Vuelta a Espana - Gerrans triumphs in Murcia

Eurosport - Wed, 09 Sep 15:32:00 2009

Australian Simon Gerrans won stage 10 of the Vuelta a Espana, as controversial Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde retained the leader's golden jersey.

CYCLING 2009 Vuelta a Espana Cervelo Test Team Simon Gerrans - 0

The 29-year-old Cervelo rider outpaced three others cyclists, Ryder Hesjedal of Canada, Denmark's Jakob Fuglsang and Kazakhstan's former dope cheat Alexander Vinokourov, in a sprint to the line at the end of the 169-kilometre ride from Alicante to Murcia in eastern Spain.

The four were among a group of 19 who launched a breakaway early in the stage.

They then staged their own attack in the final kilometres as the race headed into the Alto de la Cresta del Gallo, a second category climb with a fast descent.

The four finished three minutes, 42 seconds ahead of the peloton, which included Valverde, who conserves the golden jersey, seven seconds ahead of Australia's two-time Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans and 36 ahead of Dutchman Robert Gesink.

Valverde - born in Murcia - snatched the overall lead from Evans on Monday following the race's ninth stage.

The 29-year-old Spaniard is banned from riding in Italy for two years after being implicated in the Puerto doping scandal, accusations he contests.

Gerrans, who has been a professional since 2003, has now won stages on each of the major Tours - in France, Italy and Spain.

"It was a very hard stage. We knew that Vino (Vinokourov) was going to try and win on his own, we had to be very careful," he said of the 2006 Tour of Spain winner, but the Australian added he knew he had a chance in the final sprint.

He said his only regret this season is not being selected for the Tour de France alongside Cervelo teammate and 2008 winner Carlos Sastre.

"It was very frustrating," he said.

The Tour reaches its halfway point on Wednesday, when the 11th stage takes the riders 200 kilometres from Murcia to Caravaca de la Cruz, a ride that includes a first category climb.

STAGE 11 LIVE at 3pm on Wednesday on British Eurosport (Sky 410 / Virgin Media 521); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

AFP

Comment 1 - 10 of 10

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  1. Great stage. So far the Vuelta has been 10 times better­ than this year's Tour. With racing this good,­ I'm not missing the likes of Armstrong, Contador­ (especially that dorky "I wish I were from­ Texas" pistol-shooting victory salute) or bratty­ robo-sprinter Cavendish.

    From infernoland33, on Wed 9 Sep 3:30AM

  2. RadioShack would be too late. Team Sky have already­ got Gerrans for next season. A smart, purposeful move­ on their part.

    From CR, on Wed 9 Sep 12:43AM

  3. Evans gives Australian athletes a bad name!

    From Liz S, on Tue 8 Sep 11:11PM

  4. Unlike Evan's this Australian rider has some class­ and kicks @#$%. Hopefully Radio Shack will take a look­ at signing him for 2010 season.

    From chad, on Tue 8 Sep 9:44PM

  5. mccarthy_eoin- could not agree more. yes hes done wrong­ but ders no need to keep referrin to him as dat!! like­ wise with the cadel comment!! yes he was once a runner­ up of the tour!! not this year though!!

    From djwiners, on Tue 8 Sep 9:28PM

  6. Why must they say "former dope cheat vino"­ here, and constantly slate the bloke!! I agree that­ what he done was foolish and wrong, but the man has­ served his suspension and only wants to get back into­ the sport.. Dont get me wrong, the guy ruined astana as­ it was back then and stopped a lot of pro's racing­ the tour last year, and for that (and also tarnishing­ our sport somewhat) i hold some contempt for the man..­ but we have to remember that this chap has served his­ time, and further slating by the media doesn't help­ anyone.. It just pulls focus away from the stage­ winner.. so lets just say vino, and stop constantly­ spinning off drug cheat stuff before hand..

    well thats­ my rant done for the day

    Good lad Gerrans, fair play

    From mccarthy_eoin, on Tue 8 Sep 7:44PM

  7. Thank goodness peenokourov did not win. Gerrans is­ quality, I agree well done!

    From istoleyourbicycle, on Tue 8 Sep 7:12PM

  8. Well done to Gerrans. His third stage win in his last 3­ tours!

    From Liz S, on Tue 8 Sep 7:10PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    If Evans still can't win this tour he should retire­ cause he has no challengers here, but that whining baby­ can't get his $hit right

    From Tamerair, on Tue 8 Sep 5:38PM

  10. Such a pity for Linus Gerdemann.

    From harry.morgan, on Tue 8 Sep 4:39PM
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