPOLLI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 20:40
• 77. Niki TERPSTRA, (NED) Milram, at 21:14
• 78. Delio FERNANDEZ CRUZ, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 21:15
• 79. Grega BOLE, (SLO) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 21:50
• 80. Arthur VICHOT, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 22:14
• 81. Amets TXURRUKA, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 23:19
• 82. Tony GALLOPIN, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 23:26
• 83. Gustavo CESAR VELOSO, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 23:44
• 84. Matthieu SPRICK, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 26:09
• 85. Juan HORRACH RIPPOLL, (ESP) Team Katusha, at 26:26
• 86. Romain ZINGLE, (BEL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 27:32
• 87. Sergey RENEV, (KAZ) Astana, at 27:32
• 88. Samuel DUMOULIN, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 28:10
• 89. Vincent JEROME, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 28:54
• 90. Matteo TOSATTO, (ITA) Quick Step, at 29:09
• 91. Andy SCHLECK, (LUX) Team Saxo Bank, at 30:00
• 92. Gustavo Rodriguez IGLESIAS, (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia, at 30:03
• 93. Juan Javier ESTRADA RUIZ, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 30:45
• 94. Pierre ROLLAND, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 30:56
• 95. Grischa NIERMANN, (GER) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 31:24
• 96. Johann TSCHOPP, (SUI) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 31:35
• 97. Perrig QUEMENEUR, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 31:43
• 98. Imanol ERVITI, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 31:45
• 99. Dmitriy FOFONOV, (KAZ) Astana, at 31:55
• 100. Thomas LÖVKVIST, (SWE) Team Sky, at 33:02
• 101. Björn SCHRÖDER, (GER) Milram, at 33:19
• 102. Manuel ORTEGA OCANA, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 33:59
• 103. Danilo HONDO, (GER) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 34:00
• 104. Markus EICHLER, (GER) Milram, at 34:25
• 105. Paul VOSS, (GER) Milram, at 34:39
• 106. Biel KADRI, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 35:19
• 107. Allan DAVIS, (AUS) Astana, at 35:33
• 108. Oliver ZAUGG, (SUI) Liquigas-Doimo, at 37:18
• 109. Nicolas VOGONDY, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 37:29
• 110. Javier RAMIREZ ABEJA, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 37:38
• 111. Hubert DUPONT, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 37:40
• 112. José Luis ARRIETA LUJAMBIO, (ESP) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 38:04
• 113. Rinaldo NOCENTINI, (ITA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 38:17
• 114. Sébastien HINAULT, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 38:50
• 115. Daniele RIGHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 39:16
• 116. Jelle VANENDERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 40:28
• 117. Frederik WILLEMS, (BEL) Liquigas-Doimo, at 40:30
• 118. Manuel Antonio Leal CARDOSO, (POR) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 40:32
• 119. Thor HUSHOVD, (NOR) Cervélo TestTeam, at 40:36
• 120. Martin VELITS, (SVK) HTC-Columbia, at 40:49
• 121. Anders LUND, (DEN) Team Saxo Bank, at 40:55
• 122. Christian VANDEVELDE, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 41:08
• 123. Antonio PIEDRA PEREZ, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 41:12
• 124. Gianni MEERSMAN, (BEL) Française des Jeux, at 41:12
• 125. Giampaolo CHEULA, (ITA) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 41:14
• 126. Sergio CARRASCO GARCIA, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 41:52
• 127. Rémi PAURIOL, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 42:14
• 128. Yoann OFFREDO, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 42:19
• 129. Dominik ROELS, (GER) Milram, at 42:31
• 130. José Vicente GARCIA ACOSTA, (ESP) Caisse D’Epargne, at 42:59
• 131. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 44:04
• 132. Michel KREDER, (NED) Garmin-Transitions, at 44:09
• 133. Kevin DE WEERT, (BEL) Quick Step, at 44:16
• 134. Sébastien CHAVANEL, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 44:36
• 135. William BONNET, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 44:49
• 136. Enrique MATA, (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 44:50
• 137. Oscar FREIRE GOMEZ, (ESP) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 44:52
• 138. Nikolas MAES, (BEL) Quick Step, at 46:43
• 139. Koldo FERNANDEZ, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 47:11
• 140. Stuart O’GRADY, (AUS) Team Saxo Bank, at 47:26
• 141. Alexandre PICHOT, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 47:28
• 142. Andreas STAUFF, (GER) Quick Step, at 47:32
• 143. Leif HOSTE, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 48:40
• 144. David MILLAR, (GBR) Garmin-Transitions, at 48:43
• 145. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 48:52
• 146. Nico SIJMENS, (BEL) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 48:54
• 147. Pierre CAZAUX, (FRA) Française des Jeux, at 48:58
• 148. Davide MALACARNE, (ITA) Quick Step, at 49:08
• 149. Kasper KLOSTERGAARD LARSEN, (DEN) Team Saxo Bank, at 49:12
• 150. Wouter WEYLANDT, (BEL) Quick Step, at 49:26
• 151. Yauheni HUTAROVICH, (BLR) Française des Jeux, at 50:21
• 152. Robert FöRSTER, (GER) Milram, at 50:26
• 153. Stefan DENIFL, (AUT) Cervélo TestTeam, at 50:30
• 154. Ian STANNARD, (GBR) Team Sky, at 50:39
• 155. Hayden ROULSTON, (NZL) HTC-Columbia, at 51:10
• 156. Vladimir ISAICHEV, (RUS) Xacobeo Galicia, at 51:32
• 157. Jacopo GUARNIERI, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 52:18
• 158. David GUTIERREZ GUTIERREZ, (ESP) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 52:35
• 159. Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 53:06
• 160. Olivier KAISEN, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 53:11
• 161. Matthew Harley GOSS, (AUS) HTC-Columbia, at 53:31
• 162. Martin PEDERSEN, (DEN) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 53:37
• 163. Branislau SAMOILAU, (BLR) Quick Step, at 53:56
• 164. Philip DEIGNAN, (IRL) Cervélo TestTeam, at 54:15
• 165. Sebastian LANGEVELD, (NED) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 54:29
• 166. Simon GERRANS, (AUS) Team Sky, at 55:46
• 167. Lars Ytting BAK, (DEN) HTC-Columbia, at 56:12
• 168. Mauricio ARDILA CANO, (COL) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 56:24
• 169. Angelo FURLAN, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, at 56:25
• 170. Mark CAVENDISH, (GBR) HTC-Columbia, at 56:46
• 171. David VITORIA, (SUI) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 56:50
• 172. Jorge Martin MONTENEGRO, (ARG) Andalucia Cajasur, at 57:33
• 173. Johnnie WALKER, (AUS) Footon – Servetto – Fuji, at 57:33
• 174. Freddy BICHOT, (FRA) BBox Bouygues Telecom, at 57:45
• 175. Juan José HAEDO, (ARG) Team Saxo Bank, at 57:46
• 176. Nick NUYENS, (BEL) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 57:54
• 177. Theo BOS, (NED) Cervélo TestTeam, at 57:56
• 178. Denis GALIMZYANOV, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 58:32
• 179. Mikhail IGNATYEV, (RUS) Team Katusha, at 58:34
• 180. Christophe RIBLON, (FRA) Ag2r La Mondiale, at 58:55
• 181. Dmitry KOZONTCHUK, (RUS) Rabobank Cycling Team, at 59:07
• 182. Matthew WILSON, (AUS) Garmin-Transitions, at 59:11
• 183. Dominic KLEMME, (GER) Team Saxo Bank, at 1:01:36
• 184. Mickael DELAGE, (FRA) Omega Pharma-Lotto, at 1:01:46
• 185. Peter KENNAUGH, (GBR) Team Sky, at 1:02:07
• 186. Fabian CANCELLARA, (SUI) Team Saxo Bank, at 1:03:15
• 187. David ZABRISKIE, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 1:04:21
• 188. Jose Vicente TORIBIO ALCOLEA, (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur, at 1:05:01
• 189. Kjell CARLSTRÖM, (FIN) Team Sky, at 1:06:38
• 190. Valentin IGLINSKIY, (KAZ) Astana, at 1:12:03
• 191. Arnaud LABBE, (FRA) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne, at 1:12:14
• 192. Julian DEAN, (NZL) Garmin-Transitions, at 1:27:40

