THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Millar grabs stage 17 at Vuelta
David Millar perfectly timed an attack on the Category 2 Alto de Jerónimo and turned on the turbos in the snaking descent into Córdoba to win Wednesday’s 17th stage of the Vuelta a España.
In a day that saw no major shake-ups in the overall standings, the Cofidis rider made up for two close calls in the individual time trials to score his third career Vuelta stage victory.
Millar jumped off the front of the main bunch early up the 11km Jerónimo climb and later held off a chase group that included Oscar Sevilla (Kelme) and Michael Rasmussen (Rabobank).
“I told my team this morning I wanted to win and I spent the whole stage thinking where I was going to attack – in the top, the middle or the bottom. I decided the best place to attack was the bottom,” said Millar, who finished second behind race leader Isisdro Nozal (ONCE) in two earlier time trials.
Millar’s palmares now include three Vuelta stage victories and three Tour de France stage victories, but the Scot says the prize he wants most is the world time trial title in October.
“My big objective of the year is the worlds. I’m using the Vuelta to get in some great racing and prepare for Hamilton,” said Millar, who in 3 hours, 58 minutes, 2 seconds (47.5kph). “I had planned to be good in the last week of the Vuelta, but I am better than expected. It’s going good.”
Nozal was unchallenged up the Jerónimo climb and finished safely in the main group to retain the overall leader’s jersey.
Faster than expected
After two hard stages in the mountains, the peloton showed no signs of fatigue. Millar roared into Córdoba more than 40 minutes sooner than expected after the peloton kept the pace very brisk.
The 188.4km stage rolled across the stark Andalucian countryside before the final obstacle at Jerónimo. All remaining 163 riders started and finished the stage.
A group of 14 riders that included Floyd Landis (U.S. Postal) slipped away early, but Kelme was intent on keeping the group together until the base of the Jerónimo climb to set up Sevilla.
Four riders – Martin Perdiguero (Domina Vacanze), Fabrizio Guidi (Bianchi), Patrik Sinkewetz (Quick Step) and Fabian Jeker (Milaneza) – had 30 seconds with 64km to go. Just as Kelme checked the move, four more riders peeled away.
The breakaway – German Nieto (Relax), Stefano Casagranda (Alessio), Renato Silva (Milaneza) and Sergio Ferrio (Paternina) – held a 48-second gap but were brought back as the peloton surged toward the final climb.
Last year’s winner in Córdoba, Pablo Lastras (iBanesto.com) flatted just before the peloton hit the first ramps and could never figure in the stage. Banesto, anxious for a stage-win in its final Vuelta, sent Juan Miguel Mercado up the road with Millar. Unai Osa later counter-attacked with Sevilla, Rasmussen and Alberto Martinez (Euskaltel), but luck is not with Banesto this year.
“I tried all I could yesterday and it was a shame to lose the stage in such a manner,” said Mercado, who lost to Felix Cardenas in the final meters at Sierra Nevada on Tuesday. “I really wanted to win yesterday for the team and for my fans, because I am from that region. We’ll keep fighting for a stage victory, but time is running out.”
With 7km to go in the climb, Millar charged alone and held a 15-second gap on the Sevilla chase group over the climb and 38 seconds on the peloton. Millar hammered down the twisting descent and opened his gap to 37 seconds when he hit the final 4km of flats to the finish line in Córdoba.
Martinez came through to take second at 31 seconds back while Sevilla took third for the second stage in a row. Erik Zabel (Telekom) finished ahead of Fred Rodriguez (Caldirola) to take sixth and widen his lead to 15 points over Alessandro Petacchi (Fassa Bortolo) in the points jersey competition.
ONCE in driver’s seat
After taking nearly two minutes out of Nozal’s lead at La Pandera and Sierra Nevada, third-place Roberto Heras knew Wednesday’s stage wasn’t well-suited for an attack. Heras and Nozal both finished with the leaders at 41 seconds back.
The U.S. Postal Service rider now says making up the six seconds to second-place Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano (ONCE) is more likely than erasing the 3:09 gap to Nozal.
“Every day we get closer to Madrid it gets better for (ONCE),” Heras said. “The team has worked well and this is key for Nozal. It’s a lot of time to make up, but we’re going to keep fighting all the way to Madrid. It will be difficult for us if ONCE keeps things under control and when they have a rider like (Marcos) Serrano at their disposal.”
Serrano did great work up Sierra Nevada to help tow Nozal to the line. The ONCE team – which has held the leader’s jersey since the opening team time trial Sept. 6 – is determined to keep their young charge in the jersey until Sunday’s finale in Madrid.
“Yesterday’s stage at Sierra Nevada was better for us. We knew that it would be difficult for us to lose too much time,” Serrano said. “Nozal is growing more confident by the day. The team is working together well and we know what our job is. Now we’re behind Nozal.”
The entire Vuelta caravan travels Wednesday evening to Madrid for the final four stages of the 58th Vuelta. Thursday’s 143.8km 18th stage rolls through the hills west of Madrid while Friday and Saturday will present the final chances for Heras to try to put Nozal under pressure.
To see how today's stage unfolded, just click here to bring up our Live Update Window.
