Cobo takes a win in La Granja

Juan Jose Cobo rose to the top of the Vuelta a España as he raced away from a select group of the overall favourites to claim a stage 19 win in La Granja, Real Fábrica de Cristales. Two kilometres from the finish the Fuji-Servetto rider attacked a small group that had formed on the final climb of the day. With mere seconds in hand, Cobo held his advantage to take victory ahead of race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) and Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto).

On the final mountain stage of this year's Vuelta, Valverde saw off attacks from his closest rivals on both the ascent and descent of the Puerto de Navacerrada to maintain his overall lead. However, Robert Gesink (Rabobank) finally gave in to injuries suffered in his stage 17 crash and slipped out of contention. The Dutchman is now 5:30 behind Valverde, with Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) moving up to second place ahead of Ivan Basso (Liquigas). Valverde's time bonus for second place meant that he yet again extended his lead over all --  bar Cobo at the finish.

Having languished in the aftermath of the Saunier-Duval collapse two years ago, Cobo today signalled loud and clear that he is back with a vengeance. His debut Grand Tour stage win was also the first for his Fuji-Servetto team. Cobo had been the first rider from the squad to claim victory, at the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon in March, but today's result trumps that success. In front of a rapturous Spanish crowd, Valverde was the first to congratulate his countryman on what was his second and most significant victory of the season.

"I'm extremely happy with myself and the team, because this was a victory we've searched for the entire race in several breakaways, and I think we already deserved it,” the overjoyed winner said.

He felt good the whole stage, the 28-year-old said. “We had to wait for the last kilometres, and I think I attacked in a good place, in a short ascent, by taking advantage of what Mosquera had done just before. “

Cobo was “the least important guy” in the final group, and he took advantage of that. He knew the others wold concentrate on each other, “so I give strength to my attempt and was able to succeed, for me and the rest of the team, because we really needed it.”

The Fuji rider's big day was topped off by the news that that he will be riding the time trial for Spain in the World Championships next week in Mendrisio. “Now I'm facing the World's TT with hope; I didn't count on riding it, but I'll do my best to place as high as possible.”

Valverde admitted that he was nervous coming into the stage, but stayed attentive. “Just like everybody expected, my rivals tried to attack me climbing and descending, but I had not the least intention of giving anyone such a possibility.”

He added that he even gained time on the day, thanks to bonus seconds at the intermediate sprint and the finish. Looking towards Saturday's time trial, he added, “Tomorrow every second will be important and I did not want to lose the opportunity to increase the gap.”

The two Spaniards were happy at the end of the day, but the mood at the Dutch team Rabobank was at the other end of the scale. Things are “terrible difficult” for Robert Gesink right now, Directeur Sportif Erik Breukink admitted. “Two Grand Tours in a short time and they both fall into the water.”

It was no real surprise to Breukink when his 23-year-old rider fell back. “You could see it coming. There was nothing to do. Even though they will all fight to the bitter end, for which they deserve tremendous respect.”

Mosquera finished sixth on the day and moved up into fifth overall, as Gesink dropped down. The Spaniard noted that while he is tired, his condition “allowed me to climb with the best” today. He was happy with his fifth position, calling it “a joy”, but knew that he was unlikely to hang on to it after Saturday's time trial.

“I'm realistic and aware that, compared to Evans and Basso, it is impossible to climb the ladder.” The “ambition and desire” are there and “I'll go to the death, but to beat them is very complicated.”

Sanchez admitted that his goal for the day was to cut the gap to leader Valverde. He was unable to accomplish that, but did manage to move up to second place overall. The Euskaltel rider attacked several times on the final climb, but “it was clear that Alejandro was waiting for my move.”

He now goes into the time trial with the difficult task of trying to make up 1:26 on the leader. Still, he noted that he is satisfied with what he has accomplished. “In 2007 I was third in the Vuelta and this year I am ready to improve on that position. On balance it is very positive and we are improving every season.”

A tale of two cities (with four hills in between)

Stage 19 had been touted as the final opportunity for Alejandro Valverde's rivals to threaten his domination of this year's race. With three Category 1 climbs to navigate, including two ascents of the Puerto de Navacerrada, the profile was enough to suggest that Caisse d'Epargne would need to be on their toes.

As it had been 24-hours earlier, the pace in the first hour was high as the peloton drew rapidly away from Ávila and waited for the appropriate combination to go clear. Amaël Moinard (Cofidis) kicked things off. He took 15 riders with him at kilometre zero, but their advantaged fizzled to nothing after 20 kilometres and they returned to the bunch.

