Stephens happy with Astana race

By Shane Stokes in Alto de La Cobertoria

Astana directeur sportif Neil Stephens said after stage nine that he was delighted with Alexandre Vinokourov’s race. "Things are really good. The most positive thing is how Alexandre worked today. He tried to do his best for Kashechkin before he went. He didn’t just think of himself. He thought about his teammate and the general classification and when there was no alternative, it was only then that he turned on the gas.

"I haven’t spoken to him about it yet, but I think that if the two of them had reached the line together, he would perhaps have let Kashechkin win. With the bonus he would have taken the jersey. Now we will wait until the time trial. We have two riders up there so we are really happy."