As today’s stage of the Vuelta a España ticks down to its conclusion, the sprinters in the bunch are positioning themselves for what they hope will be a big gallop to the line. Following two days in the mountains, today presents a possible opportunity for them, although they need to get over the second category Alto del Catorce. It tops out twenty kilometres from the finish, and the battles are currently raging.
With Mark Cavendish out of the race, Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) is one of those who said prior to the start that he had a sprint on his mind. “I know the final hill because we’ve done it two years ago. It’s not easy but it’s also not impossible for me to win,” he said.
Stage two runner-up Vicente Reynes (Omega Pharma-Lotto) pledged to try again. “It can be today”, he stated before the drop of the flag. “There are two options for winning today: breakaway or sprints. I might try both but I won’t ask the team to work for that all day because our priority is to protect Van den Broeck on GC.”
Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) is riding his first Grand Tour and said that he is getting it tough thus far. However he recognises that opportunity might come his way this afternoon. “I keep at the back of my mind that a stage win is a possibility today.”
His team-mate Eros Capecchi said that he believed the fastmen would have their chance. “This is a stage for Daniele Bennati, Peter Sagan, Oscar Freire or Matti Breschel to win.” He added that he believed Tom Boonen was also a candidate.
Breschel crashed out of the race this morning, and so his name must be scratched off that list.