Vuelta a España 8: Valverde topples Contador

Valverde and Rodriguez pass Contador (AFP)

This article was originally published on Cyclingnews.com.

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won stage 8 of the Vuelta a España atop the Collada de la Gallina in Andorra, snatching away what looked to be a sure victory for Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank). Race leader Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) finished second, as he and Valverde passed Contador within sight of the finish line. Sky's Chris Froome was unable to keep up in the last few hundred meters, finishing 15 seconds down.

Rodriguez maintained his overall lead, followed by Froome and Contador. Valverde moved up to fourth while Robert Gesink of Rabobank dropped to fifth.

The finale proved to be an exchange of blows by the top four riders, as they charged up the final climb. Froome did much of the early pace-making, as the three Spaniards were happy to let him do the bulk of the work. The Englishman attacked out of a curve inside the final kilometer, but Contador countered it with an explosive acceleration of his own. It looked as if he was going to take a comfortable win, but when he looked back with less than 100 meters to go, he saw his two countrymen rapidly approaching. They were both able to whip around him in the final meters.

Froome was the loser of the day, which seems an odd thing to say for a rider who is still in second place, but he saw his deficit to Rodriguez extend from 10 seconds to 33 seconds. More importantly, he was unable to respond when Contador attacked at the end, and could only watch the other two Spaniards take off to claim the two top spots on the day.

There were other changes in the top ten, as defending Vuelta champion Juan José Cobo (Movistar) and Sergio Henao (Sky) dropped out and Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) and Euskaltel's Igor Anton moved up. Rabobank now has three riders in the top ten.

An uphill day

One rider was missing at the start, as Yoann Bagot of Cofidis was out with a broken elbow. The pace was rapid from the moment the flag was dropped, as attack after attack looked to move clear of the peloton, but neither Sky nor Katusha was satisified with the make-up of the early breakaway attempts. Accordingly, the peloton covered over 52 kilometres in the first hour of racing, and a successful breakaway group didn’t stabilise until the 75km mark.

Mickael Buffaz (Cofidis), Amael Moinard (BMC), Javier Ramirez (Andalucia), Cameron Meyer (Orica-GreenEdge), Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil), and Javier Aramendia (Caja Rural) formed the sextet which quickly built up a lead of 9:26. That was enough for Teams Sky and Katusha, who jumped to the front and picked up the speed, slowly bringing the gap down.

With 40km left on the stage, the peloton crossed the border into Andorra, by which point the field had reduced the gap to seven minutes.

Soon the first ranked climb of the day loomed, the Alto de la Comella. A category two, it featured fairly light gradients. On the ascent, Moinard kicked things up a notch, and Keizer and Aramendia fell back from the lead group.

Ramirez led Meyer and Moinard over the top, but the field had climbed up to only 2:34 down. Moinard then pulled away on the descent, but the other three caught him again.

The final climb of the day, which followed immediately, was a new one to the Vuelta, the Collada de la Gallina. The Gallina was not a long ascent, but had widely irregular gradients, with patches of up to 18% on the many switchbacks along the way.

The four leaders took about two and a half minutes with them as they started up the Gallina, with Sky still chugging away in the lead behind them. The two escapees who had earlier dropped back were caught along the way, with the leaders at only 1:24.

With about 5km still to go, Moinard finally had to drop back. Only about a minute back, Alberto Contador was holding steadily on to Chris Froome's rear wheel, with Rodriguez right behind them.

Meyer had the best legs from the remaining leaders and took off on a solo attempt.

Valverde was the first of the favourites to jump, with 3km to go, but he was soon joined by the three riders overall at the head of affairs. Froome and Contador then took off, and Valverde and Rodriguez had to scramble to stay in contact..

Froome and Contador caught Meyer on one of the steep sections, just beyond the two km to go banner. The young Australian hung on to the other two, and soon they were all joined by Valverde, Rodriguez and Daniel Moreno, as Rodriguez was the only one lucky enough to have a teammate with him.

The high-powered group of six ground its way up the Gallina, with Froome doing much of the lead work. Meyer finally dropped back, as did Moreno. Rodriguez then took over the lead, and led the four favourites under the flamme rouge.

Froome quickly attacked out of a curve, but that was to be his final flourish on the day. The other three easily caught him, and Contador then jumped into the lead on roads thronged with supporters. He pulled away easily and quickly built up a tidy lead, as the other two Spaniards did not help Froome with the chase.

