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LA VUELTA A ESPAÑA - STAGE 2
BATTLE WITH THE WIND
The strong wind and the tempo imposed by the Movistar made the peloton break into parts with around 50 kilometres to go. The Cofidis team was surprised, but it would take more than that to show their enthusiasm and achieve their first goal: the stage victory.
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Never one day is like another on a Grand Tour. And racing the Vuelta in the middle of autumn doesn't make it any better. The Tour of Spain is traditionally held under a strong sun, but here, the sky is as threatening as yesterday and the wind is even stronger than the day before.
With the acceleration of the Movistars with around 50 kilometres to go, these winds caused several bursts with around 50 kilometres to go. José Herrada stayed in the first group, but the other riders of the Cofidis group got caught behind.
Around Guillaume Martin, they tried their best to come back to the peloton. A particularly tricky challenge, especially since Pierre-Luc Périchon fell again in a descent and had to change the bike, he was yet able to get back afterwards.
Despite the legitimate disappointment, the goal of the team didn't change on this Vuelta: to fight with determination for a stage victory. Moreover, they will have to re-mobilize themselves tomorrow with a stage of 166km and above all a new finish at the summit - the Laguna Negra.
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Guillaume MARTIN: "We lacked vigilance on the break and the gap widened quickly. We then tried to get organized and I thank all my team-mates for getting together at the bottom to reduce the gap. But in the valley, with a peloton launched at high speed and the wind, there was nothing to do. After that, I know that the fact that I have lost some time also gives me some room for maneuver for the next stage. Even if it's a bad day, maybe this lost time is a blessing in disguise to help us achieve our initial goal: to win a stage victory".
Jean-Luc JONROND, sports director: "Of course, there is disappointment that we got trapped with this "bordure". It was a mistake of the riders, except José (Herrada) who followed the train imposed by the Movistar. Of course, the gap has increased in the overall classification for Guillaume. After that, we know that this could leave him more room for a stage victory. In any case, we will do everything we can to fight back with that objective in mind".
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GIRO - STAGE 17
JESPER HANSEN, THE GREAT ESCAPE
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Four climbs, three of them of 1st category: this 17th stage of the Giro looked very tough. On the first climb in Forcella Valbona, a group of riders took off with a representative of the Cofidis team, Jesper Hansen.
The Danish rider, already in the breakaway last Thursday on the stage around Cesenatico, contributed for a long time to set the rhythm in the break and he held on well. Jesper crossed the line in 10th position, a great performance considering the difficulty of the race.
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From now on, we will have to try to recover well because the difficulties continue with four climbs to be climbed tomorrow. Among these climbs, there will be the famous climb of Stelvio and its 24,7 km of ascent with very cool temperatures expected at the summit. A stage that promises to be spectacular again and particularly challenging for the bodies.
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