Alessandro Petacchi wins the seventh stage of the Vuelta a España.

The veteran Italian took a strong sprint victory in Friday’s seventh stage into Orihuela, leaving Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia) trailing in his wake with second and JJ Haedo (Saxo Bank)crossing the line third.

So far through seven stages, there have been no repeat winners and Cavendish has gone winless through three contested sprints. The Manxster was boxed in during the sprint, but got a consolation by taking over the points jersey category.

“I was on Petacchi’s wheel and a Quick Step rider came to the front. He was sprinting but not sprinting. It was my problem for being in the box, I should have been out for the win. My team did a good job, so I’m disappointed. I’m in the points jersey, so it’s ok.”

Lampre did a great job setting up Ale-Jet through a narrow finishing kilometer that included two tight chicanes that made positioning key for the sprint. Haedo was getting a lead-out from Fabian Cancellara while Tyler Farrar, a winner in Lorca two days ago, who is missing the still-injured Julian Dean, could only muster fifth in the tight scramble.

The victory was Petacchi’s 52nd stage win in grand tours, the most among active riders.

“It’s always difficult to win a sprint but it is particularly difficult to win here because of the number of fast riders that are competing in the Vuelta,” Petacchi said. “This win was really needed. Getting 20 wins in a Grand Tour isn’t an easy task. My 52 stage wins at the three Grand Tours at the age of 36 shows to the young cyclists that a career can be long and successful, but it also requires a lot of sacrifices.”

Petacchi admitted that the controversy surrounding a new round of doping allegations levelled at him during the Tour de France threw his life into turmoil. Petacchi, who had already served a ban for high levels of Salbutamol in 2007, was allegedly the focus of new investigations in Italy, something he denied.

“After the Tour de France I’ve had one of the worse periods of my career. I’ve spent more time with my solicitor than my family and it’s been harmful,” Petacchi said. “For 25 days I’ve trained very little. I had a big lack of training when I arrived in Spain. Therefore, winning here brings me an enormous happiness.”

With most of the favorites using the Vuelta to train for the upcoming world championships, Petacchi was quick to discount his chances. He’s not even sure if he’ll make the highly competitive Italian squad, which will likely center around Filippo Pozzato.

“Now the world championship is another story because it’s a 260km long race. It’s difficult to think that 100 riders will contest a sprint for the rainbow jersey. You need to have a great condition for riding the World’s. I yet have to improve mine before deciding anything. It’s up to [national coach Paolo] Bettini to decide anyway. It’s still a long way to go to this race in October.”

The stage followed a familiar pattern, with an early breakaway attempt carving out a promising lead only to see it succumb to the larger interests of the peloton. So far through seven stages, no breakaways have proven successful.

Four riders pulled clear — Martin Pedersen (Footon-Servetto), Vladimir Isaichev, (Xacobeo Galicia) Dominik Roels (Milram) and Jorge Montenegro (Andalucia Cajasur) gained almost nine minutes before Lampre, FDJ, Garmin and Columbia started the chase in earnest.

Philippe Gilbert (Omega-Lotto) safely defended his red leader’s jersey, but will have a tougher go in Saturday’s potentially explosive eighth stage that climbs the short but steep Cat. 1 Alto de Xorret de Catí.

The five-climb, 190km could see the 2010 Vuelta’s first breakaway stay clear, especially with a rider like David Moncoutie (Cofidis), who is chasing the climber’s jersey. The GC favorites will be eyeing each other and waiting for the Catí showdown.

The climb is like a wall, almost as steep as the Angliru in some sections. In fact, it’s called the Angliru of the south. Then there’s an equally steep 3km descent and then slightly kicks up in the final 400 meters to the line.

The GC is still packed tight and Saturday’s stage could reveal who has the legs to go for the overall victory.

Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Columbia) continues to be in the right place at the right time during the first week of his Vuelta debut. The grand tour rookie was well-placed as the main pack split on the narrow run into Orihuela and didn’t lose time on GC to remain sixth overall.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Van Garderen said at the finish line. “This weekend will be hard. My legs are feeling good. I hope to be OK.”

Tom Danielson (Garmin-Transitions) is also doing well, surviving a series of steep, explosive climbs that are not his favorite terrain to slot into 15th overall at 1:21 back, just 10 seconds behind two-time Vuelta champion Denis Menchov (Rabobank).

