VEULTA: Stage 4 win for Daniel Moreno

2013_March6_DaveMellor_Banner

Stage to the end of the world a victory for Katusha’s Daniel Moreno whilst Vincenzo Nibali takes back the leader’s jersey after a one second split in the peloton sees Horner drop to second

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Daniel Moreno brought the Katusha team it’s first victory of this 68th edition of the Tour of Spain after a brave late attack which he timed to perfection. Countering an attack by Flecha, and chased by no less a legend that Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard), the Spanish rider won the uphill sprint to Fisterra. Aussie Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge), was third.

2013_Stage4_MorenoWins

The stage, 189 km from Lalin/A Estrada to Fisterra (edge of Spain), probably felt like the end of the world to many with its sting in the tail; two key climbs, the incredibly tough climb of Mirador de Ezaro (up to 29% in places) with 35 km to go and 1.8k long, and then the final 2k long but less steep climb to the finish line.

The daily breakaway was made up of five riders: Alex Rasmussen (Garmin-Sharp), Danilo Wyss (BMC), Jussi Velkkanen (FDJ), Dennis Vanendert (Lotto-Belisol) and Nicolas Edet (Cofidis). The five opened up a maxiumum lead of little more than seven minutes before being caught by a group of counter-attacking riders in Mirador de Ezaro. Edet was the only one from the previous breakaway to be able to stay with Txurruka (Caja Rural), Luis Leon Sanchez (Belkin), Nerz (BMC), Herrada (Movistar) and Angel Vicioso, rider of Katusha Team.

[pullquote]Daniel Moreno “The race is still very long and maybe I’ll have some more chances. It was a great victory in a very demanding stage”.[/pullquote]

Their attempt was neutralized by the main peloton led by Radioshack-Leopard-Trek, which despite the climb of Mirador de Ezaro, still had up to 100 riders in it. Nicolas Edet (Cofidis) did his best to give his team some much needed publicity by doing a great ride to stay away before being caught prior to the final climb. Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil) was the first to try his luck, but the crucial counter-attack by Dani Moreno decided the stage: the Spanish rider the strongest of the uphill sprinters and he crossed the finish line first.

More controversial was the commissaires showing inconsistency in judging the ‘gap’ in the peloton and because of that, race leader, veteran Chris Horner, lost his leader’s jersey whilst Nibali, on the right side of the gap, had it back on his shoulders.

[pullquote]Chris Horner “For me it’s no big problem since now I can finish the stage, return to the bus, shower, relax and prepare for the next stage.”[/pullquote]

The stage winner Daniel Moreno though was certaily pleased with a Grand Tour stage win. “I’m very happy of this victory” he said. “Yesterday I said to my teammates that I would like to try to win today because I like this stage a lot. I have to thank all them, especially Luca Paolini that helped me a lot in the final part in order to put me in the best position for attacking, and Purito: we know each other very well, we know which stages are more suitable to the other.”

“He’s the leader, all the team work for him, but today I got a chance to try for myself. We have to be focused every day and take advantage of any chances we would have to reach the team’s aims. The race is still very long and maybe I’ll have some more chances. It was a great victory in a very demanding stage”.

Veteran Horner Drops to Second

[pullquote]Cancellara  “When 55kg are jumping away it’s different from 85kg going”[/pullquote]

Chris Horner meanwhile didn’t think it was the end of the world to lose the Red jersey. “It was a beautiful stage, but there was a small gap at the end and that happens sometimes.” For me it’s no big problem since now I can finish the stage, return to the bus, shower, relax and prepare for the next stage.”

“There is only a small time difference of three seconds so we will try to take the jersey again when we go to the mountains. I’m going to always remember yesterday and how it felt to take the jersey but the important day to have it is at the end. It’s not ideal for the sponsors to lose the jersey of course, but it’s ok for now and I will use my good legs to get it back. I plan to have a fantastic Vuelta.”

A one second gap between position 21 and 22 caused the six seconds loss for Chris Horner, finishing 26th in the stage. The team appealed, but the finish photo showed a 1.01 second gap. The team were also denied a stage win with Daniel Moreno holding off Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Leopard). “When 55kg are jumping away it’s different from 85kg going,” said Cancellara with a laugh, referring to the weight difference between himself and Moreno.

