Used with permission of Team Astana – Photo courtesy of Graham Watson

Vuelta a España Stage 15: Cudillero to Ponferrada, 202km/125mi

-         by Cathy Mehl

Another day in the gold leader’s jersey and another stage closer to the win in Madrid was on tap for Alberto Contador and Astana Cycling Team on Monday.  A successful break put David Garcia Dapena (Xacobea Galicia) on the top step of the podium as well as move him from 23rd on GC all the way to 13th in a brave effort that saw him attempt to break into the top ten.  Hard work by Team Astana controlled the race and Contador and teammate Levi Leipheimer still lead the Vuelta one-two.

As the 63rd Vuelta a Espana winds down this week, riders hoping to still secure a win in a Grand Tour are trying their best to be in the right place at the right time when a breakaway goes up the road.  On Monday’s stage to Ponderrada, a large break of 17 riders seized the day, with most teams represented in the group.  This meant a more casual day in the saddle for the main field of 128 as they eyed the time gap throughout the day. 

At 44km to go José Luis Arrieta (AG2R) took flight and eventually built a nice advantage of 54 seconds to the breakaway. At first he was let go but the chasers finally organized themselves enough to ride Arrieta down when the group split apart on the uncategorized (but somewhat difficult) small climb at 12km to go.  Just as Arrieta was caught Garcia launched an attack of his own with 3km to go.  Rocking and rolling over the bike as he crossed the finish line, kissing a ring on his finger and raising an arm in victory, the 30 year-old Garcia took the biggest win of his career.  Some 17 seconds later Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) crossed the line just in front of Juan Manuel Garate (Quick Step) to complete the podium. The peloton was still on the last “little” climb at 12km to go and didn’t arrive at the tape for over 14 more minutes.

Safely in the group was Contador in his gold jersey, Leipheimer wearing the white, and all of Team Astana who successfully defended the race lead for another day.  While Contador did have a minor crash and had to seek medical attention at the doctor’s car during the race, he is doing fine and looking forward to Madrid.

Tuesday’s Stage 16 starts with a climb but then it’s mostly downhill for the rest of the stage, hopefully giving tired legs a bit of a rest with six stages to go.

Top twenty stage 15 finishers:

1. David Garcia Dapena (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia -- 5.02.27 (40.073km/h)
2. Nick Nuyens (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone -- 0.17
3. Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quick Step                                           
4. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Lampre -- 0.33
5. Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi --  0.36
6. David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne -- 0.39
7. Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC - Saxo Bank -- 1.38
8. Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                                 
9. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux -- 1.39
10. Sébastien Minard (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone -- 2.38
11. Olivier Bonnaire (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                     
12. José Luis Arrieta Lujambio (Spa) AG2R La Mondiale -- 2.40
13. Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Tinkoff Credit Systems  -- 5.15
14. Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas -- 5.58
15. Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Silence – Lotto -- 6.59
16. Heinrich Haussler (Ger) Gerolsteiner                                        
17. Kevin De Weert (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone -- 14.23
18. Sergio Miguel Paulinho Moreira (Por) Astana                                 
19. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana                                                  
20. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana                                       
21. Gustavo Cesar Veloso (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia                                  
22. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana                                                 
23. Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia                              
24. Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi                          
25. Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                           

Top twenty-five General classification after stage 15:

1. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Astana -- 61.13.48
2. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Astana -- 1.17
3. Carlos Sastre Candil (Spa) Team CSC - Saxo Bank -- 3.41
4. Ezequiel Mosquera Miguez (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia -- 4.35
5. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank -- 5.49
6. Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne -- 6.00
7. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne -- 6.11
8. Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Spa) Euskaltel – Euskadi -- 8.56
9. David Moncoutié (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone -- 9.32
10. Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Gerolsteiner -- 10.01
11. Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne -- 10.36
12. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Lampre -- 10.56
13. David Garcia Dapena (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia -- 11.47
14. Juan Manuel Garate (Spa) Quick Step -- 15.02
15. Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel) Team CSC - Saxo Bank -- 16.08
16. David Arroyo Duran (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne -- 19.24
17. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Crédit Agricole -- 19.31
18. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale -- 20.08
19. Javier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Andalucía – Cajasur -- 22.18
20. Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne -- 23.05
21. Sandy Casar (Fra) Française des Jeux -- 23.17
22. Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana -- 23.47
23. Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale -- 24.02
24. José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Astana -- 24.03
25. Gustavo Cesar Veloso (Spa) Xacobeo Galicia -- 24.57