Gutsy Contador takes 17th stage to grab Vuelta lead
Source: Agencies |
September 7, 2012, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
ALBERTO Contador held on to his advantage after making an audacious break to win the 17th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Wednesday and take the overall lead from Joaquin Rodriguez.
The two-time Tour de France champion drew on his experience by making a gutsy dash more than 50 kilometers from the finish and nothing but mountain to climb to the finish atop the Fuente De.
Contador never relented, building his lead to cross the finish 2 minutes, 38 seconds ahead of Rodriguez, who had held the race leader's red jersey since the fourth stage of 21-leg race. "I had to gamble," said Contador, who knew Wednesday was crucial with only Saturday's penultimate leg - and last mountain stage - available to overcome a 28-second deficit to Rodriguez. "My instinct took over and I attacked."
Contador's win in 4:29:20 took his leading overall time to 68:07:54 for a sizable 1:52 advantage over Alejandro Valverde.
Valverde, of Spain, nearly caught Contador over the 17km of the final climb to finish six seconds behind in second place alongside Sergio Luis Henao of Colombia.
The two-time Tour de France champion drew on his experience by making a gutsy dash more than 50 kilometers from the finish and nothing but mountain to climb to the finish atop the Fuente De.
Contador never relented, building his lead to cross the finish 2 minutes, 38 seconds ahead of Rodriguez, who had held the race leader's red jersey since the fourth stage of 21-leg race. "I had to gamble," said Contador, who knew Wednesday was crucial with only Saturday's penultimate leg - and last mountain stage - available to overcome a 28-second deficit to Rodriguez. "My instinct took over and I attacked."
Contador's win in 4:29:20 took his leading overall time to 68:07:54 for a sizable 1:52 advantage over Alejandro Valverde.
Valverde, of Spain, nearly caught Contador over the 17km of the final climb to finish six seconds behind in second place alongside Sergio Luis Henao of Colombia.
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