Brief results:
Stage:

• 1. Alessandro PETACCHI, (ITA) Lampre-Farnese Vini, in 4:36:12
• 2. Mark CAVENDISH, (GBR) HTC-Columbia, at 0
• 3. Juan José HAEDO, (ARG) Team Saxo Bank, at 0
• 4. Andreas STAUFF, (GER) Quick Step, at 0
• 5. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Transitions, at 0
• Complete results

GC:

• 1. Philippe GILBERT, (BEL) Omega Pharma-Lotto, in 27:12:38
• 2. Igor ANTON HERNANDEZ, (ESP) Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 10
• 3. Joaquin RODRIGUEZ OLIVER, (ESP) Team Katusha, at 10
• 4. Vincenzo NIBALI, (ITA) Liquigas-Doimo, at 12
• 5. Peter VELITS, (SVK) HTC-Columbia, at 16
• Complete results

Txema González, a Spanish massage therapist on Team Sky, died Friday in Sevilla, but team officials denied he succumbed to the same virus that is affecting the British-backed team.

González, 43, had been in a hospital in Sevilla since falling ill Sunday and died during the course of Friday’s seventh stage at the Vuelta a España.

Team Sky officials said Friday that González died of a bacterial infection.

“Txema contracted a bacterial infection which entered the bloodstream and developed in a sepsis,” Team Sky’s head of medical Dr. Steve Peters said in a statement. “The toxins from this had damaged the organs in his body and he went into a septic shock and unfortunately succumbed to that.

“I should also clarify that this bacterial infection has nothing to do with the viral infection which many of the team have suffered with in Spain, causing stomach upset.”

Riders were unaware of the bad news until they arrived at the Team Sky bus at the end of the stage in Orihuela.

A native of Vitoria in Spain’s Basque Country, González raced as an amateur and worked with Euskaltel-Euskadi and Saunier Duval before joining Team Sky.

Speaking on Spanish TV, Vuelta race director Javier Guillén expressed his condolences.

“We just found about it. It’s disastrous news,” Guillén said. “We had heard that he was in bad condition, but we never expected this. We never could have imagined this would have happened. He’s part of the cycling family, part of the Vuelta. We will honor his memory tomorrow morning before the start, that’s the least we can do. This is very, very sad news.”

Team Sky officials had kept the news under wraps, but Spanish journalists noticed that the veteran assistant was not on the race as planned.

Three Team Sky members have pulled out of the Vuelta since Sunday’s start. Juan Antonio Flecha was admitted to a hospital overnight, but started Friday’s stage only to abandon midway through the race.

Earlier this week, John Lee Augustyn and Ben Swift pulled out with a mysterious virus that’s sweeping through the team.

The source of the virus is not clear, but Team Sky officials have ruled out food poisoning.

“We are devastated to report that Txema tragically passed away on Friday evening in hospital in Sevilla. His close family were with him,” said Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford. “Txema will be remembered as a warm-hearted colleague who was a joy to work with and was universally respected by our team and throughout the pro cycling scene. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

There’s still too much tech on show at Eurobike for one reporter to manage. But a few bits and pieces jump out.

For example, a pedal-based power meter built around Look’s Keo platform and made to communicate with Polar cycling computers. According to Look representatives, early versions of the system were developed some nine years ago just to quantify the stresses exerted on pedal spindles. But a conversation with Polar around a year ago led to the collaboration that might bring to market the world’s first viable pedal-based power meter.

If you recall from Interbike last year, a company called Metrigear has been working on something similar called the Vector. It was built with Speedplay Zero pedals and relied on ANT+ wireless transmission to any compatible computer head. However, 12 months later there’s still been no announcement of pending availability, so observers might be forgiven for reacting with some initial skepticism.

Like the Metrigear, the Polar Look Keo Power system is still far from ready for delivery. Right now, the companies don’t forecast availability until spring 2011. Testing and validation in real-world conditions is still pending. Even then, estimated price for a complete system is somewhere between 1500 and 1800 Euro — that’s about $2,000, and that doesn’t include a Polar computer head.

But if it works out, the Polar Look system could be revolutionary. Similar to the Metrigear Vector, the Look system is based around strain gauges measuring deformation in the pedal spindle. Each spindle has eight strain gauges. A Polar P5 sending unit plugs into the back side of each pedal spindle (both left and right) and zip-ties to the crankarm. The Polar unit on each side is self powered with a user-replaceable, coin-style lithium battery and transmits data to a Polar handlebar computer (the CS600X, CS600, and CS500 models will be compatible). Transmission protocol is Polar’s own WIN, so unfortunately aftermarket ANT+ units like the Garmin Edge series won’t be compatible.

The companies claim total system weight at 450 grams. Each pedal weighs 170 grams, about 80 grams heavier than Look’s lightest option, the Keo Blade titanium. Compared to a standard Keo 2Max, the weight gain is only 50 grams per pedal. Add 20 grams per sending unit (one per side), and the weight penalty for portable power measurement could be as little as 140 grams.

However, we’ll have to wait and see whether the Polar Look Keo Power System project comes to fruition with actual availability.

Check the photo gallery for the pedal system and more from Look Cycles.

The 808 comes in tubular or clincher. The clincher has the exact same profile as the tubular.

Lots of news on the wheel front here in Germany at the Eurobike trade show. Naturally there are plenty of carbon rims stamped from the same mold, but a few jump out with original engineering and design.

Zipp 808

Zipp’s position at the top of the leaderboard in the study of wheel aerodynamics is hard to dispute. Armed with some impressive drag data and computational fluid dynamics illustrations, head of engineering Josh Poertner proudly introduced Zipp’s new 808 rims.

The new rim features the company’s Firecrest profile, a rim shape that debuted with the 404 clincher earlier this season. It’s got wide, parallel walls and a fat, blunt inner rim wall (spoke bed). Zipp’s earlier designs placed a toroidal bulge behind the tire to reduce turbulence at the wheel’s leading edge, but Firecrest shifts the widest point of the rim inward towards the hub and tapers only slightly towards the tire. The blunt shape helps keep airflow attached to the wheel and laminar as it comes off the sidewalls and exits the wheel’s path. The new 808 also sports a wide tire bed that Zipp carefully shaped to match the profile of 23c tubular tires for better glue adhesion. And, the edges of the tire bed are now reinforced and profiled in the same way as the 303 rims, for better impact and pinch flat resistance.

