Friday, March 29, 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 of France 2017 – Stage 10: Périgueux – Bergerac, 178km. Kittel makes his fourth look easy

VeloVeritas’ first Tour stage start of the year; Stage 10, Périgueux to Bergerac through the lovely Dordogne Valley countryside. But not before all them words were written and pictures edited, placed and posted from the VeloVeritas bedoffice. Périgueux wasn’t the busiest stage start we’ve ever witnessed but we’re not complaining; we were in among the buses and riders in jig time...

Le Tour de France 2012 – Stage 14: Limoux – Foix, 192 km. Tacks Cause Kišerlovski Crash

I was speaking to Vik, the other day.I shan’t use the word which he did to describe Brad’s opponents, but it wasn’t complimentary. Limoux - After yesterday’s display, it’s hard to disagree; whilst there was drama at the end with Kišerlovski crash – more of which later – when we drove the course it seemed to us a perfect opportunity for Nibali and his descending skills.

Le Tour de France 2016 – Stage 9; Vielha Val d’Aran – Andorre Arcalis. Dumoulin Solos to Victory

Tom Dumoulin tests to solo glory in Andorra; Pinot goes poids; Froome consolidates jaune; Porte confuses; Martin rises to another level; Yates confirms; Aru and Tejay slide whilst Quintana waits – but it’s over for Alberto. But all that said - no real changes from yesterday and the Bigs only race the last few kilometres...

Il Giro d’Italia 2014 – Stage 9; Lugo – Sestola, 174 km. Pieter Weening Winning

Boring this Giro is not - Pieter Weening won ORICA-GreenEDGE's third stage of the race in a two-up sprint against Davide Malacarne (Team Europcar) both having survived from the break of the day. It took an hour of savage racing before a big break of 14 was finally allowed to go - once the correct recipe passed the test of the ‘Bigs’ dipping their finger in the mixing bowl. But there were just two left come the mountain top tactical finish where Weening was too strong for Malacarne – I did enjoy the high altitude track stand...

At Random

Le Tour de France 2013 – Stage 6: Aix-en-Provence > Montpellier, 176km. Daryl Impey Leads

Daryl Impey (GreenEDGE & Republic of South Africa) was in danger of always being remembered as the rider who suffered a horrific crash in the final metres of the Presidential Tour of Turkey in 2009 with the yellow jersey on his back – the podium substituted for an ambulance, that day.

Upholstery tacks, Did That Really Happen? (TDF 2012 St14)

Upholstery tacks? Seriously? Clearly my “Ugly Fans” rant was two days too soon. The Tour is such a great spectacle partly because of the amazing numbers of fans lining the road.

Le Tour de France 2010, Stage 12: Bourg-de-Peage-Mende; Bert’s Back!

Le Tour de France, Bourg-de-Peage-Mende, and Bert's back! And we were there to see it, a privilege. L'Equipe today says 'Fin de la Trêve' - that's 'end of the truce, (or respite)'. That's how it looked to us, Contador letting Schleck know that he's just fine.

Steve Cummings – and now the British Road Race Champion too!

After his win in the British Time Trial Championship, here’s what Dimension Data’s Steve Cummings told us when we asked him about his chances in the British Road Race Championship: "I’m not at 100% so don’t believe I have the condition to win the road race – it’ll be perhaps another 10 days before I come into my best shape." Despite that, two days later he was topping his second Isle of Man podium as British Elite Time Trial and Road Race Champion.