La Vuelta a España 2011 - Stage 21 - Gallery

La Vuelta a España 2011 - Stage 21, a set on Flickr.

A collection of my photos taken during the final stage of the 2011 Vuelta a Espana. Sorry there are only descriptions for some, but I will get around to updating them all.

Vuelta a Espana - Team Preview, Part 2

Movistar

Their hopes were severely dashed; when a freak accident caused the death of their main Vuelta hopeful Xavier Tondo. They will no doubt have him in mind and would love to have a victory, to dedicate to him. A couple of stage victories are what these rider will be looking to achieve; Marzio Bruseghin, Imanol Erviti, Chente García Acosta, Beñat Intxausti, Vasil Kiryienka, Ignatas Konovalovas, Pablo Lastras, David López, Ángel Madrazo, Sergio Pardilla, Rubén Plaza and Branislau Samoilau. They could even hold the red jersey, if they can pull out a good team time-trial.

Joaquin Rodriguez claims victory at the Vuelta a Burgos

Joaquin Rodriguez took his first general classiment win, of the year, with victory in the Vuelta a Burgos.

Rodriguez was pipped to the line, by the defending champion Samuel Sanchez, on the first stage, but fought back for overall victory of 2011. Sanchez tried to sneak victory again, on the final stage, but the 21 second lead was too much. The Katusha rider looked comfortable, as he left the Tour de France King of the Mountains, on the final climb of the tour.

After looking like he would take the time back from Rodriguez, Sanchez ended up losing 1 minute 14 seconds. Rodriguez had the legs, after missing this year’s Tour de France and claimed the overall victory, by 34 seconds, ahead of his teammate, Daniel Moreno. Sanchez started the day in fourth and remained fourth, after losing time to Juan Jose Cobo Acebo.

Tdf: Rui Costa holds it together for victory as Thor Hushovd stays in yellow

Rui Alberto Faria da Costa put in a massive effort to hold off a looming peloton, to win the first mountain stage.

Costa was the remaining rider from a nine man breakaway, which formed after 9km of racing, and had room to celebrate, despite the main bunch closing in. With 5km left there were only four riders left in the bunch, including Tejay Van Garderen, Cyril Gautier and Christophe Riblon.

Ben Swift takes final stage as Cameron Meyer wins overall Tour Down Under

Ben Swift took victory in the final stage of the Tour Down Under as Cameron Meyer sealed the Ochre jersey.

Swift managed used a great lead out from Greg Henderson to seal Team Sky a one-two on the streets of Adelaide. Sky took control of the peloton within the last kilometre with several of the team sat on the front to give the Brit his second victory after stage two in Mannum. The win boosts Swift in to third place eight seconds behind the tour winner Meyer. His focus is now split between the road calendar and the World Track Championships in March.

Francisco Ventoso times it to perfection to win Stage 5

Movistar’s Francisco Ventoso beat the top sprinters at this year’s Tour Down Under to take his team’s debut victory.

The Spaniard pipped stage 3 winner Michael Matthews and GC contender Matt Goss across the line in Willunga. Ventoso managed to time his attack to perfection with Matthews chasing down on him; the Rabobank rider lost out on victory by inches. This is the first year Movistar join the peloton as a reincarnation of the Caisse D’Epargne team. The victory puts them on the top of the team leader board 11 seconds ahead of Vacansoleil-DCM and Ag2R La Mondiale.