In addition to the tubular 808, there’s a carbon clincher version. The rim shape and aerodynamics are exactly the same as the tubulars. Despite their upgraded aerodynamics, weights for Firecrest-based wheels remain quite light: 1278g for the 404 Tubular, 1557g for the 404 Carbon Clincher, 1519g for the 808 Tubular, and 1759g for the 808 Carbon Clincher. Suggested retail prices are $2300 for the 404 Tubular, $2700 for the 404 Carbon Clincher, $2500 for the 808 Tubular, and $2950 for the 808 Carbon Clincher. Clincher wheels with aluminum braking surfaces are still available for both the 404 (1658g, $2,300) and 808 (1912g, $2,500).

With a factory literally just a few kilometers from Messe Friedrichshafen where Eurobike convenes annually, local builder Lightweight’s display in the show hall is popular. The company showed off a new disc wheel with a claimed weight of just 780 grams. It’s built with tensioned carbon strands similar to their original, internally spoked disc.

With just eight spokes, Lightweight means for the new VR 8 to be more aero than a typical Obermeyer model.

Also new from the Germany company is a radical eight-spoke front wheel. Lightweight built it as an aerodynamic complement to the disc. Claimed weight is 650 grams with significant improvements to airflow and no reduction in stiffness.

We’ll have more details from Lightweight in the weeks to come.

Not to be outdone by Zipp’s 303, Hed introduces the Stinger 5. It’s built with a rim shape similar to the 46mm deep Stinger 4, but the tire bed and aerodynamics are engineered specifically for 25mm and larger tires. The Stinger 5 is Hed’s version of a cyclocross and classics-style wheelset. The rims are built for impact resistance and strength.

Hed also widens the aluminum tubular tire bed of the Ardennes series of wheels and brings carbon fiber front hubs to most of the entire wheel line. Finally, the rear wheels move to 2-cross lacing for added stiffness.

Aerodynamics and composites wizard Paul Lew showed off some of his designs in the Reynolds booth. Lew takes an approach opposite of that employed by Hed and Zipp, relying on extremely sharp edges and NACA aero profiles in his rims and spokes.

New in the line this year is the addition of a small lip or “trip” at the spoke bed on Reynolds’s entire road rim line. This “Swirl Lip Generator” debuted on the ultralight, sub-900 gram RZR wheelset last year and is meant to deliberately trick airflow into moving more smoothly across the rim. Also new is a different carbon material and high temperature resin in the brake track. Combined with new pads, Lew claims a 100-degree Fahrenheit reduction in brake pad and track surface temperature.

Finally, Lew’s moving forward with an updated version of the original RZR wheel. It turned heads last year as the lightest production wheelset ever built, but didn’t meet the needs of certain riders. So Lew and Reynolds added about 100 grams to the wheelset to improve stiffness and to pass the UCI’s crash-impact test. The new version of the RZR is still extremely light at just around 1000 grams for the pair, but should be quite a bit stiffer than the original.

Check the photo gallery for more details on these and additional wheel developments.

What's crazy about the Di2 Colnago is that there's no battery or wires visible at all - everything is completely internal.

Colnago has two new models for 2011. They’ve both been on the scene since earlier in the year, but aside from a quick look at BBox-Bouygues team bikes at the Tour I hadn’t yet zeroed in on the new C59 model. The C59 Italia is Colnago’s new all-Italian, top of the line, custom-made racing bike. It’s similar to the EPS, but with a re-shaped top and down tube in the mold of original Master cloverleaf tubes. Both are internally ribbed for added stiffness. The chain stays and seat stays are square, also aimed at increasing rigidity. Colnago says the bike was four years in development and weighs about 1000 grams for the frame.

Also from Colnago, the new M10 monocoque frame commands prime real estate in the Italian booth. Colnago says the M10 builds on the construction methods pioneered with their popular CX-1 model. Updated lamination technology and materials used in the manufacture of the M10 make it lighter than the CX-1 and stiffer laterally thanks to a bigger bottom bracket, but with a little more vertical absorption to provide more comfort. It sports current design elements like a tapered head tube and fork, plus internal cable routing.

New for the year from the Cannibal’s own lair is the EMX-7. It’s built as a monocoque from 62HM carbon fiber and includes an integrated, aero-profiled seat tube. The aerodynamic fork blades merge with a crown profile mated to the down tube and the seat stays share a bladed, aero cross section. The cables are routed internally, entering the frame through the oversized, tapered head tube. Chainstays are asymmetric for stiffness, as is the oversized bottom bracket.

A clever window in the Eddy Merckx EMX-7 paint reveals carbon fiber underneath.

Improved comfort was Lapierre’s goal with the updated Sensium. The model was part of last year’s range, but now sports an elastomer damper in the upper end of the curved seat stays. Other frame features include a tapered head tube, 4mm of additional chainstay length over the race-oriented Xelius, and internal cable routing.

But the real news from Lapierre is the introduction of the W Series. No, it’s not a women’s bike line. The “W” stands for “web,” and the series is centered on an Internet-based custom build program not unlike Trek’s Project One. Starting with either a Sensium or Xelius road frame, riders can choose their preferred size and color, wheelset, component group, saddle, and cockpit components. Once the build is finalized, the order can be placed through a Lapierre dealer for delivery to the shop.

Ridley's Flandrien collection flaunts the Belgium heritage

Even though many of the big bike brands unveiled their premium bikes earlier in the year, at private media events or major races like the Tour de France, new models of one sort or another lurk in nearly every booth here. And even if there are no new bikes to show, most brands dress up a few flashy frames simply for the sake of attracting attention.

Here are some of the ones that jumped out at me on day 2. Since we generally have better year-round access to American brands, I focused on European bikes. But don’t fret – there’s plenty more to see in the coming days.

