Roche Vuelta Stage for Sky

La Vuelta

Nicolas Roche gave Team Sky the victory they were longing for in this Vuelta when he won the 18th stage while Tom Dumoulin held off his main rival to retain the overall lead.

Ireland's Roche beat breakaway companion Haimar Zubeldia (Trek Factory) of Spain in a two-man sprint after going solo in the last climb of the 204-km ride from Roa to Riaza.

Jose Goncalves (Caja Rural) took third place 18 seconds behind while Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) won the sprint of the favourites' group to end up fourth, 38 seconds off the pace, as Movistar took over from Sky at the top of the team classification.

Overall, Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) still leads Fabio Aru (Astana) by three seconds after the Italian climber repeatedly, but unsuccessfully, attacked in the last climb.

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) remains third, 1:15 adrift of Dutchman Dumoulin. 

Talansky (Cannondale-Garmin) called it quits after suffering from a cough for days while Terpstra (Etixx-Quick Step) abandoned after hurting his knee with his handlebars during yesterday's time trial.

Velits (BMC Racing), Van den Broeck (Lotto-Soudal) and Meyer (Orica-GreenEDGE) did not start either.

A group of 25 riders formed the day's breakaway.

Roche (Sky), Minard (Ag2r), Atapuma (BMC), Gonçalves and Madrazo (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Lemoine and Rollin (Cofidis), Serry (Etixx-Quick Step), Courteille (FDJ), Pellaud and Reynes (IAM), Durasek (Lampre-Merida), De Clercq, Hansen and Van der Sande (Lotto-Soudal), Rojas (Movistar), Jim (MTN-Qhubeka), Cardoso (Cannondale-Garmin), Cousin and Gautier (Europcar), Vorganov (Katusha), Roosen (LottoNL-Jumbo), Bennati, Poljanski (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Zubeldia (Trek) were the fugitives. De Clerq's presence in the break, though, was a threat to Meintjes's 10th place in the GC and his MTN-Qhubeka team controlled the gap, which rose up to six minutes.

Astana took their share of work with about 50 kilometres left.

Vicioso launched an attack meant to serve as a launchpad for Rodriguez, who joined him shortly afterwards, but both were calmly reined in by the Astana-led peloton 35 km from the finish.

In the last climb to the Puerto de la Quesera (10 km at 5.2 per cent), Roche left his breakaway companions before being joined by Zubeldia. 

At the beginning of the ascent, Aru attacked the group of favourites but Dumoulin managed to stay in his wheel.

Chaves (Orica-GreenEDGE) then jumped away from the red jersey group and was joined by Nieve (Team Sky), Valverde (Movistar) and Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo). But they regrouped and the red jersey pack caught most of the fugitives in the final descent, with only Roche, Zubeldia and Goncalves staying ahead.

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Martin Wins Third Road Race

Sir Bradley Wiggins missed out on a first road world title as Germany's Tony Martin took a third consecutive time trial gold with a commanding ride in Florence.

Wiggins, 33, overhauled Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara in the final third of the 57.9km course to win silver - as he did in the 2011 Championships.

But Martin had built a lead from the start and came in 46.09 seconds ahead.

"I knew it would be close but Tony was on a different level," said Wiggins.

"I just aimed to be the quickest from A to B as possible.

"Performance manager Rod Ellingworth was telling me the checkpoints but, with all the noise in the last 20 minutes, I was oblivious to everything, and was just trying to get home.

"It is an honour to be on the podium with those two guys. It will be something to show the grandkids."

After his Giro d'Italia campaign faltered amid crashes and illness and fellow Briton Chris Froome supplanted him as Tour de France champion, Wiggins had hoped to crown a strong finish to the year before his return to track cycling next season.

The 33-year-old completed a commanding victory in the Tour of Britain on Sunday, but ultimately Martin's power and his experience of the Florence course, gained during Omega Pharma-QuickStep's team victory earlier in the event, proved too great to overhaul.

Wiggins had beaten Martin en route to time trial gold at London 2012, but, having recovered from the fractured scaphoid that disrupted his Olympic preparation, the German was always in command of the race.

Martin had a lead of 13 seconds on Cancellara through the first checkpoint at 24.1km and extended that advantage to 28 seconds by 42.3 km.

While Wiggins eventually overhauled Cancellara, Martin remained well out of reach and his jubilant team started celebrating as he entered the home straight.

Three-time British time trial champion Alex Dowsett had beaten Wiggins in the Giro d'Italia time trial, but had been well off the pace in the corresponding Tour of Britain stage last week, and struggled home in 41st.

The rest of the top five was completed by Wiggins' Team Sky colleague Vasili Kiryienka of Belarus and American Taylor Phinney.

British Olympic silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead will attempt to go one better in Saturday's women's road race, before Froome, supported by Wiggins, leads Britain's charge in the men's race on Sunday. Both are live on BBC television and online.

Time trial result:

1. Tony Martin (Ger) 1:05:36.65

2. Bradley Wiggins (GB) at 46 seconds

3. Fabian Cancellara (Swi) at 48"

4. Vasili Kiriyenka (Bel) at 1:26"

5. Taylor Phinney (USA) at 1:08"

Selected others:

13. Nicolas Roche (Ire) at 3:13"

41. Alex Dowsett (GB) at 5:47"

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Horner Oldest Vuelta Winner

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Chris Horner became the oldest ever Grand Tour winner with victory in the Vuelta a Espana at the age of 41.

The American is eight years older than Tony Rominger was when he won the race in 1994, and five years older than the Tour de France's most senior champion, Firmin Lambot, who triumphed in 1922.

Horner, who rides for the RadioShack team, beat Giro d'Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali by 37 seconds.

Australian Michael Matthews, of Orica-GreenEdge, won the final stage.

The 22-year-old claimed victory in a bunch sprint in Madrid ahead of American Tyler Farrar and Nikias Arndt of Germany.

Along with the Tour de France, won this year by Britain's Chris Froome, and Giro d'Italia, the Vuelta is one of cycling's prestigious three-week Grand Tours and represents the biggest win of Horner's career.

"I knew how hard it was going to be for this team to win the Tour of Spain," he said.

"I have faced younger, great riders like Nibali, [Alejandro] Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez. They have had a great tour so, for me, it is a legendary moment that may not be repeated.

"I know I am also the first North American to win the Tour of Spain and this makes me very proud of my work and, above all, that of my team-mates."

Horner made his first move on stage three,which he won to register his first stage victory in a Grand Tour and move ahead in the general classification.

He held the leader's red jersey for just a day as 2010 champion Nibali, riding for Astana, regained the lead, but returned to the head of the field with victory on the 10th stage.

Italian Nibali responded again and seemed set for his second Tour of Spain title as he headed into the final week of the race with a 50-second lead.

But Horner made significant inroads into his advantage on the 16th and 18th stages before finally moving ahead on Friday's 19th stage.

Horner moved 37 seconds ahead of Nibali by finishing second on the penultimate day at Alto de l'Angliru and maintained that lead on the final stage.

Nibali said: "I can't complain with how my year has gone. I won the Giro and I came here with the intention to win again in the Tour of Spain.

"I gave everything I had to wear the red jersey and defend it, but perhaps our strategy wasn't correct."

Spaniard Valverde, winner of the points race, finished third in the overall standings, with Ireland's Nicolas Roche in fifth. France's Nicolas Edet won the King of the Mountains classification, ahead of Horner.

Stage 21 result:

1. Michael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge 2 hours 44 minutes

2. Tyler Farrar (US) Garmin +0

3. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Argos +0

4. Gianni Meersman (Bel) Omega Pharma Quick-Step +0

5. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg) Lampre +0

6. Grega Bole (Slo) Vacansoleil +0

7. Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis +0

8. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (SA) Argos +0

9. Francesco Lasca (Italy) Caja Rural +0

10. Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin +0

Final overall standings:

1. Chris Horner (US) RadioShack 84 hours 36 minutes 04 seconds

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Astana +37 seconds

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar +1:36

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha +3:22

5. Nicolas Roche (Ire) Saxo-Tinkoff +7:11

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R +8:00

7. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ.fr +8:41

8. Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel +9:51

9. Leopold Koenig (Cze) NetApp +10:11

10. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha +13:11

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Horner Extends Vuelta Lead

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Chris Horner extended his overall lead over Vincenzo Nibali after finishing second on the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a España.

