Time trial wrap-up: Contador in solid shape with mountains to decide final standings
Instead of providing a clearer picture of the general classification in the Vuelta a España, Wednesday’s time trial only solidified the fact that the race is between still four men.
A category three climb making up the middle part of the Pontevedra time trial certainly helped matters for overall leader Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha), who held onto his red jersey by a single second over Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank). Contador finished second in the TT, 17 seconds behind stage winner Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana).
Sitting third overall is Chris Froome (Sky Procycling), and Froome finished likewise in the time trial, losing 22 seconds to Contador. Given his past struggles in the race against the clock, Rodriguez was an outstanding seventh on the stage. Along with the single second lead ‘Purito’ maintains over Contador, he also carries 16 seconds over Froome and 59 over Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).
In the 2010 Vuelta, Rodriguez lost 6’12” to stage winner Peter Velits and lost the red jersey to Vincenzo Nibali, taking him out of the running for a podium finish. Considering this, Rodriguez was pleased to have left himself in solid contention with the time trialing out of the way and only a long list of mountain summits to tackle.
“Today was a special individual time trial. I don’t know if it was my best one, since in the [2012] Giro d’Italia I think I did a great job too, but I think I surpassed my limits today,” Rodriguez proclaimed afterward. “This is the proof that we worked very well in the last year in order to improve in races against the clock. Since this morning, I was very calm because I knew in the team car Valerio Piva and Sebastian Weber would be following me.
“Sebastian is a great guide for time trials because he knows everything about me and the parcours, so he knows by heart where I should save energy and where I can give everything. I’m really happy to keep the red jersey, but I wouldn’t say I’m the favorite now - Contador, Froome and Valverde had great performances too. The gaps are narrow, so everything can still happen.”
In a bit of a surprise, Contador got the better of Froome, pulling out seconds at every time check, and 22 in total. He was unable to wrestle the red jersey away from Rodriguez, and Froome is far from dispatched at just 16 seconds back of Rodriguez, but Contador could still look at his time trial effort with admiration.
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is that I progressed and advanced in the overall classification,” the Spaniard admitted. “I’m very happy because the sensations are good and it has been a pretty uplifting day for us. Rodriguez has done a very impressive time trial, along with Alejandro [Valverde], and only lost marginal time to Froome, which means he’s still a contender for the overall win.”
Contador has shown an impatient, aggressive style in some of the Vuelta’s rolling hills of the first week, but is now ready to set off on ground where his moves are more likely to stick.
“Once we enter my terrain, I hope to feel as strong as now,” he stated after the time trial. “So far, the race has been dominated by one-day Classics [style of racing], but now we are on the threshold of the high mountain stages. It’s still a very close race at the top of the GC but I have full confidence in the team and myself.”
The high mountains are still temporarily on hold though, as riders face a relatively flat stage 12 on Thursday that features the Mirador de Ézaro, a steep uphill finish in the final two kilometres in Dumbría.