Eric Wallace is the new marketing manager for Ridley Bicycles in North America. He described a few new models for the Belgian brand, including the Noah RS aero road bike. It’s built with most of the same features as the original, super-aero Noah, but at a price roughly $1000 less. The front half of the bike sports the Noah’s R-Flow split blade fork and slippery tube shapes, but the rear half lacks the distinctive Noa R-Flow split chainstays and the integrated seat mast. Instead, the seat tube accepts a traditional seat post –a boon for travel. The seat tube does however wear strips of R-Surface textured paint, designed to energize airflow and create a boundary layer against the tube. Naturally the cables are routed internally.

The Ridley Noah RS lacks the split stays of the Noah, and uses a standard seatpost, but otherwise shares many feature at a lower cost.

Also on the way for 2011 is a collection of three models dressed up with a very Belgian theme. The collection is called the Flandrian range and will launch in April with the Helium, X-Caliber, and Icaraus frame platforms. They wear Belgian-inspired graphics, 100-percent Campagnolo drivetrains, and custom, hand-laced 32-spoke wheels with cobbled classics-style box-section rims. Wallace said that Ridley is excited to capitalize on riders’ emotional association and excitement with the Belgian Lion of Flanders logo.

Right now, it’s not possible to buy a Canyon bicycle in the United States. But, “We expect that Canyon bikes will be available in America sometime in 2011,” said Tim Maloney, PR agent for the brand. He wasn’t able to specify exactly when, where, or how a rider in the USA would be able to get one of the German-engineered machines, but he certainly served notice that the company is investigating options for an invasion of American soil.

Reversing the removable fork dropout chips alters fork rake for tunable ride characteristics.

In Europe, Canyon is a consumer-direct mail order brand, much the same as Dell Computers in the USA. Whether or not that’s the sales plan for America, Maloney couldn’t say. “We have a lot of interest, but we currently just can’t ship to the USA,” he said. “However, if you wanted one badly enough, you could order a bike online, have it ship to an address in Germany, then come pick it up in person while you vacation on the continent,” he described.

Regardless, Canyon is out with a new aero road bike called the Aeroad CF. It’s quite a departure from the company’s current top of the line Ultimate CF SLX. Whereas the Ultimate frames are known for best-in-class stiffness to weight ratios, the Aeroad CF was built to be efficient in the wind. Canyon engineers narrowed and tapered the head tube and bladed the fork and frame tubes to achieve a claimed 20-percent reduction in frontal surface area.

A few other neat details:

• The fork dropouts have reversible “chips” which alter the wheel’s clamp location in the fork blades, thereby adjusting the effective fork rake and handling. The feature is called Rake Shift.
• Micro grains of basalt rock incorporated with the carbon laminate in the fork and aero seat post help add flex and vibration damping for comfort;
• Internal cable routing is compatible with either Di2 or mechanical cables;

Canyon engineers tried to maintain their bikes’ legendary stiffness despite the much narrower frame tubes by way of an internal bottom bracket and adjustments to the carbon layup schedule.

The 2010 USA Cycling cyclocross nationals in Bend, Oregon, will feature a longer course than last year, with a new bridge/spectator underpass plus some new off-camber corners.

Organizers of the December 8-12 event, held in Bend for the second consecutive year, released a map of the new course and a preliminary event schedule on Thursday.

The new 2010 race course is similar to last year’s, with a staircase run-up and two barriers, and several technical sections. This year the course is approximately 500 yards longer, includes three straight-aways, three off-camber sections, and a ride-over bridge that will also serve as a spectator underpass entrance to the in-field and beer garden.

“The new course will have similar technical challenges as the 2009 course, but now includes long straight-aways and additional off-camber features that will challenge every type of rider and will definitely produce worthy national champions,” said Brad Ross, the race director.

Organizers released an event schedule that includes a variety of competitions, entertainment, cultural and social meet-ups, in addition to five days of racing.

“This year’s ‘cross nats will be a five-day nonstop celebration of the cyclocross lifestyle,” said Doug La Placa, president and CEO of Visit Bend.

Mobile version

Dear Lennard,

Recently I have been encountering significant crank “creaking.”  I have an Orbea Orca with SRAM Force components (compact cranks with GXP bottom bracket). The bike is about a year old with about 1600 miles. I weigh about 160 lbs.

The creaking started primarily when climbing when more force was put on the cranks. Recently the creaking has become more constant.

When installed, Phil Wood grease was placed in all places recommended by SRAM. Additionally I placed anti-seize on the threads of the bearing cups and crank case.

-Tim

Dear Tim,

As always with a creak that sounds like it’s near the bottom bracket under load, switch shoes and pedals first and ride it hard, to ensure that it’s not a cleat or pedal. Still creaking? Then grease the chainring bolts (threads and heads of both bolts and nuts) and retighten them.

If it’s still creaking and you’re sure that you’re following all of the rules and that it’s not just your bike rebelling because you’re not, then proceed with some of the suggestions below. Otherwise, Obey the Rules.

- Lennard

Dear Lennard,

I have a 2008, 56cm, Lynskey 420 custom.  I weight in at 187 lbs.  Have Shimano Dura-Ace cranks with an Ultegra bottom bracket bearing.

I get a very frequent BB creaking.  I remove the bearing and ALWAYS notice a dry, (no grease), section on the left leg side of the bearing itself, approximately 1/2-inch wide.  I’ll clean and relube the races and the bearing and the creaking will STOP for a couple of days, then, here it comes again, creaking!

Is this an engineering problem with the frame?  A defective bearing, (it’s only two years old)?

Do I weigh too much or what?  My shop tells me that if I keep taking the BB out the taper will be worn out and ruined!!!!

-Gerry

Dear Gerry,

If it keeps clearing away the grease just in that one section, I would venture to guess that the bottom bracket shell is not faced properly (i.e., the ends of the bottom bracket shell are not parallel with each other and perpendicular to the bore of the shell). Get the shell faced by a good bike shop and see if it doesn’t go away.

It sounds like you’re using an old Dura-Ace square-taper crank and loose-bearing Ultegra bottom bracket from the 1990s or earlier. If that’s the case, then yes, continually removing and replacing the crankarms onto the square spindle will wear the hole in the crankarm slightly larger so the arms will move inboard slightly further each time they are brought up to the same torque. The worse problem is if you just once don’t tighten the crank bolt to the recommended torque; in that case, the arm will wobble on the spindle and wallow out the square hole much faster than you ever could taking it off and putting it back on ad infinitum.

