Tour of Spain: Stage 11 TT – Kessiakoff

Fredrik Kessiakoff of Astana wins the time trial while Contador takes time out of Chris Froome as Valverde stays in touch on the overall

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Previous Stages | Stage 1 TTT | Stage 2 | Stage 3 | Stage 4 | Stage 5 | Stage 6 | Stage 7 | Stage 8 | Stage 9 | Stage 10 |

The battle for the overall midway through the 2012 Tour of Spain came to a head in the time trial with Alberto Contador showing that his fresh legs were more than a match for his rivals. The former Tour de France winner finished second to Astana’s Fredrik Kessiakoff who’s big claim to fame so far was wearing the King of the Mountains jersey in this years Tour de France.

This was the Swede’s second victory of the season, following on from his win in the seventh stage of the Tour de Suisse – another individual time trial. Speaking in a TV interview, Kessiakoff said: “I am absolutely delighted! As soon as I crossed the line I knew I had a good time. I saw the gap from Richie Porte, who was second in the classification at the time, and I knew I had done well. Contador and Froome were the opponents I was most wary of, but I was sure I would have a good chance to battle it out with them for the win.”

“Ever since Pamplona we have had today’s stage highlighted in red,” said Giuseppe Martinelli, Astana team manager. “Kessiakoff is really at ease on this kind of parcours. I told him he would have a great race and that is precisely what happened. He prepared really hard for this stage and the results are plain to see. It is a victory for him and for the team, which must look to start again from here to get some big results. There are still 10 days of racing to go and now the team’s morale is sky high. We will go into the next stages with renewed confidence to try and get another win.”

Kessiakoff put 17 seconds into Contador which is no mean feat but crucially for British hopes was the loss of 22 seconds by Chris Froome to his Spanish rival Contador. Race leader Joaquin Rodriguez of Katusha did well in his rather odd looking helmet to finish 1.17 back on Kessiakoff  and hold on to the leader’s jersey by a single second while Alejandro Valverde of Movistar also showed the fight for the GC is still in his legs completing the TT in fourth and 59 seconds back on Rodriguez in the General Classification.

Alejandro Valverde (4th overall): “I had already stated this TT wasn’t bad for me, but even with that, taking 4th just behind Contador and Froome and find these good legs is something to be really happy about. I think I did a sensational TT, even after not being able to find the best pace in the beginning.”

“After that, I started to find myself better into the climb and kept going and going in the finale. We’re still in the fight, less than a minute behind the leadership even after the 55 seconds I lost at Valdezcaray. I don’t know if I’d be the race leader, but it’s not time to think about that: that won’t change, we must look towards the future and the important thing is that there’s still a long way to go with lots of good climbs.”

“The stages coming up now must be the hardest, especially the Asturian ones. We must go day by day: tomorrow’s finish is good for me, but position will be essential and that will make it complicated. It’s being a really exciting Vuelta and we hope that strength stays at our side.”

The big winner on the stage was Contador ( Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank ). His director sportif, Bradley McGee said afterwards “The course contained all elements to create a thrilling time trial from high-speed sections, crazy corners in the city, a nasty climb and a technically demanding descent and Alberto did a tremendous effort. He might have been able to take a few more seconds on top of the climb which would have secured the jersey. But of course today’s stage clearly demonstrated Alberto’s condition is progressing and that he just gets stronger and stronger. Tomorrow, there’s a nasty uphill finish which will probably create a few more changes in the GC,” said McGee.

Joaquin Rodriguez  “Today was a special ITT. I don’t know if it was my best one, since in ‘Giro d’Italia’ I think I did a great job too, but anyways I think I surpassed my limits. This is the proof we worked very well in the last year in order to improve in races against the clock. Since the morning, I was very calm because I knew in my car Valerio Piva and Sebastian Weber were following me: especially since Sebastian is a great guide for time trials. He knows everything about myself and the parcours, so he knows by heart where I should keep something back and where I can give everything. Now I’m really happy to keep the red jersey, but I wouldn’t say I’m the favorite now: Contador, Froome and Valverde did a great performance too, the gaps are narrow, so everything can still happen”.

The overall is now a four way battle between these riders with many more mountains to come before the fat lady sings….