American Horner, 41, took a three-second lead over Nibali in the previous stage and stretched it to 37 seconds on the summit finish at Alto de l'Angliru.

Horner was 26 seconds behind France's Kenny Elissonde, the stage winner, with Nibali 54 seconds back in fourth.

The year's final Grand Tour race finishes in Madrid on Sunday.

RadioShack's Horner had to repel repeated attacks by Nibali in the closing stages, but wore down the Giro d'Italia winner by the foggy finish.

"Nibali's attacks make this win much more epic, the fans must have been on the edges of their seats back home," said Horner.

Asked if he needed time to realise he was on the brink of his first Grand Tour victory, Horner replied: "I've had lots of time to think about it, about how much suffering it's taken to get this. What I'm feeling today will last a lifetime".

Horner ended 28 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde in third, with Nibali given the same time in fourth.

Valverde is third overall, one minute 36 seconds behind Horner, with Ireland's Nicolas Roche in fifth.

Results of stage 20:

1. Kenny Elissonde (Fra/FDJ.fr) 3:55:36"

2. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +26"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +54"

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana)

5. Andre Cardoso (Por/Caja Rural)

6. Dominik Nerz (Ger/BMC Racing)

7. Jose Mendes (Por/NetApp) +1:15"

8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) +1:45"

9. Serge Pauwels (Bel/Omega Pharma - Quick-Step) +1:52"

10. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ.fr) +1:59"

Overall standings after stage 20:

1. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) 81:52:01"

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Astana) +37"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +1:36"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa/Katusha) +3:22"

5. Nicolas Roche (Ire/Saxo-Tinkoff) +7:11"

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/AG2R) +8:00"

7. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ.fr) +8:41"

8. Samuel Sanchez (Spa/Euskaltel) +9:51"

9. Leopold Koenig (Cze/NetApp) +10:11"

10. Daniel Moreno (Spa/Katusha) +13:11"

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Vasil Wins as Nibali Lead Squeezed

La Vuelta

Vincenzo Nibali of Italy saw his overall lead in the Vuelta a Espana cut to only three seconds after he finished 10th on stage 18 on Thursday.

Team Sky rider Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus won the mountainous 186.5km (115.9 mile) stage.

Nibali's nearest rival Chris Horner of the United States came sixth, 25 seconds ahead of Nibali.

Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez both made up a handful of seconds on Nibali.

However, the Spanish duo remain in third and fourth place respectively in the general classification for the Vuelta, which finishes in Madrid on Sunday.

Thursday's 18th stage, from Burgos to Pena Cabarga, included five categorised climbs as well as a difficult final ascent.

Denmark's Chris Sorensen was the only rider to finish within a minute of Kiryienka and took second place in the stage.

Spanish duo Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez both managed to make up a handful of seconds on Nibali, but remain back in third and fourth place respectively.

On Friday, the 19th stage is a 181km (112 mile) medium mountain stage between San Vicente de la Barquera and Alto del Naranco.

Result of Stage 18:

1. Vasil Kiryienka (Belarus/Team Sky) 4 hours, 46, minutes, 47 seconds

2. Chris Sorensen (Denmark/Saxo - Tinkoff) +28 secs

3. Adam Hansen (Australia/Lotto) +1'18"

4. Martin Kohler (Switzerland/BMC Racing) +1'34"

5. Egoi Martinez (Spain/Euskaltel) +1'42"

6. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +1'53"

7. Amets Txurruka (Spain/Caja Rural) + 2'02"

8. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) +2'13"

9. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +2'13"

10. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) +2'18"

Overall standings after Stage 18:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 73:39:35"

2. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +3"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +1:09"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) +2:24"

5. Nicolas Roche (Ireland/Saxo - Tinkoff) +3:43"

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/AG2R) +5:44"

7. Thibaut Pinot (France/FDJ.fr) +6:14"

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic/NetApp) +6:35"

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +7:51"

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia/Astana) +11:10"

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Mollema Wins Stage 17

La Vuelta

Dutch rider Bauke Mollema won stage 17 of the Vuelta a España  but Vincenzo Nibali retained the overall lead.

