Thursday, March 28, 2024

La Vuelta a España 2014 – Stage 5; Priego de Cordoba – Ronda, 182.3 km. John Degenkolb Again

-

HomeRaceRace ReviewsLa Vuelta a España 2014 - Stage 5; Priego de Cordoba -...

John Degenkolb

We have to start betting ‘each way’ – yesterday we said; ‘Michael Matthews’ and he was third, today we said; ‘Nacer Bouhanni’ and he was second… And much as we admire the wiry Frenchman, John Degenkolb was 100% correct when he said of Bouhanni’s complaint about the German shutting the door on him; ‘on the right side there was only the barriers.’

An interesting name popped up today in third spot, Belkin’s Dutchman, Moreno Hofland – he was the 2012 Netherlands U23 champion and took three stage wins and the GC in the 2013 Tour of Hainan.

This year there was a close second to Boonen in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, a stage in the Ruta del Sol, a stage in Paris-Nice, the Volta Limburg Classic and two stages in the Tour of Utah – and that’s with his season severely compromised by a bad crash in the Tour of California where he broke ribs and vertebrae.

Watch for him when things flatten out, again.

John Degenkolb
Degenkolb in the Points lead takes the stage. Photo©Unipublic
John Degenkolb
Degenkolb celebrates. Photo©Unipublic

Contador & Co. were at it again today, dynamiting the peloton late in the day; the ‘Bigs’ were too attentive to get caught out but it’s curtains for Garmin’s Hejedal and Talansky – both lost four minutes.

It’s possible to take that amount of time back – but very unlikely in a race as tight as the Vuelta.

John Degenkolb
Tinkoff-Saxo push on for Bert. Photo©Unipublic

It always has been a hotly contested affair and is the Grand Tour which has been won by the tightest margin – Eric Caritoux of France won by just six seconds from Alberto Fernandez in 1984.

And to endorse the closeness of the competition, 20 editions have been won by less than a minute.

The biggest margin in recent times is Toni Rominger of Switzerland’s 7:28 in 1994 – although Spain’s Delio Rodriguez did win by 30 minutes in 1945.

Impressive as usual in the horrible finale pace setting was Sky’s ‘automaton’ Vasili Kiryienka, whatever they pay him, it’s not enough.

John Degenkolb
Chris Froome has his team working hard. Photo©Unipublic

Despite Quintana being in second place and Rodriguez only 34 seconds behind in 17th spot, both men have ‘worn the cloak of invisibility’ perfectly – you’d be hard pushed to know they’re in the race.

John Degenkolb
Race leader Michael Matthews. Photo©Unipublic
John Degenkolb
Martin and Lighart tried together, but Martin sat up. Photo©Unipublic
John Degenkolb
Andrea Guardini gets some medical attention. Photo©Unipublic

That will change tomorrow, Thursday – Stage Six, 157.7 kilometres from the tourist paradise of Benalmadena to La Zubia where those flat coastal roads will be but a distant memory.

The Alto de Zaffaraya is cat. 2 at 72 K then comes the cat. 3 Alto de Bermejal at 113 K with the finish atop the cat. 1 Combres Verdes which features 13% ramps.

There’ll be a break, of course – but it’ll go thermonuclear on that last hill with Nairo Quintana and Joaquin Rodriguez coming out of hibernation and Movistar having a second ace to play in Valverde; Dan Martin will be there too as will Chris Froome – with all of them seeking to find the chinks in Alberto Contador’s armour.

It should be a cracker.

Adios.

John Degenkolb
Typical Vuelta landscape. Photo©Unipublic
Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

Le Tour de France 2009, Stage 4: Montpellier > Montpellier, 39km TTT

The team time trial here in Montpellier, it’s beautiful; speed, strength, skill, trust, unity, honour — everything that makes pro bike racing special.

Scottish Cycling Super 6 Series – Event 4, Leven

"That was horrid", said the winner Evan Oliphant, as I asked him moments after he crossed the line at the Scottish Cycling Super 6, how he enjoyed it. "It was just like being back at the Rás, what with the rain - and those roads!". Oh! I I thought he was talking about his teammate James McCallum congratulating him with a sloppy kiss on the cheek!

Le Tour de France 2009 – Stage 18: Annecy, 40.5km ITT

There's a little breeze fluttering the trees in Annecy, it's mild at 25 degrees but rain is forecast - chrono day. The thing about a Tour time trial is that the conditions I have just described might prevail for first starter, at 11:10, F des J's Belorussian champion and lanterne rouge (now that Kenny has gone home) Yauheni Hutarovich.

Le Tour de France 2010, Second Rest Day

'How's it goin' Shane?' we ask Skyman Shane Sutton as we cross the car park in search of Michael Barry for a rest day interview at the Le Tour de France 2010. 'Been better, mate!' he fires back between hard draws on his fag - it's difficult for a man who wears his heart on his sleeve to 'spin.'

At Random

Jacob Hennessy – Mitchelton-BikeExchange is home for season 2018

You ride your first race in March 2015 and by 2017 you’ve won the U23 Gent-Wevelgem. Promising? Yes, that’s what we thought. Jacob Hennessy is only 21 years-old and has left the shelter of the British Cycling plans and programmes for the rough and tumble of the Continental Teams and the UCi Asia Tour. Mitchelton-BikeExchange is his home for season 2018.

John Archibald – Silver TT and Bronze RR National Championship Medals

Six seconds, that was the margin between five times previous champion, gold medal winner and former World Hour Record Holder, Alex Dowsett [Katusha] and silver medallist, Scotland’s John Archibald [Ribble Pro Cycling] in last week’s British Cycling Time Trial Championship in Norfolk. There's a 'but'...

Steven Lawley – The New Scottish Road Race Champion for 2015

It wasn’t ‘til after the ‘25’ Champs that we managed to catch up with Steven Lawley (Neon Velo) – he’s a busy man, netting another two wins since his fine victory in the Scottish National Road Race Championship where he pushed multiple ex-champion, Evan Oliphant (Raleigh) off the top step of the podium. And in the meantime his team mate, Peter Murdoch scooped the aforementioned ‘25’ title at Irvine.

Le Tour de France 2013 – Stage 8: Castres > Ax3 Domaines, 194km. Froome Decimates the Race

Yesterday we alluded to the fact that a ‘break might stick’ and ‘Froome in yellow?’ We got the first one wrong but even we didn’t realise how spectacularly right we’d be on the second one finishing into Ax3 Domaines.