VaE: Moncoutie moves closer to fourth consecutive mountains classification, with victory on Stage 11

David Moncoutié’s efforts finally paid off, as he rode the final 19 kilometres of Stage 11 alone, to take his fourth Vuelta a Espana stage.

Moncoutié is known for his climbing prowess and moved himself within one point of a fourth consecutive Vuelta mountains classification victory. The Cofidis rider got in to a breakaway, with several other riders, after almost 70 kilometres of racing. He also went on to take points on two of the three climbs, placing him just behind Matteo Montaguti.

Cofidis have had a lacklustre year, when it comes to Grand Tours, so this victory will prove a big boost for them. Nobody could keep up with the pace of Moncoutié and second place man Beñat Intxausti rolled across the line over a minute down.

VaE: Tony Martin wins as Chris Froome surprises everyone

Tony Martin did what he came to the Vuelta to do and won the Stage 10’s individual time-trial, while Chris Froome surprised everyone and moves in to red.

Martin rolled off the ramp over an hour down on the day’s leader, Bauke Mollema, and blasted the rest of the pack away. Fabian Cancellara was the stage’s leader, at the time, but Martin stopped the watch at 1 minute 27 seconds up on the Swiss rider. The German’s time only looked threatened when Bradley Wiggins was one seconds ahead of him, at the first intermediate checkpoint. Wiggins then faded towards the end and Martin’s time remained.

Froome was really the surprise of the day, when he came home 57 seconds down on Martin and moved in to the lead of the race. The Kenyan born rider has been on Wiggins’ side for the first week of the tour, but moves 20 seconds ahead of his team leader. Team Sky now has two riders in the top two, with Jakob Fuglsang splitting the pair. Fuglsang may believe he could have taken the red jersey though; he suffered a slipped chain, just metres after the starting ramp.

VaE: Chris Sutton Surprises the Bunch to take Stage 2

Chris Sutton caused an upset in the second stage of the Vuelta a Espana, as he beat the favourites, in the sprint to the line.

Sutton’s victory made it two for sky in one day, with Edvald Boasson Hagen taking the sprint in the Vettenfall Cyclassics. The small increase in the gradient, going in to Playas de Orihuela, caught a few people off guard, but Sutton had the legs on the bunch. The Aussie jumped on to the back wheel of Vicente Reynes, before leaping out of the group for his first solo Grand Tour victory.

Schleck's team is beginning to shape up

It became apparent in August that Saxo Bank directeur sportif Bjarne Riis had lost his battle to keep Frank and Andy Schleck at the team when he announced the signing of Alberto Contador.

The Schleck’s new team is now beginning to take shape in preparation for the 2011 team, but who will be donning the jerseys in the currently named The Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project?

Riders Flee Saxo Bank
First to follow the Luxemburgish pair was the Australian Stuart O’Grady who worked hard for Andy during the 2010 Tour de France. It became obvious that there was no love lost between the two and their Danish director when they were thrown out of the Vuelta a Espana for drinking alcohol. The Australian won gold in the Madison in the 2004 Olympic Games his is also twice world team pursuit champion.