Freire out

Rabobank's Oscar Freire has decided to call it a day at the Vuelta. On the race's second rest day in Suances, his team announced that the triple World champion would not be at the start anymore of Saturday's mountain stage to the famous Angliru.

This does not come as a surprise, as the Spanish sprinter, winner of stage 11 at this year's Vuelta, will now focus on the World Championships in Varese, Italy.

"I hope this is a good sign for the Worlds," he said after his victory on Wednesday. "Last year I prepared essentially the same way, but I was lacking a bit at the Worlds. This year I arrived at the Vuelta much fresher."