VUELTA: Stage 2 – Win for Ireland’s Roche

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Nicholas Roche wins the first mountain stage in the Tour of Spain whilst many favourites lose time

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With 1.3 kilometres to go on this mountain top finish, Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s Nicholas Roche leaped away from a group of favourites and took an awesome stage win. “On the final two kilometers, everyone was fighting for position in the front of the group” the stage winner said.

“When the NetApp-Endura rider went away, I knew it was my chance because in a sprint, I wouldn’t be able to win against guys like Valverde so I jumped after him. Entering the final kilometre, I was trying to stay calm and as the group behind was chasing, I opened the sprint from pretty far out and I just kept pushing to the finish line and ultimately, I took the win.”

“I’m really happy and relieved. We were on this climb on last week’s reckon so I knew the uphill finish. The whole team backed me up all the way and the win is definitely theirs as well”.

The stage began with Alex Rasmussen (Garmin-Sharp), Greg Henderson (Lotto-Belisol) and Francisco Javier Aramendia (Caja Rural) forming a breakaway at zero kilometre on today’s 176.8 kilometer second stagefrom Pontevedra to the uphill finish on Alto Do Monte Da Groba.

The trio were allowed to build up a lead of more than 13 minutes on the field but with a lot of fresh legs in the peloton, the latter part of the stage saw the speed go up for the finale towards the foot of the uphill finish. The break had only just started the climb when they were caught and the fireworks between the GC riders and wannabe stage winners began.

Movistar maintained a high pace on the first half of the Alto de Groba climb, a first category mountain 11 kilometres long with an average incline of 5.6% and 10% maximum. Several of the favourites had a very hard time following the pace from Movistar including Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) and Sergio Henao (Sky) who were the first of the big favourites to get dropped halfway up the mountain.

The crucial moment happened in the last km: the first to attack was Leopold Konig (NetApp-Endura), followed by Nicholas Roche (Garmin-Sharp), Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) and Daniel Moreno (Katusha). With 600 meters to go, Roche was able to accelerate: Moreno tried to close the gap, but he couldn’t. Roche took the stage victory, while Moreno closed second, 2” behind the Irish rider; third place for Pozzovivo, 6” behind.

Nicholas Roche is now second overall behind race leader, Vincenzo Nibali (Astana).

Joaquim Rodriguez, leader of Katusha Team and one of the key favourites, was in the top-ten too and crossed the finish line in 7th position, 12” off the winner. “In the final part, I was ahead so I tried to attack” said second placed Moreno. “I had good, but not great, feelings about my form. The first days of a Grand Tour after a rest period are always like this though. It’s a pity I couldn’t win, but the second place is a good result”.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez explained “I saw Moreno attack but I couldn’t follow him immediately. I was in a good shape, but the lack of racing restricted my performance. Anyway, I think it’s normal after the rest period at the end of ‘Tour de France’”.

Fifth placed Alejandro Valverde of the Movistar team which did a lot of damage explained “In the end, it does leave you with a bit of sour taste when you can’t fight for the stage win, but it wasn’t the main goal. I felt strong, the team did great work and we have to stay happy with it.”

“It worries me a bit seeing Nibali taking red so early – this Vuelta is so long that everything can be won or lost in any single stage. Tomorrow’s will be another good day for us, a stage a bit longer than today’s where we will have to stay attentive.”

