Alberto Contador wins the 17th stage of the Vuelta a Espana 2012
Alberto Contador of Team Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank has finally managed to find the top podium spot after his tremendous performance during the stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana.
The cyclist finished second, twice during the previous stages of the race and was anxiously waiting for a first place finish, which finally came on Wednesday.
He surprised everyone with his tremendous attack during the 187.3 kilometre pursuit to Fuente De, after completing the race in a total time of 4 hours, 29 minutes and 20 seconds.
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte of Team Movistar finished 6 seconds behind, at the second spot with Sergio Luis Henao Montoya, Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui and Rinaldo Nocentini securing the third, fourth and the fifth positions in the respective order.
Lloyd Mondory of Team AG2R La Mondiale and Alberto Contador seceded during the 90.4 kilometre and a 164 kilometre first and the second sprints of the race.
Arnold Jeannesson, David Moncoutie and Alberto Contador claimed the first, second and the third mountains of the event.
The victory has also earned Alberto the top overall spot after the stage 17 overall classifications, with a lead of 1 minute and 52 seconds over Alejandro Valverde Belmonte.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver of Team Katusha is further 34 seconds behind at the third spot, while the overnight leader of the race, Christopher Froome dropped down to the fifth spot.
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver is leading the point’s classifications with a total number of 170 points to his credit, with Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador, John Degenkolb and Christopher Froome securing the next four positions. They had 159, 152, 112 and 93 points respectively.
The top ten cyclists after the Vuelta a Espana stage 17 classifications are as under:
1
Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
68:07:54
2
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team
0:01:52
3
Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team
0:02:28
4
Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling
0:09:40
5
Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team
0:11:36
6
Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
0:12:06
7
Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
0:12:55
8
Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin – Sharp
0:13:06
9
Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi
0:13:49
10
Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar Team
0:14:10
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