The time gaps between the top four in the general classification were unchanged, with Italy's Nibali leading American Chris Horner by 28 seconds.

Ireland's Nicolas Roche moved up from sixth to fifth place after finishing 10th in Wednesday's stage, but trails Nibali by three minutes and 43 seconds.

Mollema edged out Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen for the stage victory.

With the majority of the leading riders receiving the same time for the 189km stage from Calahorra to Burgos in northern Spain, Astana rider Nibali's 14th place was enough to retain his narrow advantage over RadioShack's Horner, who came 17th.

With four stages remaining, the race continues on Thursday with Stage 18 - a 186.5km mountainous stage from Burgos to Pena Cabarga.

Result of Stage 17:

1. Bauke Mollema (Netherlands/Belkin) 4 hours, 44 minutes, 28 seconds

2. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Norway/Team Sky) same time

3. Maximiliano Richeze (Argentina/Lampre)

4. Tyler Farrar (US/Garmin)

5. Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland/RadioShack)

6. Grega Bole (Slovenia/Vacansoleil)

7. Luca Paolini (Italy/Katusha)

8. Paul Voss (Germany/NetApp)

9. Jose Herrada (Spain/Movistar)

10. Nicolas Roche (Ireland/Saxo - Tinkoff)

Overall standings after Stage 17:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy/Astana) 68 hours, 50 minutes, 29 seconds

2. Chris Horner (US/RadioShack) +28 secs

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +1:14

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) +2:29

5. Nicolas Roche (Ireland/Saxo-Tinkoff) +3:43

6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy/AG2R) +5:09

7. Thibaut Pinot (France/FDJ.fr) +6:08

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic/NetApp) +6:17

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain/Euskaltel) +7:33

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia/Astana) +10:52

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Nibali Retains Vuelta lead

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Vincenzo Nibali maintained his 50-second lead in the Vuelta a España after Frenchman Alexandre Geniez took a solo victory on stage 15.

The Italian finished alongside his four closest rivals in the overall standings after the second Pyrenean stage.

Geniez, part of a 28-man breakaway, took off 20km from the finish to surge away and finish three minutes clear.

Italian Michele Scarponi was second while Ireland's Nicholas Roche gained 13 seconds on Nibali to finish third.

Roche remains sixth overall, 3:49" behind Nibali after the 224.9 km stage from Andorra la Vella to Peyragudes in France, the most mountainous of the entire race.

Geniez took his maiden Grand Tour win after more than 5,000m of climbing and six hours of riding.

Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez, fourth overall, made several attacks on the final ascent but was unable to shake off Nibali, who finished fourth on the stage.

"It was a very tough day, and Rodriguez pushed as hard as he could on that last climb," said Nibali. "I and my team had to work hard to keep everything under control."

Philippe Gilbert, the world road-race champion, and world time trial champion Tony Martin both pulled out during the stage.

The Road World Championships take place in Florence, Italy from 23-29 September.

Monday's final Pyrenean stage concludes with a summit finish at Sallent de Gallego. The Vuelta finishes next Sunday, 15 September, in Madrid.

Result of stage 15:

1. Alexandre Geniez (France / FDJ.fr) 6:20:12"

2. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Lampre) +3:02"

3. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +3:07"

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +3:20"

5. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar)

6. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack)

7. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha)

8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R)

9. Jose Herrada (Spain / Movistar) +3:23"

10. David Arroyo (Spain / Caja Rural)

Overall standing after 15 stages:

1. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) 60:20:21"

2. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +50"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +1:42"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +2:57"

5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R) +3:43"

6. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +3:49"

7. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ.fr) +4:59"

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +6:18"

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +7:46"

10. Tanel Kangert (Estonia / Astana) +9:11"

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