Velits wins Vuelta time trial
HTC-Columbia's Peter Velits triumphed in the final time trial of this year's Vuelta a Espana on Wednesday.
The Slovakian prospect finished ahead of Rabobank's Denis Menchov and Fabian Cancellara of Saxo Bank, the latter an experienced time trialist who had been expected to claim the 17th stage.
"This is my first time-trial victory. It's unbelievable that it happens at the Tour of Spain," the 25-year-old said after the victory. "I can't describe it. To beat Cancellara who is the absolute top TT rider makes it even more of a surprise."
Predictably, Katusha's Joaquim Rodriguez of Spain had to give up the leader's jersey after the stage, as he lost more than four minutes on Liquigas-Doimo's Vincenzo Nibali. Nibali finished 15th in the stage.
Only the second time trial
Aside from the opening stage, Wednesday's completely flat and straight 46km-route was the only chance time trialists like Cancellara were given to make a mark on the 2010 Vuelta.
While Saxo Bank's Frank Schleck only managed to finish 51st, Garmin-Transitions' Tom Danielson came 14th to remain in seventh place in the overall standings.
As the wind faded slightly, Menchov attacked Cancellara's lead, and long looked like he would edge the Swiss rider. But instead of the Russian all-round rider, it was Velits who charged ahead and beat his elders to the stage win.
Velits, who lost significant time to Schleck on Monday's climbs, would do well to retain his third place in the general classification after Saturday's high-mountain stage.
"I'll try to keep my spot on the podium as hard as I can. There's one more climbing stage. I'll do everything I can. I'm already very happy with the victory I got," said the Slovak, who now trails Nibali by two minutes in the overall standings.
Nibali advances to claim red jersey
Nibali's strong performance earned him the red leader's jersey, and he will now fight Xacobeo Galicia's rider Ezequiel Mosquera for the victory. The Spaniard is 39 seconds behind Nibali in the general classification.
"Now my main rival is Mosquera," the confident Italian said after Wednesday's stage. "I expected Rodriguez to lose up to three minutes but not 4.18! The more he was moving forward, the more time he was losing."
Rodriquez dropped from first place to fifth in the overall standings, and is now three minutes and 45 seconds behind Nibali. Schleck is in fourth place, one second ahead of Rodriguez.
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