STAGE 2
1 ROCHE Nicolas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 04:37:09
2 MORENO FERNáNDEZ Daniel Katusha Team 00:02
3 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale 00:06
4 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura 00:11
5 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro Movistar Team 00:12
6 ULISSI Diego Lampre – Merida @ st
7 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team @ st
8 BASSO Ivan Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 00:14
9 MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
10 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling @ st
11 MARTIN Daniel Garmin – Sharp @ st
12 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
13 HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard @ st
14 PINOT Thibaut Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
15 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar RadioShack – Leopard @ st
16 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team @ st
17 HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp – Endura @ st
18 KREUZIGER Roman Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
19 NIEVE ITURALDE Mikel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
20 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC Racing Team @ st
21 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack – Leopard @ st
22 ARROYO DURAN David Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
23 BARGUIL Warren Team Argos – Shimano @ st
24 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt Team Argos – Shimano @ st
25 EIJSSEN Yannick BMC Racing Team 00:21
26 SORENSEN Chris Anker Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
27 TEN DAM Laurens Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
28 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team @ st
29 BAGOT Yohan Cofidis Solutions Crédits 00:27
30 SCARPONI Michele Lampre – Merida @ st
31 HERMANS Ben RadioShack – Leopard 00:31
32 BUSCHE Matthew RadioShack – Leopard @ st
33 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
34 ELISSONDE Kenny Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 00:35
35 DE CLERCQ Bart Lotto Belisol Team 00:36
36 DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO David Team NetApp – Endura 00:38
37 GENIEZ Alexandre Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
38 ZAUGG Oliver Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:45
39 SERRY Pieter Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 00:47
40 TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team @ st
41 BRAJKOVIč Janez Astana Pro Team 00:51
42 MARCZYNSKI Tomasz Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
43 MORENO BAZAN Javier Movistar Team 01:05
44 HERRADA LOPEZ Jose Movistar Team @ st
45 PIMENTA COSTA MENDES José João Team NetApp – Endura @ st
46 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team 01:12
47 LOSADA ALGUACIL Alberto Katusha Team 01:31
48 TXURRUKA Amets Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 01:49
49 CARDOSO André Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
50 NOCENTINI Rinaldo AG2R La Mondiale 02:00
51 COPPEL Jérome Cofidis Solutions Crédits 02:19
52 SZMYD Sylwester Movistar Team @ st
53 VANENDERT Jelle Lotto Belisol Team @ st
54 SULZBERGER Wesley Orica GreenEDGE @ st
55 NERZ Dominik BMC Racing Team @ st
56 INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team @ st
57 VEIKKANEN Jussi Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 02:33
58 VELASCO MURILLO Ivan Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 02:37
59 SARMIENTO TUNARROSA Jose Cayetano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 02:39
60 MATE MARDONES Luis Angel Cofidis Solutions Crédits 02:41
61 HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling @ st
62 PAUWELS Serge Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
63 VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI Gorka Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
64 ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
65 MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
66 EDET Nicolas Cofidis Solutions Crédits 02:50
67 CARUSO Giampaolo Katusha Team 02:55
68 FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team @ st
69 POELS Wout Vacansoleil – DCM 03:01
70 FAIRLY Caleb Garmin – Sharp @ st
71 VANSUMMEREN Johan Garmin – Sharp 03:30
72 SOUPE Geoffrey Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 03:51
73 CLEMENT Stef Belkin Pro Cycling Team 04:02
74 MONTAGUTI Matteo AG2R La Mondiale @ st
75 COURTEILLE Arnaud Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
76 HOOGERLAND Johnny Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
77 DE GENDT Thomas Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
78 GUSEV Vladimir Katusha Team 04:05
79 LANDA MEANA Mikel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
80 CHEREL Mikael AG2R La Mondiale @ st
81 BERARD Julien AG2R La Mondiale @ st
82 WURF Cameron Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
83 PINOTTI Marco BMC Racing Team 05:45
84 RASMUSSEN Alex Garmin – Sharp 06:06
85 HOWES Alex Garmin – Sharp @ st
86 ANACONA GOMEZ Winner Lampre – Merida @ st
87 GILBERT Philippe BMC Racing Team @ st
88 VALLS FERRI Rafael Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
89 KIRYIENKA Vasil Sky Procycling 07:26
90 CATALDO Dario Sky Procycling @ st
91 BARTA Jan Team NetApp – Endura @ st
92 VOSS Paul Team NetApp – Endura @ st
93 PATERSKI Maciej Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
94 CAMANO ORTUZAR Iker Team NetApp – Endura @ st
95 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald Sky Procycling @ st
96 DE GREEF Francis Lotto Belisol Team 07:47
97 VANENDERT Dennis Lotto Belisol Team @ st
98 MORI Manuele Lampre – Merida @ st