Contador looked to have the win wrapped up, so he must have been shocked to peek over his shoulder in the final 100 meters to see Rodriguez and Valverde quickly approaching him. They passed him in the final meters, while Froome struggled across the finish line some 15 seconds later.

Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamBenat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar TeamIgor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiWinner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre - ISDRobert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamPrzemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDAndrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - SharpNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeRinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeLaurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamEros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleTomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamMaxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeMaxime Monfort (Bel) Radioshack-NissanSteve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing TeamCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralSergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky ProcyclingBauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRafal Majka (Pol) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankAndre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralIvan Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiBart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneSergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamGorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiAmets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaKevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Astana Pro TeamChristophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - SharpRémi Pauriol (Fra) FDJ-Big MatJohn Gadret (Fra) AG2R La MondialeAlberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha TeamSerge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepTiago Machado (Por) Radioshack-NissanAndrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamJuan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiHernani Broco (Por) Caja RuralMikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiMikel Landa Meana (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiDaniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneJan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-NissanJose Vicente Toribio Alcolea (Spa) AndaluciaJavier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Movistar TeamRichie Porte (Aus) Sky ProcyclingNairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar TeamJuan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar TeamLaurent Didier (Lux) Radioshack-NissanJesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankArnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ-Big MatAmaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamPaolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamRomain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel - EuskadiAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamMarco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - ISDMorris Possoni (Ita) Lampre - ISDCristiano Salerno (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleNico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky ProcyclingJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralMartijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamChristophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeSergio Carrasco Garcia (Spa) AndaluciaMichel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpAlessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeDario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickstepJohannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos-ShimanoPhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamMauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing TeamBrent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing TeamFredrik Carl Wilhelm Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro TeamCayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Liquigas-CannondaleRudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneJohan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - SharpAntonio Piedra Perez (Spa) Caja RuralBen Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeXavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Katusha TeamJose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamPablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar TeamJuan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamDenis Menchov (Rus) Katusha TeamSergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankAngel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Katusha TeamBruno Pires (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankStef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto Belisol TeamLars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamJurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamBenjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankMatti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling TeamMarkel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Radioshack-NissanImanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamTony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepGrischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamKevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepMauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleMatteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankKoen De Kort (Ned) Argos-ShimanoBenoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ-Big MatGrégory Rast (Swi) Radioshack-NissanRuben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiAdrian Palomares Villaplana (Spa) AndaluciaDenys Kostyuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISDKristof Vandewalle (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepMaciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleRafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamTravis Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeMatteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeOleksandr Kvachuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISDSimon Geschke (Ger) Argos-ShimanoDaniel Teklehaymanot (Eri) Orica - GreenEdgeFlorent Barle (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneTiziano Dall'antonia (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleEgor Silin (Rus) Astana Pro TeamYannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamPieter Weening (Ned) Orica - GreenEdgeXabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Sky ProcyclingKoldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - SharpDavid De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Caja RuralKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamJuan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingFrederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamGianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamDominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-Big MatGabriel Rasch (Nor) FDJ-Big MatAdam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol TeamMartijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - SharpDavide Vigano (Ita) Lampre - ISDZdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepYukihiro Doi (Jpn) Argos-ShimanoGert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepDamiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISDPim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamRaymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpPavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha TeamNicki Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankLinus Gerdemann (Ger) Radioshack-NissanDavid Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneJesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) AndaluciaThomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin - SharpElia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleNiki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-QuickstepIan Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingGustavo Cesar Veloso (Spa) AndaluciaOlivier Kaisen (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamDavide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - ISDThomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamManuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralWesley Sulzberger (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeHayden Roulston (NZl) Radioshack-NissanAllan Davis (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeMitchell Docker (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeDanail Andonov Petrov (Bul) Caja RuralWouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamLloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeEgoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneFrantisek Rabon (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepJonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa) Movistar TeamLeonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneDanny Pate (USA) Sky ProcyclingJulian Dean (NZl) Orica - GreenEdgeStephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing TeamBen Swift (GBr) Sky ProcyclingGatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha TeamBlel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La MondialeMikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamThomas Peterson (USA) Garmin - SharpJens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamAlexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamAlexandre Geniez (Fra) Argos-ShimanoThierry Hupond (Fra) Argos-ShimanoJohn Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-ShimanoWilliam Bonnet (Fra) FDJ-Big MatArnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJ-Big MatMaciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-CannondalePablo Lechuga Rodriguez (Spa) AndaluciaJuan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) AndaluciaJoost Van Leijen (Ned) Lotto Belisol TeamDaniele Ratto (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleAitor Galdos Alonso (Spa) Caja RuralDaniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-NissanAssan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamDennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamNacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ-Big MatSprint 1 - La Seu d`Urgell, 124kmMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneMartijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralSprint 2 - Andorra la Vella, 144.9kmMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaPoints - FinishAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamBenat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar TeamWinner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre - ISDRobert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamPrzemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDAndrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - SharpNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeRinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeLaurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamMountain 1 - Alto de la Comella (Cat. 2) km. 158Javier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeAmaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamMountain 2 - Collada de la Gallina (Cat. 1) km. 175Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamMost combative riderJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralTeamsVacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling TeamGeneral classificationJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamRobert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeIgor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiLaurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamBauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamPrzemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDEros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleTomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamSergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky ProcyclingWinner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre - ISDAndrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - SharpRinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeSteve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing TeamMaxime Monfort (Bel) Radioshack-NissanBart De Clercq (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamKevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Astana Pro TeamGorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiBenat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar TeamMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralAndre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralMaxime Bouet (Fra) AG2R La MondialeJuan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar TeamSerge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepAmets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamRigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky ProcyclingAndrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRémi Pauriol (Fra) FDJ-Big MatJan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-NissanMikel Astarloza Chaurreau (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiAlberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Katusha TeamSergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamTiago Machado (Por) Radioshack-NissanIvan Velasco Murillo (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamJuan Jose Oroz Ugalde (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiChristophe Le Mevel (Fra) Garmin - SharpDaniel Navarro Garcia (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankRomain Sicard (Fra) Euskaltel - EuskadiMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneLaurent Didier (Lux) Radioshack-NissanRafal Majka (Pol) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankJohn Gadret (Fra) AG2R La MondialeFredrik Carl Wilhelm Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana Pro TeamHernani Broco (Por) Caja RuralCayetano José Sarmiento Tunarrosa (Col) Liquigas-CannondaleDamiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre - ISDMarco Marzano (Ita) Lampre - ISDMauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing TeamMorris Possoni (Ita) Lampre - ISDAlessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamPaolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana Pro TeamBrent Bookwalter (USA) BMC Racing TeamJuan Manuel Garate (Spa) Rabobank Cycling TeamKevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepJohannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Argos-ShimanoDenis Menchov (Rus) Katusha TeamJurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamLinus Gerdemann (Ger) Radioshack-NissanThomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamJesus Hernandez Blazquez (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankCristiano Salerno (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleZdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepNairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar TeamKoen De Kort (Ned) Argos-ShimanoVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto Belisol TeamDario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma-QuickstepMikel Landa Meana (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiJohan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin - SharpAmaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamDenys Kostyuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISDKristof Vandewalle (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepPhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamAlexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamGianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamMichel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpMatteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRichie Porte (Aus) Sky ProcyclingDavid De La Fuente Rasilla (Spa) Caja RuralSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeJavier Moreno Bazan (Spa) Movistar TeamAdrian Palomares Villaplana (Spa) AndaluciaSergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankTony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepAlexandre Geniez (Fra) Argos-ShimanoGrischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank Cycling TeamThierry Hupond (Fra) Argos-ShimanoJose Vicente Toribio Alcolea (Spa) AndaluciaCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeBruno Pires (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankPablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar TeamRuben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaEgor Silin (Rus) Astana Pro TeamBen Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeJesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) AndaluciaJose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamAntonio Piedra Perez (Spa) Caja RuralArnaud Courteille (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamRudy Molard (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneSergio Carrasco Garcia (Spa) AndaluciaMaciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleGrégory Rast (Swi) Radioshack-NissanMarkel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Radioshack-NissanMauro Da Dalto (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleArnold Jeannesson (Fra) FDJ-Big MatSimon Geschke (Ger) Argos-ShimanoXabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Sky ProcyclingBenjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankGabriel Rasch (Nor) FDJ-Big MatDaniel Teklehaymanot (Eri) Orica - GreenEdgeYukihiro Doi (Jpn) Argos-ShimanoJuan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingNiki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-QuickstepLeonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneNico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneYannick Eijssen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamPieter Weening (Ned) Orica - GreenEdgeMatteo Tosatto (Ita) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankPim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamPablo Lechuga Rodriguez (Spa) AndaluciaFlorent Barle (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LignePavel Brutt (Rus) Katusha TeamKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamGert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepDavid Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneAngel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) Katusha TeamLars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamChristophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La MondialeAssan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamGustavo Cesar Veloso (Spa) AndaluciaThomas Dekker (Ned) Garmin - SharpMartijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamXavier Florencio Cabre (Spa) Katusha TeamGatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha TeamJohn Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-ShimanoKoldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - SharpDominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-Big MatOleksandr Kvachuk (Ukr) Lampre - ISDAdam Hansen (Aus) Lotto Belisol TeamStef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamWouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamDavide Vigano (Ita) Lampre - ISDBenoît Vaugrenard (Fra) FDJ-Big MatElia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleJonathan Castroviejo Nicolas (Spa) Movistar TeamTravis Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeFrederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamWilliam Bonnet (Fra) FDJ-Big MatLloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeBlel Kadri (Fra) AG2R La MondialeOlivier Kaisen (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamDaniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-NissanDanny Pate (USA) Sky ProcyclingEgoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneDaniele Ratto (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleAllan Davis (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeThomas Peterson (USA) Garmin - SharpMaciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-CannondaleIan Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamDennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamFrantisek Rabon (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepHayden Roulston (NZl) Radioshack-NissanStephen Cummings (GBr) BMC Racing TeamImanol Erviti Ollo (Spa) Movistar TeamDanail Andonov Petrov (Bul) Caja RuralMartijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - SharpNicki Sörensen (Den) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankMitchell Docker (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeRaymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpDavide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - ISDBen Swift (GBr) Sky ProcyclingMatti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling TeamTiziano Dall'antonia (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralJulian Dean (NZl) Orica - GreenEdgeManuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralWesley Sulzberger (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeNacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ-Big MatJens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamAitor Galdos Alonso (Spa) Caja RuralMikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamJuan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) AndaluciaJoost Van Leijen (Ned) Lotto Belisol TeamPoints classificationJohn Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-ShimanoAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingElia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankAllan Davis (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeDaniele Bennati (Ita) Radioshack-NissanGianni Meersman (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeNacer Bouhanni (Fra) FDJ-Big MatDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamBen Swift (GBr) Sky ProcyclingEros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-CannondaleTony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRobert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamBenat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar TeamAssan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamBauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamAndrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - SharpLloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeDennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralIgor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiPrzemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISDKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRinaldo Nocentini (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky ProcyclingManuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralLaurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamWinner Anacona Gomez (Col) Lampre - ISDAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamLinus Gerdemann (Ger) Radioshack-NissanVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto Belisol TeamRaymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin - SharpDavide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre - ISDMickaël Buffaz (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneThomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamMikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamMauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing TeamJose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Movistar TeamLeonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneGert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepKoldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin - SharpDavide Vigano (Ita) Lampre - ISDJan Bakelants (Bel) Radioshack-NissanPim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralPhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamTomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamSergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky ProcyclingRuben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiPablo Lechuga Rodriguez (Spa) AndaluciaDominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-Big MatBertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamJuan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Movistar TeamFrantisek Rabon (Cze) Omega Pharma-QuickstepSteve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing TeamAndre Fernando S. Martins Cardoso (Por) Caja RuralKristof Vandewalle (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgePablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Movistar TeamJesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) AndaluciaMarkel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Radioshack-NissanMartijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamGatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha TeamMaxime Monfort (Bel) Radioshack-NissanJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaJuan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingPieter Weening (Ned) Orica - GreenEdgeJuan Jose Lobato Del Valle (Spa) AndaluciaMountains classificationAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamPim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankTony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma-QuickstepChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingPhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaAssan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamJesus Rosendo Prado (Spa) AndaluciaThomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling TeamCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamRafal Majka (Pol) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankNico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamAmaël Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing TeamSergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankMikhail Ignatyev (Rus) Katusha TeamCombination classificationJoaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha TeamAlejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar TeamChristopher Froome (GBr) Sky ProcyclingAlberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff BankNicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La MondialeDaniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha TeamMarcos Garcia (Spa) Caja RuralSimon Clarke (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeAndrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana Pro TeamLuis Angel Mate Mardones (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En LignePhilippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing TeamJavier Francisco Aramendia Lorente (Spa) Caja RuralCameron Meyer (Aus) Orica - GreenEdgeJavier Ramirez Abeja (Spa) AndaluciaTeams classificationVacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team