“At the end, it’s easy to say I went too late, but I had a great team today, riding well for Chris and then for me on the stage. The last 20k, I was trying to decide if I should try for it or not. I figured I had nothing to lose. It was something I needed to try, so I’m happy and good with the result.”

Meanwhile, third placed Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) said of his third place, “The boys put me in the perfect position to launch myself in the sprint,” said Matthews. “It’s unfortunate that Moreno and Cancellara snuck away in the final kilometre, but I won the sprint for third. My sprinting legs are good and my climbing legs are good, too. We’ll see in the next few days if we can go even better and get that stage win we’re all aiming for together.”

“The whole day was pretty stressful,” admitted Matthews. “There was a lot of wind, and the roads were really open. There wasn’t much flat for the entire 190km.” Talking about the Mirador de Ezarom, Matthews said “I got over the climb in the front group of around 30 riders. It was hard but it wasn’t quite as hard as they made it out to be. From there, another 40 or so riders caught us on the descent, and that was the group that contested the finish.”

There was bad news for the Aussie team with Wesley Sulzberger taken to hospital following stage four where X-rays revealed a broken collarbone and small elbow fracture. Brother of Bernie Sulzberger who had so much success in Britain in 2012, Wesley says “I was in a good position before the start of the climb. There were barriers at the start, and a BMC rider in front of me almost hit the barrier. He tail-whipped his bike and braked heavily to avoid crashing.”

“I dodged the barrier and was about to hit the BMC rider. Instead, I braked to avoid riding into him and went up and over my handlebars.”

Wednesday (today) brings stage 5. At 174.3km the course begins in Sober and ends in Lago De Sanabria. It looks like a true sprinter’s stage.