99 STORTONI Simone Lampre – Merida @ st
100 MONDORY Lloyd AG2R La Mondiale @ st
101 ZANDIO ECHAIDE Xabier Sky Procycling @ st
102 OROZ UGALDE Juan Jos̩ Euskaltel РEuskadi @ st
103 GASTAUER Ben AG2R La Mondiale @ st
104 ZINGLE Romain Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
105 PUCCIO Salvatore Sky Procycling @ st
106 GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team @ st
107 PREIDLER Georg Team Argos – Shimano @ st
108 FROHLINGER Johannes Team Argos – Shimano @ st
109 VICIOSO ARCOS Ángel Katusha Team @ st
110 KOHLER Martin BMC Racing Team @ st
111 DE WEERT Kevin Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
112 GARCIA FERNANDEZ Marcos Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
113 POPOVYCH Yaroslav RadioShack – Leopard 09:53
114 RAST Gregory RadioShack – Leopard @ st
115 LONGHO BORGHINI Paolo Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
116 IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel RadioShack – Leopard @ st
117 PAOLINI Luca Katusha Team @ st
118 TOSATTO Matteo Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
119 ARAMENDIA LORENTE Javier Francisco Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
120 NUYENS Nick Garmin – Sharp @ st
121 LODEWYCK Klaas BMC Racing Team @ st
122 SINKELDAM Ramon Team Argos – Shimano @ st
123 FARRAR Tyler Garmin – Sharp @ st
124 PINEAU Cédric Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
125 KREDER Michel Garmin – Sharp @ st
126 CANCELLARA Fabian RadioShack – Leopard @ st
127 HUPOND Thierry Team Argos – Shimano @ st
128 CHAINEL Steve AG2R La Mondiale @ st
129 ZEITS Andrey Astana Pro Team @ st
130 VANDEWALLE Kristof Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
131 COOKE Baden Orica GreenEDGE @ st
132 GERRANS Simon Orica GreenEDGE @ st
133 ERVITI OLLO Imanol Movistar Team @ st
134 MANGEL Laurent Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
135 MEIER Christian Orica GreenEDGE @ st
136 GUTIERREZ PALACIOS Jose Iván Movistar Team @ st
137 WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team @ st
138 BEWLEY Sam Orica GreenEDGE @ st
139 VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
140 REYNES MIMO Vicente Lotto Belisol Team @ st
141 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo Movistar Team @ st
142 FLECHA Juan Antonio Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
143 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale @ st
144 VAN DER SANDE Tosh Lotto Belisol Team @ st
145 IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team @ st
146 BOIVIN Guillaume Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
147 GARATE Juan Manuel Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
148 STYBAR Zdenek Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
149 AZANZA SOTO Jorge Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
150 ROUX Anthony Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
151 LANDER Sebastian BMC Racing Team @ st
152 URTASUN PEREZ Pablo Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
153 MEERSMAN Gianni Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
154 FERRARI Fabricio Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
155 MøRKøV Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
156 BESSY Cyril Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
157 SøRENSEN Nicki Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
158 PETROV Evgeni Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
159 KNEES Christian Sky Procycling @ st
160 SCHORN Daniel Team NetApp – Endura @ st
161 PETIT Adrien Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
162 MATTHEWS Michael Orica GreenEDGE @ st
163 MARKUS Barry Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
164 DEMPSTER Zakkari Team NetApp – Endura @ st
165 KOZONTCHUK Dmitry Katusha Team @ st
166 PIEDRA PEREZ Antonio Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
167 TANNER David Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
168 POULHIES Stéphane Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
169 STAMSNIJDER Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ st
170 HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol Team @ st
171 ROWE Luke Sky Procycling @ st
172 PETERSON Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ st
173 VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team @ st
174 HOWARD Leigh Orica GreenEDGE @ st
175 CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE @ st
OVERALL
1 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 05:07:22
2 ROCHE Nicolas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:08
3 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar RadioShack – Leopard 00:10
4 HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard @ st
5 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack – Leopard @ st
6 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling 00:22
7 HERMANS Ben RadioShack – Leopard 00:27
8 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro Movistar Team @ st
9 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:32
10 KREUZIGER Roman Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
11 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura @ st
12 TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team 00:33
13 HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp – Endura 00:35
14 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC Racing Team 00:36
15 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team @ st
16 SORENSEN Chris Anker Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:39
17 MORENO FERNáNDEZ Daniel Katusha Team 00:41
18 EIJSSEN Yannick BMC Racing Team 00:43
19 MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin Pro Cycling Team 00:49
20 SERRY Pieter Omega Pharma – Quick-Step ,

 

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