-Lennard

Dear Lennard,

I have a 2009 Cannondale CAAD9. I’ve put nearly 2,600 miles on her, and I’m starting to hear a creaking sound around the carbon fork and head tube. I notice it more when I’m out of the saddle, and not as much when not. The bike is wonderful; however, I don’t want something simple to not be addressed if it needs it and turn into something big. I didn’t know if the steering tube needs to be slightly lubed or if this is just what she’ll sound like from now on.

-Randy

Dear Randy,

Sounds to me like you simply need to remove the headset cartridge bearings, slather grease all over them, and replace them. There may be some headset cups supporting the bearings in that integrated headset, and if there are, by all means remove them and grease both sides of them as well.

The chances are high that it is simply movement between the headset parts and the frame that is causing the creak. It could also of course be in the stem, where it clamps to the steerer or the handlebar, or any of a myriad other places throughout the bike. See below.

-Lennard

Dear Readers,

I knew I’d be opening a can of noisy worms again by answering some questions on creaking last week. There have been times in past years where this column could have been renamed “Creak Q &A with Lennard Zinn!” (Editor’s Note: Many of Lennard’s columns that touch upon creaking, mystery noises and other audible annoyances have been collected on one page.)

Since creaking is such a popular subject with cyclists, here is a bunch of additions from readers:

One tool that I have found indispensable for locating the source of annoying creaks, clicks, and rattles on my bikes, is a stethoscope.  I purchased an inexpensive one from a medical supply store.  I replaced the drum that would normally be placed on a patient’s chest with a short section of brass tubing.  By pointing the brass tubing at different locations on the bike, or even touching it to different parts, I can listen for the exact source of the noise.  It is also helpful for listening to wheel bearings by touching the brass tube to the axle while the wheel is spinning, to determine if they need to be overhauled.

Bryan

One creak source not mentioned is a Campy (in my case 10-speed) cassette. Campagnolo cassettes can creak and it is infuriatingly difficult to trace the source.  My titanium frame will make a sound like a seatpost, stem or particularly bottom bracket creak.  My experience is that this creaking occurs when the cassette becomes totally dry, particularly the freehub body.  So, I paint a thin coat of grease on all contact surfaces, freehub, cogs, and spacers.  Quietness.

-John

About creaks, I have another one that might come in handy. I call it the “syncopated pedaling creak,” usually a sign that the locknut on a campy cassette is not tight enough. The creak doesn’t appear on every pedal turn, rather every 2 or 3 depending on the gear (usually larger cogs + small chainring combo).

-Paul

Don’t forget the nipples on the rear spokes …they click in sync with stand up and pedal too!

-Alan

There’s one more. It’s the bolt-on rear derailleur mounts.

-Kev

I had a creak by my bottom bracket; I thought it was my bottom bracket, but as it turns out the frame was not faced properly.

-Paul

I tried everything with no avail… then I removed the rear derailleur hanger and greased the frame where the hanger fit.  Presto, no more noise.

-Bryin

For effort-related creaks, my most common cure is to open up the QR, apply some light grease or chain lube to the contact surfaces with the fork or dropout (inside and outside of the fork/dropout) and then close them fairly tightly.

-RQ

One other item subject to creaking that most people overlook is pedal cleats.  I’ve had it happen a couple of times with Speedplays.   I actually replaced the bearings and bottom bracket on a Campy Ultra Torque crank to only find out it was a loose screw on the cleats.  It sounded just like a creaking bottom bracket!

-Stan

The last two major creaks I have had were 1) from the rear quick release and 2) from the front of the saddle.

The former occurred when I didn’t tighten the QR in the rear dropouts enough with alloy QR closers.  A little WD-40 and slightly tighter tension cleared it right up (this was with vertical dropouts, so the wheel stayed in place, it was just noisy, in time with my pedaling).

The latter was with a new saddle.  I couldn’t find it for a while then realized it came from the front of the saddle, where the resin shell floats over the rails where they enter at the front.  Again, a little WD-40 stopped all the noise.

Look Keo pedals tend to squeak at the cleats after riding in the rain.  A good cleanup and WD-40 on the mating surfaces works wonders.

-Larry

Readers can send brief technical questions directly to Zinn.

Got some mountain bike tech questions? Check out Lennard’s FAQ on Singletrack.com

National champ Daniel Holloway (here at last week's Chris Thater Memorial) is a favorite at the Gateway Cup

The National Racing Calendar closed out last weekend at Chris Thater and USA Crits is on a break until the finale in Dallas on September 16. The women’s season is all but concluded and the men’s U.S. Professional Road Championships are still a couple weeks out. Fall is just around the corner and that means time for quality, regional stage racing in Vermont and Colorado and the Gateway Cup in St. Louis.

The Gateway Cup four-day omnium kicks off Friday night under the lights of the Lafayette district and continues through Labor Day. The favorites in the men’s events include new U.S. crit champ Daniel Holloway (Bissell) and Brad Huff (Jelly Belly-Kenda). The women’s field is packed with Laura Van Gilder (Mellow Mushroom) no doubt hoping to close her season out on an up note over U23 national champ Samantha Schneider (Tibco-To the Top) and Carrie Cash-Wootten (Vera Bradley Foundation).

Day 1: Studio 2108 Tour de Lafayette
September 3 8:30 p.m. (women) / 9:30 p.m. (men)
45 min + 5 laps (women) / 75 min + 5 laps (men)

Day 2: Big Shark Bicycle Co. Tour des Hills
September 4 3:30 p.m. (women) / 4:30 p.m. (men)
45 min + 5 laps (women) / 75 min + 5 laps (men)

Day 3: Giro Della Montagna
September 5 4:15 p.m. (women) / 5:50 p.m. (men)
45 min + 5 laps (women) / 75 min + 5 laps (men)

Day 4: Greenstreet Properties Benton Park Classic
September 6 2:20 p.m. (women) / 3:30 p.m. (men)
50 min + 5 laps (women) / 75 min + 5 laps (men)

The GMSR kicks off Friday in Vermont. Canadian road champion Will Routley (Jelly Belly-Kenda) and Jake Keough (UnitedHealthcare-Maxxis) will be on hand, as will the full Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com team of Jamey Driscoll (Jamis-Sutter Home), Tim Johnson (UnitedHealthcare) and Jeremy Powers (Jelly Belly). Irish champ Olivia Dillon (Peanut Butter & Co.-Twenty12), Megan Guarnier (Tibco-To the Top) and Janel Holcomb (Team Danbury Audi-Cyfac) are among the elite women set for the four-stage affair.