Result

Stage 11 Time Trial (Cambados – Pontevedra 39,4 km  – Wednesday 29 August)
1 Fredrik Kessiakoff, Astana 52:36:00
2 Alberto Contador, Saxobank @ 17
3 Christopher Froome, Sky @ 39
4 Alejandro Valverde, Movistar @ 1:08
5 Benat Intxausti Elorriaga, Mov @ 1:09
6 Richie Porte, Sky @ 1:15
7 Joaquin Rodriguez, Katusha @ 1:17
8 Cameron Meyer Oge @ 1:17
9 Andrew Talansky Grs @ 1:24
10 Jonathan Castroviejo Nicolas Mov @ 1:34
11 Tony Martin Opq @ 1:39
12 Robert Gesink Rab @ 1:42
13 Thomas De Gendt Vcd @ 1:50
14 Philippe Gilbert Bmc @ 1:57
15 Daniel Moreno Fernandez Kat @ 2:02
16 Tiago Machado Rnt @ 2:04
17 Maxime Bouet Alm @ 2:05
18 Lars Boom Rab @ 2:06
19 Juan Antonio Flecha Sky @ 2:16
20 Laurens Ten Dam Rab @ 2:20
21 Nicolas Roche Alm @ 2:21
22 Alexsandr Dyachenko Ast @ 2:23
23 Brent Bookwalter Bmc @ 2:24
24 Christophe Riblon Alm @ 2:34
25 Mikel Astarloza Chaurreau Eus @ 2:37
26 Maciej Bodnar Liq @ 2:38
27 Maxime Monfort Rnt @ 2:40
28 Kristof Vandewalle Opq @ 2:43
29 Gustavo Cesar Veloso Acg @ 2:47
30 Winner Anacona Gomez Lam @ 2:49
31 Martijn Keizer Vcd @ 2:51
32 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui Eus @ 2:51
33 Bart De Clercq Ltb @ 2:52
34 Matteo Montaguti Alm @ 2:53
35 Denis Menchov Kat @ 2:55
36 Dario Cataldo Opq @ 2:57
37 Rob Ruijgh Vcd @ 2:57
38 Bauke Mollema Rab @ 2:59
39 Romain Sicard Eus @ 3:05
40 Stef Clement Rab @ 3:07
41 Jan Bakelants Rnt @ 3:11
42 Linus Gerdemann Rnt @ 3:14
43 Tomasz Marczynski Vcd @ 3:25
44 Gatis Smukulis Kat @ 3:26
45 Rinaldo Nocentini Alm @ 3:30
46 Eros Capecchi Liq @ 3:32
47 Alessandro Ballan Bmc @ 3:34
48 Antonio Piedra Perez Cjr @ 3:38
49 Jurgen Van Den Broeck Ltb @ 3:38
50 Igor Anton Hernandez Eus @ 3:38
51 Zdenek Stybar Opq @ 3:40
52 Kevin De Weert Opq @ 3:41
53 Paolo Tiralongo Ast @ 3:48
54 Marcos Garcia Cjr @ 3:49
55 Vicente Reynes Mimo Ltb @ 3:57
56 Steve Morabito Bmc @ 3:57
57 Johan Van Summeren Grs @ 3:58
58 Serge Pauwels Opq @ 3:58
59 Przemyslaw Niemiec Lam @ 4:01
60 Rigoberto Uran Uran Sky @ 4:02
61 Amets Txurruka Eus @ 4:03
62 Frantisek Rabon Opq @ 4:06
63 Biel Kadri Alm @ 4:07
64 Christophe Le Mevel Grs @ 4:08
65 Sergio Luis Henao Montoya Sky @ 4:08
66 Kevin Seeldraeyers Ast @ 4:09
67 Pavel Brutt Kat @ 4:12
68 Rémi Pauriol Fdj @ 4:12
69 Daniel Teklehaimanot Oge @ 4:15
70 Juan Manuel Garate Rab @ 4:21
71 Damiano Cunego Lam @ 4:23
72 Andrey Kashechkin Ast @ 4:25
73 Jose Vicente Toribio Alcolea Acg @ 4:28
74 Arnold Jeannesson Fdj @ 4:31
75 Hernani Broco Cjr @ 4:31
76 Andrey Zeits Ast @ 4:33
77 Thomas Dekker Grs @ 4:34
78 Nico Sijmens Cof @ 4:34
79 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho Stb @ 4:37
80 Rafael Valls Ferri Vcd @ 4:44
81 Ben Gastauer Alm @ 4:50
82 Gianni Meersman Ltb @ 4:51
83 Xabier Zandio Echaide Sky @ 4:58
84 Rafal Majka Stb @ 4:59
85 Benjamin Noval Gonzalez Stb @ 5:03
86 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo Mov @ 5:04
87 Markel Irizar Aranburu Rnt @ 5:05
88 Egor Silin Ast @ 5:06
89 Elia Viviani Liq @ 5:09
90 Martijn Maaskant Grs @ 5:10
91 Hayden Roulston Rnt @ 5:14
92 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil Mov @ 5:15
93 Denys Kostyuk Lam @ 5:17
94 Luis Angel Mate Mardones Cof @ 5:17
95 Ruben Perez Moreno Eus @ 5:18
96 Simon Clarke Oge @ 5:18
97 Amaël Moinard Bmc @ 5:19
98 Danny Pate Sky @ 5:23
99 Maciej Paterski Liq @ 5:24
100 Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel Cof @ 5:25
101 Thomas Peterson Grs @ 5:29