STAGE 4
1 MORENO Daniel Katusha Team 16 80 4:37:47
2 CANCELLARA Fabian RadioShack – Leopard 8 50 @ st
3 MATTHEWS Michael Orica GreenEDGE 4 35 @ st
4 MEERSMAN Gianni Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 2 25 @ st
5 MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin Pro Cycling Team 1 18 @ st
6 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald Sky Procycling 15 @ st
7 NOCENTINI Rinaldo AG2R La Mondiale 12 @ st
8 BARGUIL Warren Team Argos – Shimano 10 @ st
9 HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling 8 @ st
10 ROCHE Nicolas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 6 @ st
11 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro Movistar Team 5 @ st
12 PREIDLER Georg Team Argos – Shimano 4 @ st
13 BOLE Grega Vacansoleil – DCM 3 @ st
14 PAUWELS Serge Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 2 @ st
15 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team 1 @ st
16 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team @ st
17 ROUX Anthony Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
18 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC Racing Team @ st
19 KREUZIGER Roman Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
20 SANCHEZ GIL Luis Leon Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
21 HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp – Endura @ st
22 NERZ Dominik BMC Racing Team 0:06
23 BASSO Ivan Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
24 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team @ st
25 ELISSONDE Kenny Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
26 HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard @ st
27 ULISSI Diego Lampre – Merida @ st
28 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack – Leopard @ st
29 SCHORN Daniel Team NetApp – Endura @ st
30 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura @ st
31 DE CLERCQ Bart Lotto Belisol Team @ st
32 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling @ st
33 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
34 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar RadioShack – Leopard @ st
35 PINOT Thibaut Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
36 ZAUGG Oliver Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
37 MARCZYNSKI Tomasz Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
38 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale @ st
39 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt Team Argos – Shimano @ st
40 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
41 CARDOSO André Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
42 VANENDERT Jelle Lotto Belisol Team @ st
43 ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
44 MARTIN Daniel Garmin – Sharp @ st
45 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team @ st
46 TEN DAM Laurens Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
47 HERRADA LOPEZ Jose Movistar Team @ st
48 MORENO BAZAN Javier Movistar Team @ st
49 SARMIENTO TUNARROSA Jose Cayetano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
50 SCARPONI Michele Lampre – Merida @ st
51 NIEVE ITURALDE Mikel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
52 ARROYO DURAN David Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
53 BAGOT Yohan Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
54 COPPEL Jérome Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
55 SERRY Pieter Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
56 PIMENTA COSTA MENDES José João Team NetApp – Endura @ st
57 GASTAUER Ben AG2R La Mondiale @ st
58 EIJSSEN Yannick BMC Racing Team @ st
59 DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO David Team NetApp – Endura @ st
60 LOSADA ALGUACIL Alberto Katusha Team @ st
61 MATE MARDONES Luis Angel Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
62 VELASCO MURILLO Ivan Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
63 SORENSEN Chris Anker Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
64 PATERSKI Maciej Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 0:19
65 SZMYD Sylwester Movistar Team 0:22
66 GUSEV Vladimir Katusha Team @ st
67 VALLS FERRI Rafael Vacansoleil – DCM 0:24
68 ZINGLE Romain Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
69 HOWES Alex Garmin – Sharp @ st
70 FLECHA Juan Antonio Vacansoleil – DCM 0:27
71 CLEMENT Stef Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:32
72 TXURRUKA Amets Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
73 STYBAR Zdenek Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 0:34
74 TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team 0:36
75 TANNER David Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:39
76 RATTO Daniele Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 0:46
77 HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol Team 0:55
78 KNEES Christian Sky Procycling 0:58
79 LANDA MEANA Mikel Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
80 HUPOND Thierry Team Argos – Shimano 1:28
81 OROZ UGALDE Juan Jos̩ Euskaltel РEuskadi @ st
82 IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team @ st
83 BRAJKOVIč Janez Astana Pro Team 1:39
84 WURF Cameron Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
85 EDET Nicolas Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
86 MONTAGUTI Matteo AG2R La Mondiale @ st
87 CARUSO Giampaolo Katusha Team @ st
88 BERARD Julien AG2R La Mondiale @ st
89 MORI Manuele Lampre – Merida @ st
90 MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
91 GARCIA FERNANDEZ Marcos Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
92 FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team 2:14
93 VOSS Paul Team NetApp – Endura @ st
94 COOKE Baden Orica GreenEDGE 2:25
95 WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team @ st
96 MEIER Christian Orica GreenEDGE 2:28
97 LASCA Francesco Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
98 VANENDERT Dennis Lotto Belisol Team 2:33
99 PAOLINI Luca Katusha Team 2:50
100 DE WEERT Kevin Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
101 VICIOSO ARCOS Ángel Katusha Team @ st
102 ZEITS Andrey Astana Pro Team @ st
103 BARTA Jan Team NetApp – Endura @ st
104 VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI Gorka Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
105 DALL’ANTONIA Tiziano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
106 HERMANS Ben RadioShack – Leopard 3:04
