La Camperona, 6th of September – 2014
Tinkoff-Saxo’s Sergio Paulinho and Oliver Zaugg participated in the chase group behind two leaders giving the whole team an alibi not to take charge in the field during today’s 200 kilometer long fabulously exciting 14th stage of the Vuelta a Espana. Ultimately, Oliver Zaugg came thrillingly close to the stage win while Alberto Contador beautifully defended and extended his overall lead.
21 riders chasers including Zaugg and Paulinho were breathing down two Caja Rural riders’ necks from Santander to La Camperona. On the first category 1-climb to Puerto de San Glorio 70 kilometers to go, the field was slimmed down significantly while Alberto Contador was joined by Chris Anker Sørensen in the group of favorites. Cresting the summit, the two front riders were swept up by the big chase group.
On the descent, Paulinho dropped back down to the group of favorites and took charge of the pace making along with Sørensen and Jesus Hernandez in front of their team leader. Meanwhile, Oliver Zaugg remained in the minimized front group without taking turns and with 14 kilometers remaining, the gap was still above six minutes.
Entering the uphill finish, Sky took over the reigns in the pack but it was certain that today’s stage winner were to be found in the front group of 11 riders. The gradients of up to 19% really put the hurt on the riders and the front group started to crumble. With 1.9 kilometers to go, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) launched an attack but Tinkoff-Saxo’s Oliver Zaugg bridged and launched a stinging counter-attack and was soloing his way towards the finish line. But Hesjedal refused to forfeit and worked his way back up and passed Zaugg to take stage glory ahead of the 33-year-old Swiss rider.
In the select group of favorites, Alberto Contador responded to a series of attacks on the final couple of kilometers and beautifully, not only defended, but extended his overall lead to 42 seconds to Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) while Chris Froome (Sky) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) gained a few seconds.
Tinkoff-Saxo’s Oliver Zaugg comments after the stage:
“I feel so tired and a bit disappointed. On the one hand I am disappointed but on the other, it wasnt a bad day after all. It was a perfect situation in the breakaway, I didn’t have to work, I was feeling good and I could go for a stage win. The last two kilometers were so steep, I needed one smaller gear. It was very hard and 150 meters from the finish, Hesjedal came really fast up behind me. It was impossible to respond and I just kept my rhythm.”
Stage result
1 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin Sharp 5:18:10
2 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:10
3 Imanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:30
4 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:39
5 Louis Meintjes (RSA) MTN – Qhubeka 0:00:42
6 Bart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol 0:00:52
7 Romain Sicard (Fra) Team Europcar 0:01:44
8 David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA 0:02:02
9 Carlos Verona Quintanilla (Spa) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:02:15
10 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:02:36
Overall rankings after stage 14
1 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 54:20:16
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:00:42
3 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:01:13
4 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:01:29
5 Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team 0:02:07
6 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:02:15
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:04:14
8 Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin Sharp 0:04:37
9 Damiano Caruso (Ita) Cannondale 0:04:45
10 Daniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:05:10
