Michael Albasini wins 13th stage as Bradley Wiggins takes overall lead in Vuelta a Espana 2011
HTC-Highroad team’s Michael Albasini showed his tremendous skill in the 13th stage of Vuelta a Espana 2011 on Friday, September 2. Bradley Wiggins took the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Sarria and ended in Ponferradaa. Albasini took a total of 4 hours, 19 minutes and 39 seconds to cover the distance of 150 kilometres.
Eros Capecchi (Liquigas) was the only cyclists who was able to maintain his pace in the final kilometres and grabbed the runner-up spot. Daniel Moreno Fernandez of the Katusha team was in third place ahead of David De La Fuente Rasilla.
After winning the stage, Albasini told the media, "It's a big sensation, I'm so happy to win the stage, I did the right move, I got in the right group. I suffered a lot over the mountain, but once I got over the last climb I knew it was possible."
With a few kilometres to go, Montaguti was able to maintain his lead after winning the first climb ahead of Moncoutie. Both of them were soon joined by race leader Wiggins and Vincenzo Nibali. In the first sprint Nibali managed to take the points. Montaguti
and Moncoutie worked well together in the category of Alto de O Lago.
AG2R team’s David Le Lay managed to get away and after 47 kilometres, he joined a large group of cyclists including Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quickstep), Michael Albasini (HTC-Highroad), Oliver Zaugg (Leopard Trek), Evgeny Petrov (Astana), David Lopez and Angel
Madrazo Ruiz (Movistar).
Moncoutie increased his pace and made the jump while the Frenchman managed to gain an advantage of a few seconds. The group took a lead of 2 minutes and 40 seconds. The three cyclists Nibali, Kessiakoff and Mollema tried to get away over the peloton.
With 116 kilometres to go, Moncoutie increased his pace and was able to take a lead ahead of Sorensen adn De Maar. All of them worked well and the peloton adjusted their strategy. Euskaltel managed to maintain his pace and the peloton tried their best to
close the gap but failed.
In the final three kilometres, the two cyclists including Albasini and Madrazo jumped away and were quickly joined by Moncoutie. All of them were in good form but Albasini managed to take a stage victory ahead of the other cyclists.
Bradley Wiggins took the overall standing with a timing of 51 hours, 14 minutes and 59 seconds while Vincenzo Nibali of Liquigas-Cannondale was runner-up at 4 seconds down to Wiggins.
Christopher Froome (Sky Procycling) finished third with a difference of 7 seconds ahead of Fredrik Kessiakoff (Pro team Astana) and Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek).
The next stage starts in Astorga and ends in La Farrapona-Lagos de Somiedo and all the cyclists cover the distance of 173.2 kilometres.
Tags: