Peter Sagan wins final stage as Cobo Acebo seals overall leader jersey in Vuelta A Espana 2011
Liquigas-Cannondale team’s Peter Sagan made a third stage victory after winning the 21st and final stage of Vuelta A Espana 2011 on Sunday, September 11. Juan Jose Cobo Acebo retained his overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The race started in Circuito del Jarama and ended in Madrid. The 21-year-old Slovakian cyclists showed his brilliant skills and easily beat Petacchi and Bennati. The Italian Bennati was in the runner-up spot with the same timing of Sprinter.
After winning the stage, Sagan said, "It's been a great day. I was riding at the front and I took the wheel of Bennati but I got boxed in a bit, so I had to stop my effort and had to re-start from behind.”
The peloton hit the finishing circuit, as the group of three cyclists made their breakaway lead and got away including, Juan Horrach (Katusha), Damiano Caruso (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Jose Alberto Benitez (Andalucia-Caja Granada).
The breakaway cyclists managed to build a lead of a minute while Juan Horrach Rippoll of Katusha increased his pace and took the first sprint. With ten kilometres to go, he was able to hold his pace and stay away and again took the second intermediate sprint
of the stage.
In the final kilometres, Sagan still had not shown his figure while the two cyclists Bennati and Petacchi went to the left side of the road. However, the Slovakian increased his pace and open sprint on the middle of the road and crossed the finish line without
any difficulty.
Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) was in third place ahead of John Degenkolb. David Moncoutie (Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne) took the overall King of Mountain with 63 points ahead of Montaguti.
Recently, Peter also took the National Road Race Championship and grabbed fourth and fifth stage as he took the overall standing of Tour de Pologne. He also took the overall in Giro di Sardegna. His recent wins has shown his incredible skills and competitive
riding style.
Geox-TMC team’s Cobo Acebo secured the overall lead with a timing of 84 hours, 59 minutes and 31 seconds while Christopher Froome was in second place 13 seconds down to the Spaniard.
Cobo Acebo said, "I've passed through some bad moments the past few months, but now I see things differently. You realise that hard work and sacrifice are worth it – this win makes up for the suffering that I've gone through on the bike."
Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling) was in third place with a difference of 1 minute and 39 seconds and Bauke Mollema finished fourth with 1 minute and 39 seconds adrift.
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