Stage 1: Champion System Time Trial
September 3 9:15 a.m. (women) / 10:50 a.m. (men)
5.7 miles

Stage 2: The Bridges Circuit Race
September 4 8:50 a.m. (women) / 1:00 p.m. (men)
53 miles (women) / 72 miles (men)

Stage 3: Mad River Road Race
September 5 8:30 a.m. (men) / 9:50 a.m. (women)

Stage 4: Dealer.com Burlington Criterium
September 6 2:10 p.m. (women) / 3:50 p.m. (men)
25 laps (women) / 50 laps (men)

The second annual event in the ski area town of Steamboat Springs rolls out beneath Mount Werner on Friday. Peter Stetina and Timmy Duggan (Garmin-Transitions) as well as their 2011 teammate Caleb Fairly (Holowesko Partners), and Marc de Maar and Chris Baldwin (UnitedHealthcare-Maxxis) highlight the men’s startlist. Uber veteran and current French TT champion Jeannie Longo (Vital Plus) is the top favorite on the women’s startlist.

Prologue: Aspire Time Trial
September 3 4:07 p.m. (women) / 4:25 p.m. (men)
6.2 miles

Stage 1: Marabou Ranch Circuit Race
September 4 12:30 p.m. (men) / 3:15 p.m. (women)
45 miles (men) / 31.5 miles (women)

Stage 2: Moots Road Race
September 5 8:00 a.m. (men) / 1:00 p.m. (women)
70 miles (men) / 55 miles (women)

Stage 3: Ski and Bike Kare Criterium
September 6 1:45 p.m. (women) / 2:40 p.m. (men)
45 minutes (women) / 60 minutes (men)

ETA Boston, 2 minutes. Photo: Ted King

While professional cycling is most certainly an occupation for my colleagues and me, it is work in an entirely different capacity than the majority of jobs out there. Cycling is an all-engrossing profession that consumes so many aspects of our lives, from … well, consuming and therefore what we eat to fuel five-hour training rides, to the amount of rest and downtime that directly influences our performance at work; there’s the virtually non-stop aspect of travel and operating out of a suitcase, as well as the facet of work that results from moving one’s entire life to seemingly the opposite end of the globe to pursue the sport — and job — that we love.

The progression of cycling in my life has been relatively straightforward. First were my days in elementary school riding a bike with friends simply in the pursuit of freedom, then years later I was reintroduced to cycling — this time as a sport — during my time in college. Amateur and then professional racing followed this chapter of my life all across North America, which has segued now into professional cycling at the pinnacle of the sport on a global scale. Throughout this progression, cycling has always brought me a great deal of enjoyment and simple joy.

At the end of the day, I still love my job. The feelings are very similar to the pleasure that was first elicited when I started riding decades ago and then when I began training regularly as a racing cyclist more recently. I still embrace that sense of freedom and love the adventures and world travels that cycling has allowed me. I recognize that my profession is a relatively unique one and it’s something I really embrace and feel privileged to have.

Pardon the randomness of this next statement, but stay with me here. Removing all of the sporting aspects of my life, one of my absolute favorite moments in life are the two-to-three minutes just prior to landing an airplane as I return home from a race or event. All the headaches and banging my head against the wall in the airport are quickly forgotten in these brief seconds. Gazing out the window the ground below is near enough to recognize my favorite training roads, the punchy climbs that I’ve toiled over countless times, and the best coffee shops where I’ve downed my share of unctuous caffeinated goodness.

I can sometimes actually see my house or apartment, I recognize town centers, and see the landmarks that I’ve ridden by time and again. It’s a surreal vantage point — look closely enough and I can see people walking and cars driving, but it’s just far enough away that it somehow seems like a miniature toy village and somehow not real, like watching an episode of the Truman Show.

I’ve lived all over the globe, from New Hampshire to Vermont, North Carolina and Colorado, California, Spain, and Switzerland. I’m spoiled to have experienced this many amazing places, but every single time I’m in a plane in the final approach, I anxiously stare out the window and experience the same nostalgic (or maybe just plain crazy) feeling. I don’t know if you will experience this same wistful sensation that’s elicited when I do this, but I recommend you at least give it a try and request the window seat on your next flight home.

(Related: All Ted’s columns)

This year Ted King is in his sophomore year with the Cervélo TestTeam. After getting a taste for the European peloton with the U.S. espoir national team in 2005, King returned to the United States for three successful years of domestic pro racing. The 27-year-old is a native of New Hampshire and despite his affinity for hearty servings of coffee, he is slowly adapting to the smaller European portions. Slowly. His diaries appear monthly on VeloNews.com; between the scanty portions we serve up, you can follow Ted at www.Cervelo.com/team and www.iamTedKing.MissingSaddle.com. Those of you content with 140 characters or less can track his activities at www.twitter.com/iamtedking.

When was the last time you bought a new pair of road shoes, tinkered with the cleats for a few minutes, and then promptly proceeded to log nearly twelve hours of hard alpine asphalt riding in them over the course of one weekend? For that matter, has someone ever handed you a brand new pair of mountain bike shoes three days before your first one-hundred-mile mountain bike race, and then you went on to win said mountain bike race, wearing said shoes, in record time?

Giro picked one of the world's most beautiful spots to unveil its new shoe lines.

The latter honor goes to Levi Leipheimer, winner of this year’s Leadville 100 race. As the story goes, Giro product managers handed him a brand new pair of Giro Code mountain bike shoes literally in the airport as he was departing California for Colorado and the race. Wearing the brand new shoes, he set a new course record.

And although not entirely planned, the former experience is mine, wearing the new Giro Factor road shoes. Giro marketers chose Livigno, Italy as the venue to introduce to the world their new line of seven shoe models (four road and three mountain). Naturally they mapped out some riding. However, they didn’t plan for unexpectedly long routes, chilly weather, and challenging climbs.

Fortunately it all worked out for the good – I suffered no tingly toes, hotspots, heel lift, blisters, or other symptoms of ill-fitting footwear. From my perspective at least, Giro has clearly done their footwork in terms of fit and features.

It’s no surprise coming from a company that’s already known for class-leading helmets and a relatively new but increasingly popular (and high-performance) line of gloves. Over the course of the weekend it became clear that between Livigno and Levi, the California-based company put a lot of work into cobbling the new kicks.

True, every foot is different. Different folks need different fits. In fact, another editor flatly stated over breakfast that the mountain bike shoes weren’t working for his low-volume, narrow feet. But after twelve hours in the Factors, I’d say Giro is on its way to kicking down the cycling footwear door and their competitors should take note.

In taking the decision to build shoes, Giro designers leveraged every advantage they could find. One advantage was time – with no high-pressure timeline for introduction, they spent a full two years just building the shoe last. A last is the nylon, foot-shaped form around which a shoe is built. After fully sixteen revisions and a range of inputs, they settled on medium-volume lasts for the new shoes. They also made separate, differently shaped lasts for the two women’s shoes in the line (one road and one mountain, with more on the way).

Spending this kind of time just refining a foot model seems silly, especially when stock foot forms can easily be sourced off the shelf. But company designers wanted precise fit, securely molded heel cups for retention, and adequate volume to accommodate a range of foot sizes and a range of insoles.

Part of the insole option comes directly from Giro, who designed a new insole system to go with their new shoes. Called the SuperNatural Fit Kit, the system includes a stock insole that mates via Velcro to any of three different included arch supports. The arch supports dock underneath the insole (keeping the contours under your feet smooth and soft) and come in a range of low, medium and high. They’re made from firm but forgiving foam to conform to different feet.

Furthermore, knowing that many riders are turning to custom orthotics for improved comfort and arch support, Giro shoes are designed to fit with either their stock insoles or with aftermarket or custom orthotic insoles. Normally I can’t stand shoes without installing my own orthotics, but Giro’s high arch supports in the SuperNatural kit actually nearly did the trick for me, making those long hours on the bike comfortable.

The final piece of Giro’s fit puzzle included extensive attention to the carbon fiber soles (or plates) on top of which all the shoes are built. Company designers sought light weight, usable stiffness for power transfer, and sensible fit. To that end, they enlisted help from Easton carbon fiber engineers. Easton and Giro are part of the same sporting goods company. Easton tested a range of competitors’ carbon soles for weight and stiffness, then designed their own to minimize weight yet retain stiffness where it was needed. They even used real time digital foot pressure mapping to understand more clearly the loads exerted on the sole of a cycling shoe.

As a result, Giro’s Easton-branded carbon soles are quite flat across their width and they are very thin at the toe and heel. They’re also competitively light and stiff, and just 6.5mm thick above the cleat, making for a very low stack height. The design contrasts with many shoe makers who have turned to cupped or concave soles with carbon that curves up around the edges and perimeter. Giro feels that designs like this inhibit comfort by confining the wearer’s feet to a rigid, unyielding “tub” of sorts. Giro wanted their soft, pliable upper to extend all the way down to the shoe sole so that any foot volume “spillover” would be free of pressure points.

Also in contrast to certain shoe designs, Giro wanted a neutral platform, free of any built-in varus or valgus wedge or cant. It’s become common for bike fitters to wedge shoes and cleats to correct perceived irregularities in rider’s pedal strokes. Some shoes have this built in. But after consulting with Todd Carver of Retul bike fitting (preferred fitter for RadioShack, Sky, HTC-Columbia, and others), Giro decided to create neutral shoes. They felt that if bike fitters wanted to add wedge correction after the fact, that was their decision but they didn’t want to force a fit on customers that didn’t need it (or didn’t know, or for that matter didn’t care).

Giro’s got four road models and three mountain bike models coming to stores in February 2011.

The Prolight SLX is Giro’s flagship, ultralight road shoe. Claimed weight on a size 42 hovers just over 200 grams, and the retail price will be $350. Levi Leiphiemer already made these shoes famous by taking them on a certain cycling trip through France in July. They feature titanium hardware (including cleat inserts and D-rings for the three Velcro straps). The uppers are made from very light, thin (1.1mm), and supple microfiber called Teijin AG100 that is rarely used for cycling shoes. The sole is Giro’s top of the line, 60-gram Easton EC90 SLX with high-modulus carbon. The SuperNatural Fit Kit footbed system is included.

I rode the Factor, Giro’s fully featured $280 pro-level road shoe. If the Prolight shoes are like Giro’s ultralight Prolight helmet, the Factor shoes equate to their Ionos helmet which features more adjustability, more robust construction, and generally more of an “all-day” piece of gear. The Factor shoes claim roughly 250-gram weight, a ratchet buckle closure plus two Velcro straps, and Giro’s slightly heavier Easton EC90 carbon sole. This shoe comes with the SuperNatural Fit kit.

For $200, you can get all the fit technology of the top-end shoes (minus the SuperNatural Fit kit) in Giro’s Trans shoe. Slightly heavier materials keep the cost down but the shoes are based on the same architecture and patterns as the lighter, most costly models. Even so, the Trans claims a weight of just 270 grams, which for anyone counting, is about 60 grams less than many premium Italian shoes that cost twice as much. The sole is a carbon/glass fiber blend.

For women, there’s the sweet-looking Espada, built on a female-specific foot form (aka, last). It’s a $200 shoe that mimics the Trans in terms of materials. More women’s shoes are in the pipeline.

And on the mountain side, the models are the Code ($280) and Gauge ($200), and the Sica for women ($200). They all feature injection molded outsole lugs, carbon sole plates, scuff-guard armored and more supportive upper material. Their blend of competitive weight (about 350 grams) and features will make them equally at home on the race course or on epic trail rides.

Only time will tell if Giro shoes ultimately live up to their splashy Italian introduction. Company designers pointed repeatedly to Leipheimer’s notoriously finicky involvement with shape, features, and fit. He figures prominently in photography and literature. And nobody will disagree with a pro rider adopting new shoes – it’s a rarity. But who’s to say if his demands align with the needs of average cyclists everywhere? And will the shiny shoes hold up for the long haul?

So far, I’d say Giro did fine work melding magic and performance for super elite racers with comfort and traditional construction for weekend warriors. I for one managed to soldier through a demanding saddle schedule with no discomfort and growing admiration for the fit details. And keep your eyes open – competition on the footwear playing field is only going to get hotter.