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Tondo, Sastre clear hurdle ahead of Pyrénées

September 07, 2010 - Filed under: TestTeam

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Cervélo TestTeam’s Xavier Tondo (ESP) and Carlos Sastre (ESP) safely negotiated a potentially explosive stage Tuesday at the Vuelta a España to remain poised ahead of the first major mountain stage of the 2010 edition Wednesday.

Spanish rider Imanol Erviti won out of a breakaway in the 175.7 km 10th stage from Tarragona to Vilanova I la Geltrú. The stage featured a short but steep, first category climb with 30 km to go, but Tondo and Sastre both finished safely in the main pack at 1:38 back to remain fourth and 17th, respectively, overall behind new leader Joaquim Rodriguez (ESP).

“It was a very fast and difficult start. Finally, the breakaway went clear. We would have liked to have someone in there to help just in case something happened in the stage, but in the end, it was a very good stage for us today,” said Cervélo sport director Philippe Mauduit. “The climb was difficult and the descent was very dangerous, but Carlos, Iñigo Cuesta (ESP) and Xavier were right at the front and had no problems. There rest of the team was OK, no crashes, no illnesses. Everyone came out of the rest day well and we are ready to fight for tomorrow’s journey into the Pyrénées.”

The 65th Vuelta continues Wednesday with the 208.4 km 11th stage from Vilanova I la Geltrú to Andorra, with the Vuelta’s first major summit finish up the Pal climb.

The pack will hit a minor climb in the opening 50 km that should provoke a breakaway from stage-hunters, while the main GC riders such as Tondo and Sastre will cool their jets until the final, 10 km push to the Pal-Valnord summit. The road climbs 655 vertical meters with ramps as steep as 9 percent and an average grade of six percent.

“After tomorrow’s stage we will know a lot more about who will be able to win this Vuelta. There are a lot of questions about who is truly strong in the race. Carlos and Xavier are both feeling very good and we are confident about our chances,” Mauduit said. “The first mountain stage is always important in a grand tour. Perhaps we have a chance to win the stage with Tondo. We are hopeful.”

Vuelta a España Stage 10 Results: Tarragona – Vilanova I la Geltrú 175.7 km

1^st	Imanol Erviti (ESP)	4:13:31	41.58 km/h (25.84 mph)
2^nd	Romain Zingle (BEL)	+0.37
3^rd	Greg Van Avermaet (BEL)	s.t.
4^th	Mauro Finetto (ITA)	s.t.
5^th	Javier Moreno (ESP)	s.t.

43^rd	Xavier Tondo (ESP)	+1.38
46^th	Carlos Sastre (ESP)	s.t.
54^th	Íñigo Cuesta (ESP)	s.t.
79^th	Xavier Florencio (ESP)	+10.37
88^th	Philip Deignan (IRL)	s.t.
152^nd	Theo Bos (NED)	+16.38
165^th	Stefan Denifl (AUT)	s.t.
171^st	Thor Hushovd (NOR)	s.t.
178^th	Oscar Pujol (ESP)	s.t.

General Classification after Stage 10:

1^st	Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP)	42:11:49	38.35 km/h (23.83 mph)
2^nd	Igor Anton (ESP)	+0.02
3^rd	Vincenzo Nibali (ITA)	+0.04

4^th	Xavier Tondo (ESP)	+0.44
17^th	Carlos Sastre (ESP)	+2.13
30^th	Íñigo Cuesta (ESP)	+5.58
61^st	Oscar Pujol (ESP)	+32.21
94^th	Xavier Florencio (ESP)	+57.26
117^th	Philip Deignan (IRL)	+1.17.55
132^nd	Thor Hushovd (NOR)	+1.28.51
134^th	Stefan Denifl (AUT)	+1.30.04
171^st	Theo Bos (NED)	+1.51.16