Vuelta Stage 18 : Samuel 4th in Stage and Rank

Finally there was some movement in the general ranks today and they turned out to be great for Euskaltel. Samuel moved to the fourth spot due to a weak performance of Efimkin and Anton moved to the ninth spot.

Not only in the rankings does Euskaltel show but also in todays stage. In the beginning Iñaki, Iñigon and Alan tried to get in the final break but it were Samuel and Igor who were in the right group. Together with the others from the top 10, except for Efimkin, Barredo and Beltran they rode to the finish. But a certain Luis Perez from Andalucia Cajasur had to ruin the sprint and escaped at 13km before the finish. Because the main group wasn't working together really good, he managed to stay away and won the stage. Samuel became fourth in a sprint with Evans and Mosquera. With Igor 11th and Haimar 36th, Euskaltel won once again the team classification.

Tomorrow the last climb stage is scheduled and it will be the last chance for Samuel and all the others to close the gap with Menchov.

Stage Results
1 Luis Perez Rodriguez (Spa) Andalucia - Cayasur 3.43.45 (41.16 km/h)
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto +0.41
3 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas ST
...
4. Samuel Sanchez ST
11. Igor Anton +0.47
36. Haimar Zubeldia +3.07
56. Iñigo Landaluze +3.47
93. Iñaki Isasi +17.31
105. Alan Perez +27.45
106. Koldo Fernandez +27.45
107. Aitor Hernandez +27.45
142. Dionisio Galparsoro +27.45

General Rank
1 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 74.22.13
2 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor - Lotto +2.27
3 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC +3.02
...
4. Samuel Sanchez +4.01
9. Igor Anton +7.47
44. Haimar Zubeldia +43.59
64. Dionisio Galparsoro +1.09.51
77. Iñigo Landaluze +1.21.36
80. Iñaki Isasi +1.23.48
97. Aitor Hernandez +1.46.22
99. Alan Perez +1.47.26
137. Koldo Fernandez +2.18.45