107 POPOVYCH Yaroslav RadioShack – Leopard 3:05
108 RAST Gregory RadioShack – Leopard @ st
109 ZANDIO ECHAIDE Xabier Sky Procycling @ st
110 CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE 3:33
111 ARNDT Nikias Team Argos – Shimano 4:27
112 BUSCHE Matthew RadioShack – Leopard 5:50
113 SOUPE Geoffrey Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 7:46
114 DE GENDT Thomas Vacansoleil – DCM 10:49
115 KOHLER Martin BMC Racing Team @ st
116 VANSUMMEREN Johan Garmin – Sharp 13:17
117 REYNES MIMO Vicente Lotto Belisol Team 14:21
118 BROWN Graeme Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
119 PINOTTI Marco BMC Racing Team @ st
120 FARRAR Tyler Garmin – Sharp @ st
121 IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel RadioShack – Leopard @ st
122 ERVITI OLLO Imanol Movistar Team @ st
123 GARATE Juan Manuel Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
124 MONDORY Lloyd AG2R La Mondiale @ st
125 BOIVIN Guillaume Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
126 GUTIERREZ PALACIOS Jose Iván Movistar Team @ st
127 SIJMENS Nico Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
128 LASTRAS GARCIA Pablo Movistar Team @ st
129 PETIT Adrien Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
130 TOSATTO Matteo Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
131 GERRANS Simon Orica GreenEDGE @ st
132 WAGNER Robert Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
133 POULHIES Stéphane Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
134 BONO Matteo Lampre – Merida @ st
135 STORTONI Simone Lampre – Merida @ st
136 INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team @ st
137 CHAINEL Steve AG2R La Mondiale @ st
138 VAN DER SANDE Tosh Lotto Belisol Team @ st
139 HOWARD Leigh Orica GreenEDGE @ st
140 SINKELDAM Ramon Team Argos – Shimano @ st
141 FAIRLY Caleb Garmin – Sharp @ st
142 GENIEZ Alexandre Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
143 NUYENS Nick Garmin – Sharp @ st
144 LODEWYCK Klaas BMC Racing Team @ st
145 FROHLINGER Johannes Team Argos – Shimano @ st
146 LANDER Sebastian BMC Racing Team @ st
147 BEWLEY Sam Orica GreenEDGE @ st
148 HENDERSON Gregory Lotto Belisol Team @ st
149 DE GREEF Francis Lotto Belisol Team @ st
150 RASMUSSEN Alex Garmin – Sharp @ st
151 CAMANO ORTUZAR Iker Team NetApp – Endura @ st
152 GILBERT Philippe BMC Racing Team @ st
153 VAN DE WALLE Jurgen Lotto Belisol Team @ st
154 CATALDO Dario Sky Procycling @ st
155 PUCCIO Salvatore Sky Procycling @ st
156 STAMSNIJDER Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ st
157 VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
158 KIRYIENKA Vasil Sky Procycling @ st
159 GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team @ st
160 BESSY Cyril Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
161 GRAZIATO Massimo Lampre – Merida @ st
162 MANGEL Laurent Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
163 MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
164 FENN Andrew Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
165 RICHEZE Ariel Maximiliano Lampre – Merida @ st
166 HOOGERLAND Johnny Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
167 HAEDO Lucas Sebastian Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
168 LONGHO BORGHINI Paolo Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
169 POELS Wout Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
170 MARKUS Barry Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
171 ROWE Luke Sky Procycling @ st
172 CHEREL Mikael AG2R La Mondiale @ st
173 PINEAU Cédric Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
174 ANACONA GOMEZ Winner Lampre – Merida @ st
175 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale @ st
176 VANDEWALLE Kristof Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
177 DODI Luca Lampre – Merida @ st
178 WESTRA Lieuwe Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
179 AZANZA SOTO Jorge Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
180 VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team @ st
181 FERRARI Fabricio Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
182 KOZONTCHUK Dmitry Katusha Team @ st
183 URTASUN PEREZ Pablo Euskaltel – Euskadi @ st
184 COURTEILLE Arnaud Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
185 DEMPSTER Zakkari Team NetApp – Endura @ st
186 DOCKER Mitchell Orica GreenEDGE @ st
187 VEIKKANEN Jussi Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
188 PETROV Evgeni Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
189 ISAYCHEV Vladimir Katusha Team @ st
190 ARAMENDIA LORENTE Javier Francisco Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
191 PETERSON Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ st
192 PIEDRA PEREZ Antonio Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
193 KREDER Michel Garmin – Sharp @ st
194 SøRENSEN Nicki Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
195 SULZBERGER Wesley Orica GreenEDGE @ st
196 MøRKøV Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st

OVERALL

1 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 14:15:30
2 HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard 00:03
3 ROCHE Nicolas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:08
4 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar RadioShack – Leopard 00:16
5 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro Movistar Team 00:21
6 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack – Leopard 00:26
7 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling 00:28
8 MORENO FERNáNDEZ Daniel Katusha Team 00:31
9 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:38
10 KREUZIGER Roman Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:42
11 HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp – Endura 00:45
12 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC Racing Team 00:46
13 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura 00:48
14 MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin Pro Cycling Team 00:49
15 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team 00:52
16 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team 00:53
17 SORENSEN Chris Anker Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:55
18 EIJSSEN Yannick BMC Racing Team 00:59
19 ULISSI Diego Lampre – Merida 01:10
20 TEN DAM Laurens Belkin Pro Cycling Team 01:12

 

RST Cycle Clothing & Trigon Bikes

Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)

Other News on VeloUK

Tags: , ,