102 Tiziano Dall’antonia Liq @ 5:32
103 Arnaud Courteille Fdj @ 5:32
104 Laurent Didier Rnt @ 5:35
105 Niki Terpstra Opq @ 5:36
106 Koen De Kort Arg @ 5:46
107 Gert Steegmans Opq @ 5:50
108 Juan Jose Oroz Ugalde Eus @ 5:51
109 Sergey Lagutin Vcd @ 5:56
110 Cayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa Liq @ 5:57
111 Cristiano Salerno Liq @ 5:58
112 Mikel Landa Meana Eus @ 6:05
113 Mickaël Buffaz Cof @ 6:08
114 Stephen Cummings Bmc @ 6:10
115 Javier Chacon Acg @ 6:11
116 Adam Hansen Ltb @ 6:12
117 Pim Ligthart Vcd @ 6:12
118 Ivan Velasco Murillo Eus @ 6:14
119 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas Mov @ 6:15
120 Leonardo Fabio Duque Cof @ 6:16
121 Matteo Tosatto Stb @ 6:17
122 Grischa Niermann Rab @ 6:17
123 Mikhail Ignatyev Kat @ 6:19
124 Grégory Rast Rnt @ 6:20
125 Thierry Hupond Arg @ 6:21
126 Lloyd Mondory Alm @ 6:22
127 Ian Stannard Sky @ 6:26
128 Travis Meyer Oge @ 6:27
129 Oleksandr Kvachuk Lam @ 6:29
130 Bruno Pires Stb @ 6:29
131 Benoît Vaugrenard Fdj @ 6:30
132 Allan Davis Oge @ 6:32
133 Morris Possoni Lam @ 6:35
134 Alberto Losada Alguacil Kat @ 6:36
135 John Degenkolb Arg @ 6:37
136 Johannes Fröhlinger Arg @ 6:39
137 Wouter Mol Vcd @ 6:40
138 Pieter Weening Oge @ 6:42
139 Andre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso Cjr @ 6:43
140 Javier Moreno Bazan Mov @ 6:45
141 Koldo Fernandez Grs @ 6:49
142 Michel Kreder Grs @ 6:51
143 Mauro Santambrogio Bmc @ 6:53
144 Nicki Sörensen Stb @ 6:55
145 Simon Geschke Arg @ 6:58
146 Daniele Bennati Rnt @ 6:59
147 Rudy Molard Cof @ 7:02
148 Jesus Hernandez Blazquez Stb @ 7:02
149 William Bonnet Fdj @ 7:06
150 David Moncoutie Cof @ 7:08
151 Bertjan Lindeman Vcd @ 7:09
152 Ben Swift Sky @ 7:11
153 Imanol Erviti Mov @ 7:12
154 Javier Ramirez Abeja Acg @ 7:13
155 Dominique Rollin Fdj @ 7:14
156 Daniel Navarro Garcia Stb @ 7:17
157 Pablo Lastras Garcia Mov @ 7:18
158 Matti Breschel Rab @ 7:23
159 Olivier Kaisen Ltb @ 7:24
160 Gabriel Rasch Fdj @ 7:28
161 Klaas Lodewyck Bmc @ 7:34
162 Yannick Eijssen Bmc @ 7:43
163 David De La Fuente Rasilla Cjr @ 7:43
164 Yukihiro Doi Arg @ 7:44
165 Davide Vigano Lam @ 7:52
166 Frederik Willems Ltb @ 7:56
167 Alexandre Geniez Arg @ 8:02
168 Angel Vicioso Arcos Kat @ 8:07
169 Mitchell Docker Oge @ 8:13
170 Javier Francisco Aramendia Lorente Cjr @ 8:16
171 Davide Cimolai Lam @ 8:20
172 Adrian Palomares Villaplana Acg @ 8:23
173 Florent Barle Cof @ 8:28
174 Mauro Da Dalto Liq @ 8:29
175 Marco Marzano Lam @ 8:29
176 Julian Dean Oge @ 8:31
177 Dennis Van Winden Rab @ 8:33
178 Jesus Rosendo Prado Acg @ 8:37
179 Jens Debusschere Ltb @ 8:51
180 Pablo Lechuga Rodriguez Acg @ 8:51
181 Sergio Carrasco Garcia Acg @ 9:03
182 Danail Andonov Petrov Cjr @ 9:04
183 Assan Bazayev Ast @ 9:11
184 Raymond Kreder Grs @ 9:28
185 Wesley Sulzberger Oge @ 9:35
186 Xavier Florencio Cabre Kat @ 10:03
187 Joost Van Leijen Ltb @ 10:11
188 Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso Cjr @ 10:19
189 Juan Jose Lobato Del Valle Acg @ 11:00
190 Cheng Ji Arg @ 11:04
191 Aitor Galdos Alonso Cjr @ 12:14
192 Nacer Bouhanni Fdj @ 13:37
193 Daniele Ratto Liq @ 13:53

OVERALL
1. Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha)
2. Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank) @ 1 second
3. Chris Froome (Sky) @ 16 seconds
4. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) @ 59
5. Robert Gesink (Rabobank) @ 2:27

 

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