Velits blitzes time trial as Rodriguez blows

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Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Doimo) has retaken the race leader's red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana after gaining more than four minutes on Spain's Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) in the 46km time trial around Peñafiel.

Peter Velits (HTC-Columbia) caused a huge surprise by winning the time trial. The young Slovakian rider set a time of 52:43, beating Denis Menchov (Rabobank) by 12 seconds and world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) by 37 seconds.

"This is my first time trial victory. It's unbelievable that it happens at the Tour of Spain," Velits said after the stage. "I can't describe it. To beat Cancellara who is the absolute top TT rider makes it even more of a surprise."

Changing wind conditions over the course of the afternoon could have helped Velits and Menchov get the better of Cancellara, but there was no denying the efforts of the young Slovakian. "On the way out, I didn't give 100% but on the way back, I put the hammer down. I saw Danielson in front of me. He was coming closer and closer. It was such a big motivation."

His strong ride was enough to push 1:44 ahead of Saxo Bank's Fränk Schleck into third overall, a position Velits would like to maintain. Considering his performance on Monday's climb to Alto de Cotobello, where he lost 2:18 to Schleck, it could be a close call.

"I'll try to keep my spot on the podium as hard as I can. There's one more climbing stage. I'll do everything I can," Velits said. "I'm already very happy with the victory I got. It's possible that I'd be fighting for the overall victory if I didn't lose time in Cotobello (stage 16) but every day at the Vuelta, I've given my best."

There was a brief scare for Nibali, who punctured mid-way through the flat and very fast time trial, but he regained his composure to finish 15th, 1:54 behind Velits and in doing so, he regained the leader's red jersey he wore for two stages on the weekend.

Rodriguez never gave up hope and desperately tried to limit his losses, but finished way down in 105th place, 6:12 behind Velits. He slipped to fifth overall, at 3:45, his Vuelta hopes in tatters.

"I tried to handle this time trial as well as I could. Since the first part was very difficult with the wind, it was important to start strongly," Nibali said. "In the first ten kilometres I was gaining 25 seconds on my rivals, and I puncture because of some small gravel on the white paint, so I lost those 25 seconds.

"I thought I was going to change bike but the mechanic was already there with a front wheel to change, so there were maybe two seconds of hesitation, but I got back into my rhythm quickly. I've put my head down and "via" (go!).

With Rodriguez down in fifth overall, Nibali's main opponent is now Ezequiel Mosquera who sits 39 seconds down after a surprisingly strong time trial where he came in only 19 slower than the Italian. The Vuelta is now expected to be decided on Saturday's final mountain finish on the Bola del Mundo climb near Madrid.

"Now my main rival is Mosquera," Nibali said. "I expected Rodriguez to lose up to three minutes but not 4.18! The more he was moving forward, the more time he was losing."

Nibali conceded that the Vuelta is far from over, and that he will face strong opposition on the weekend's final mountain summit finish on Bola del Mundo. It's a climb even Alberto Contador called "very hard".

"On Saturday I'll try to control the race the same way I've done to the Lagos de Covadonga [where he lost 11 seconds to Mosquera on the stage won by Carlos Barredo -ed]. I'll keep teammates next to me as long as possible with Oliver Zaugg and Roman Kreuziger on the climb. I'll be looking closely at Mosquera only."

The fight for top ten

The 46km time trial saw three battles contested out on the windswept, flat loop around Peñafiel, with the top ten contenders also fighting for placings behind the time trial favourites and the Nibali-Rodriguez-Mosquera fight for the red jersey.

Fränk Schleck (Saxo Bank) didn't have a great time trial, finishing 51st, 3:55 behind Velits but is still fourth overall at 3:44. Xavier Tondo (Cervelo Test Team) had a strong ride and moved up to sixth from eighth and is now at 3:45, tied with Rodriguez.

Tom Danielson (Garmin-Transitions) defended his seventh place overall with determination, despite perhaps knowing Velits was chasing him down. The American finished 14th, only 1:53 slower than Velits and only a few places behind teammates David Zabriskie and David Millar, who were seventh and tenth respectively. Danielson is now 3:55 down overall but within reach of Schleck, Rodriguez and Tondo if he can ride well on the climb to Bola del Mundo.

Ireland's Nicolas Roche (AG2R-La Mondiale) started the time trial fifth overall but ended the day eighth overall at 4:03. He struggled against the clock and lost 3:29, finishing only 38th on the stage.

As widely expected Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) set the fastest early time and seemed unbeatable yet again. But then Menchov went 25 seconds faster as the wind on the return section of the course appeared to fade. If it did, Velits and Nibali were the best to take advantage as they powered to victory and into the red jersey respectively.

Nibali will wear the red jersey during Thursday's 18th stage from Valladolid to Salamanca. It is a short stage at 148.9km and is expected to see the sprinters back at the forefront, fighting for stage victory and for the green points jersey currently worn by Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia).

Full Results

General classification after stage 17