Geox-TMC rides out what could be the final punches from classification rival Chris Froome
Juan José Cobo (Geox-TMC) survived another day in the red leaders jersey of the Vuelta a España, as the race entered the Basque region of the country for the first time in 33 years. The Bisonte de La Pesa came under attack, as expected, from overall classification rival Chris Froome (Team Sky), who started the day just thirteen seconds behind, on the final climb of the stage, but managed to handle them quite easily.
"I was expecting an attack by Sky in the finale,” said Cobo after the stage. “We had to respond to their attempts and we did so perfectly.
"As expected my team mates did a great job controlling the race from the first kilometres,” he explained. "The breakaway that then got away from the pack was perfect for us. I can only be happy for the way the day went."
The final climb to the Alto El Vivero offered arguably the last possibility for Froome, or anyone else, to attack Cobo and threaten his jersey. With tough climbs and many kilometres on the way to Madrid, the Cantabrian is avoiding complacency.
"I prefer to take it day by day,” he said. “Today was a perfect day. Tomorrow the finish is in Vitoria and we have to face the climb on Urkiola and we’ll try to use the same strategy.
"Afterwards there will be Madrid.
While Geox-TMC was not called upon to do too much of the hard work of the stage, the Spanish team managed to control the race in the way it wanted.
“For us it was another perfect day,” explained Sports Director Joxean Fernandez Matxin. “We knew that Sky would try to do something to change the standings but Cobo and the entire team raced and responded magnificently.
"Cobo had to stay stuck to Froome’s wheel and he did so, both in the first intermediate sprint, where De la Fuente was exceptional, and in the final on the last climb when the Englishman attempted an attack.
A breakaway escaping up the road to absorb the bonus seconds, at the intermediate sprint and the finish, was the perfect solution for Geox-TMC. The fact that it was a local rider on the race’s return to the Basque region, Matxin was only too happy to see.
“It meant a lot to Euskaltel especially to win here in the Basque region,” he said, “and this wasn’t a problem for us, so when they made a break for it with Igor Antón in the group we didn’t need to work too hard to catch up.
“We just wanted to keep Sky in check and ride the race on their backs,” Matxin added, “and that’s what we’ll do tomorrow, too."