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Race report: Martin, Le Mevel finish strong in another sweltering day at Vuelta

August 25, 2011 - Filed under: Team Garmin-Barracuda

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Dan Martin and Christophe Le-Mével saved the day by finishing in a lead group of GC riders at 23 seconds behind stage-winner Peter Sagan in Thursday’s 193.4km sixth stage at the Vuelta a España.

Sagan and three other teammates attacked on the descent off a steep, second-category climb late in the stage.

Martin and Le-Mével crossed the line in a big group of GC favorites to keep alive their overall chances as the Vuelta wraps up what’s been a very difficult first week of racing. In the middle part of the stage, Garmin-Cervélo put riders such as Andreas Klier, Johan Van Summeren and Andrew Talansky on the front to reel in a four-man breakaway in order to set up the team for the climb.

“We were hoping for Heinrich Haussler today, but the climb was too fast,” Le-Mével said. “We proved another day that we are strong because the whole team was working. Sometimes Heinrich can get past a climb like that, but this Vuelta is very hard and it’s been very hot.”

Haussler admitted that the searing temperatures and hard first week of racing made it impossible for him to get over the steep climb late in the stage.

“I have to be honest. It was a tough climb. It wasn’t easy, just got popped 3km from the top. I knew if they started to attack, I knew I wouldn’t have a chance,” Haussler said.

“I was hoping to be going for a stage, but after the first hard six stages now, I don’t see many chances now. On the flat stages, we’ll ride for Tyler in the sprints. We’ll see what happens in the final week. Maybe I can get into a break.”

The 66th Vuelta continues Friday with the 182.9km seventh stage from Almadén to Talavera de la Reina in a rolling stage that should produce a mass sprint. Garmin-Cervélo’s Farrar hopes to be in with a shot of a stage victory.

“I knew I wasn’t going to get over the climb today with heat like this. I jumped on the front to help (Haussler) out to see if he could make it. I knew today wasn’t a day for me. I’ve really suffered in the heat this first week, but I am not alone. We will see how the legs are tomorrow. I hope to try to win the stage.”