Another Frenchman, Christophe Riblon,was to have better luck than his compatriot. The AG2R La Mondiale rider went up the road after 26 kilometres and was quickly joined by Daniel Martin (Garmin-Slipstream) and Eduard Vorganov (Xacobeo Galicia). With three riders prepared to tough it out on the formidable profile of the stage, the peloton matched their endeavour with generosity as with the amount of leeway began to expand.

Working hard on the first climb of the day, the Category 3 Alto del Leon, Riblon, Martin and Vorganov built themselves a lead of seven minutes. They took a similar advantage to first passage of the Navacerrada. Caisse d'Epargne led the peloton behind, who by the summit had scratched away around 30 seconds of the leader's gap.

It was in the transition to the third climb of the day where question marks began to appear about the escape's chances. Liquigas and Caisse d'Epargne swapped positions at the front of the peloton. While they did not appear to be making a concerted effort to reel in the trio, the advantage nevertheless continued to drop. As Riblon, Martin and Vorganov commenced the Category 1 Puerto de la Morcuera, they were hovering six minutes ahead of the main group.

It was on the slopes of the Morcuera that the fortunes of the breakaway began to correlate with those of Robert Gesink. The Rabobank leader's climbing armour revealed its first chinks as he lost touch with the peloton. Attentive to the Dutchman's plight, Silence-Lotto and Euskaltel-Euskadi joined Liquigas and Caisse d'Epargne in an effort to distance their rival.

But Gesink once again displayed his wealth of determination, as he and his teammates limited their losses on the climb and reconnected with the main group on the descent. It was a brave and impressive feat, but as the Novacerrada loomed once more, it was only a matter of time before he slipped out of the second place he had held for the previous fortnight.

While Gesink had fended off one attack, the leaders had suffered the consequences. The spike in pace had reduced their advantage to below three minutes and as Euskaltel continued to force the issue, the gap dropped to just over a minute with 45 kilometres to go.

Ten kilometres later the escape was over. Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil), Alexandr Kolobnev (Saxo Bank) and Serafin Martinez (Xacobeo Galicia) joined forces with Vorganov for a final flourish in front of the peloton, but with Euskaltel relentless in their pursuit, there was little hope of success.

The attention being paid by the Basque squad was clearly in aid of their leader Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi). The Olympic champion had made little secret of his intention to attack and as the slopes of the Puerto de Navacerrada reared once more the attention of the other favourites began to focus upon the man with the gold helmet, rather than the gold jersey.

Gesink meanwhile wasn't going to pull another rabbit out of the hat. The lower slopes were enough to see him slip away from what was an increasingly disjointed peloton. Surrounded by his Rabobank teammates, the 23-year-old was clearly compensating for his weakened left knee.

Out in front, Ivan Basso had sent his Liquigas lieutenant Sylvester Szmyd to the front to control the tempo of the overall contenders, who by now were the head of the race. The expected attack from Sánchez never really came to fruition. Two half-moves by the Euskaltel captain were latched onto by Valverde immediately and each time Szmyd's even pace saw him pull back to the front of the group.

Sánchez's moves were enough to ensure that as the summit approached, the selection was made. Present were: Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne), Daniel Moreno (Caisse d'Epargne), Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo Galicia), Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto), Paolo Tiralongo (Lampre), Juan Jose Cobo (Fuji-Servetto) and Ivan Basso (Liquigas).

The boys are back in town

With the banner marking the top of the Navacerrada barely visible through the mist at the top of the climb, Cobo shot forwards from the group. Sánchez reacted and Valverde once again glued himself to the wheel of the man who was now his closest rival in the general classification. Much has been made of Sánchez's ability on the descents, but as he and Valverde established a gap on a wet, slippery downhill run, it was the former who looked the most out of place.

As Mosquera made his way across, it was clear that Valverde had the measure of his rivals. The trio began to negotiate hairpins towards the bottom of the bottom of the mountain and were joined by Evans, Tiralongo, Cobo and Moreno on the succession of 180 degree corners. Only Basso remained behind, but he too rejoined as the eight-man group entered the outskirts of La Granja and the final 10 kilometres.

With Valverde in close attendance and the opportunity to take significant time gone, the battle became one for the stage victory. Mosquera and Tiralongo fired respective attacks at five and four kilometres to go. Moreno shut both down in quick succession. When Mosquera performed an encore Moreno once drew it back together. Cobo seized his chance and Moreno, this time, had no answer.

Sánchez, desperate to salvage a stage victory from the day was the one who came to the front, but as Cobo passed under the one-kilometre-to-go banner his slim advantage appeared enough to ensure that he would take the stage. Swooping out of the final, rain-soaked corner, the Fuji rider rose from his saddle to sprint for the line. Seconds later, a flurry of riders emerged from the same corner, but as Cobo came within 50 metres of the line he sat up and began to celebrate a well-taken victory in La Granja, as Valverde and Evans led the others home.

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