The second stage of the Vuelta came down to the predicted sprint. There Koldo planted himself between the best sprinters and became fourth, after Boonen, Bennati and Zabel. I'm sure he will get some other opportunities to improve that result and maybe even win a stage. In the general rank Euskaltel has now 4 men in the top 11 and is second in the teams classification. Egoi Martinez is, after his great first stage, leading the combination classification. Oddly Amets once again lost time, this time 6 minutes, I really have no clue how this can happen.Results
1 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 4.25.24 (38.12km/h)
2 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas
3 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Milram
...
4. Koldo Fernandez ST
52. Alan Perez ST
54. Igor Anton ST
58. Egoi Martinez ST
71. Mikel Astarloza ST
72. Iñigo Landaluze ST
73. Ivan Velasco ST
110. Amets Txurruka +5:53
115. Ruben Perez +7:25
General Rank
1 Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas 8.56.27
2 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.07
3 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 0.10
...
5. Egoi Martinez +0:22
7. Iñigo Landaluze +0:26
10. Igor Anton +0:28
11. Mikel Astarloza +0:28
81. Alan Perez +0:50
84. Koldo Fernandez +0:57
89. Ivan Velasco +1:15
109. Amets Txurruka +7:16
111. Ruben Perez +7:53
That's a pity about Amets, I hoped for some nice attacks from him but if you cannot follow the peloton it will be difficult. I guess he is ill or something, because a rider with his qualities does not have to let the pack go on a stage like this when everything is normal.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenAnyway, change your title please :D
It is also a pity that Koldo always starts behind the sprinters like Boonen and Bennati, because he is not slower, he starts some places behind them, takes over some less good sprinters but of course Boonen and Bennati are difficult to beat when you are some meters behind in the beginning...
I'm not sure if he's ill, in the Tour he had the same problem and still attacked.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenOh crap, stupid me :s