"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Vuelta Stage 10: La Vall d’En Bas - Estació d’Esquí d’Ordino-Arcalís (Andorra) 206.3

C. Garcia Quesada, Verbrugge, and A. Osa broke on the descent of the second Cat 1 of the day - about 18 Km from the end. Osa fell and appears to have broken his collarbone in an innocuous looking fall.

Immediately, Verbrugge ended up alone with as much as 45 seconds starting the final HC climb with about 12 Km left. He was caught at about 7 Km by C. Garcia Quesada and Mercado. Then Sevilla joined at about 6 Km, followed by Heras and Menchov at about 5 Km. Mancebo caught up at about 3.5 Km. This group changed places around several times, with some dropping, then crossing again.

But the finish was Mancebo, Menchov, and Heras, all with the same time. The others were within the next 25 seconds or so.

New overall is Menchov, Heras +47", and Mancebo +1'53"

danielson is losing time and still moving up in the standings. funny how that's working out for him.

danielson is losing time and still moving up in the standings. funny how that's working out for him.
I think he finished +1'26" today. Fastest of the slow? :p

I think he finished +1'26" today. Fastest of the slow? :p

exactly. still, if he can get into the top five in gc, he has alot to be proud of for his first grand tour finish.

he has alot to be proud of for his first grand tour finish.
Absolutely! It looks as though Discovery Channel has hired a lot of the right riders. Perhaps it will continue to be a force, though perhaps not quite as dominant in the TdF. If there is one. :(

First grand tour win for Mancebo. Wow, I wouldn't have guessed that. Good for him. Kinda nice to see him exhuberant while on the bike like this (http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/vuelta05/index.php?id=vuelta0510/FS003) too. :)

Absolutely! It looks as though Discovery Channel has hired a lot of the right riders. Perhaps it will continue to be a force, though perhaps not quite as dominant in the TdF. If there is one. :(
When you say, “If there is one”, you are referring to the squabble between the Pro Tour and the three Grand Tours – correct? Can that be characterized as a power struggle – the organizers of the Grand Tours don’t want to give up any power?

Do you know of any links that could help me understand that conflict? An overview giving the arguments on both sides, perhaps.

In another thread, I saw the letter that you posted on this subject… I think you must be better informed than most bike forums readers.

When you say, “If there is one”, you are referring to the squabble between the Pro Tour and the three Grand Tours – correct? Can that be characterized as a power struggle – the organizers of the Grand Tours don’t want to give up any power?
That is it. I am not sure that any is the right word, but clearly they have a lot invested in their GTs. And they have been doing it for from 60 to over 100 years, so they do have a point. Take the bungle by the UCI organizers during the Benelux Tour this year for example.



Do you know of any links that could help me understand that conflict? An overview giving the arguments on both sides, perhaps.
Not in a concentrated form. Cyclingnews.com has had regular news pieces when anything has been made public, and are about the best daily source IMHO. That is one reason I asked the UCI to provide their perspective. I am not hopeful. :rolleyes: