Horner Reclaims Vuelta Lead

La Vuelta

Chris Horner snatched the overall lead in the Vuelta a Espana from Vincenzo Nibali after Joaquim Rodriguez won the 19th stage with a stunning late burst.

Rodriguez finished 11 seconds ahead of Diego Ulissi in the 181km ride from San Vicente de la Barquera to Oviedo.

American Horner came in fifth, six seconds ahead of Nibali, to move three seconds in front of the Italian overall with only two stages left.

Spain's Alejandro Valverde posted the same time as Horner to remain third.

Spanish rider Rodriguez attacked with just over a kilometre of the mountainous stage left to claim a solo victory.

But the real drama was just behind as 41-year-old Horner pulled away from Giro d'Italia champion Nibali over the final meters of the climb to seize a potentially decisive lead in the general classification.

Saturday's penultimate stage is a 142km course, including three major summits and an ascent of a special-category climb to the Alto de l'Angliru peak, before the traditional finish in Madrid on Sunday.

Result of Stage 19:

1. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) 4 hours, 16 minutes 13 seconds

2. Diego Ulissi (Italy / Lampre) +11 seconds

3. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha) "

4. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) "

5. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +14"

6. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) "

7. Michele Scarponi (Italy / Lampre) +16"

8. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +20"

9. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) "

10. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +23"

Overall standings after Stage 19:

1. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) 77 hours, 56 minutes, 5 seconds

2. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +3"

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +1:06"

4. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +1:57"

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

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

7. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +6:38"

8. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ.fr) +7:02"

9. Samuel Sanchez (Spain / Euskaltel) +7:45"

10. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha) +11:05"

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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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Roche Leads as Cousin Leaves Vuelta

La Vuelta

Nicholas Roche has taken the overall lead in the Vuelta España after finishing third in the eighth stage.

The Irishman, riding for Saxo-Tinkoff, started eight seconds behind Vincenzo Nibali but rode away from the Italian, who is now fourth, on the final climb.

Czech Leopold Konig held off a late surge from Spaniard Daniel Moreno to win the race to Estepona in Andalucia.

Birmingham-born Irishman Dan Martin withdrew from the Vuelta on Saturday morning after crashing on stage seven.

Martin, the Garmin-Sharp team leader, was suffering from concussion after suffering a blow to the head on Friday and tweeted: "I hit a hole or rock in the road. Down I went.

"Nothing broken, but the most painful crash [I've] ever had. Sad to leave the Vuelta but can't race with these birds flying round my head."

Konig, who rides for the fledgling NetApp Endura team, sped away from the race favourites in the final 5km of the 14.5km-long category one climb to the finish.

Katusha's Moreno led the chase and almost paced his ascent to perfection but finished one second back to move up to third overall.

Roche, the son of 1987 Tour de France winner Stephen, led a group of four riders over the line, five seconds after Konig and with the assistance of a time bonus for finishing third, took the race lead by 17 seconds.

American Chris Horner finished 23 seconds behind Konig, and alongside Team Sky's Rigoberto Uran, but retained second place as he was four seconds clear of Nibali, who had led by three seconds overnight.

Spanish contenders Alejandro Valverde and Joaquim Rodriguez finished together, 19 seconds behind the stage winner, but they were eight seconds ahead of Nibali, to reduce their deficit to the Italian to 13 seconds.

Sunday's ninth stage is a 163.7km race from Antequera to Valdepenas de Jaen.

Result of stage eight

1. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) 4:09:46"

2. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha) +1"

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

4. Thibaut Pinot (France / FDJ.fr)

5. Ivan Basso (Italy / Cannondale)

6. Bart De Clercq (Belgium / Lotto)

7. Igor Anton (Spain / Euskaltel) +13"

8. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +19"

9. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha)

10. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Team Sky) +23"

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

12. Rafal Majka (Poland / Saxo - Tinkoff)

13. Domenico Pozzovivo (Italy / AG2R)

14. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain / RadioShack)

15. Sergio Henao (Colombia / Team Sky) +27"

16. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana)

Overall standings after eight stages

1. Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Saxo - Tinkoff) 31:39:30"

2. Chris Horner (U.S. / RadioShack) +17"

3. Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha)

4. Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Astana) +18"

5. Leopold Koenig (Czech Republic / NetApp) +29"

6. Haimar Zubeldia (Spain / RadioShack) +30"

7. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +31"

8. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Team Sky) +42"

9. Rafal Majka (Poland / Saxo - Tinkoff) +52"

10. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +1:03"

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Stybar Narrowly Wins Vuelta Stage

Zdenek Stybar beat world champion Philippe Gilbert in a photo finish to win Friday's seventh stage of the Vuelta a Espana with Nicolas Roche remaining in third position overall.

The pair made a late bid for victory on the 206-kilometre route from Almendralejo to Mairena del Aljarafe, attacking with 10km to go.

And Czech rider Stybar (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) was able to hold off the challenge of Gilbert (BMC Racing) by a tyre's width. A charging peloton was led in one second behind by Robert Wagner (Belkin), who was third, while Briton Andy Fenn, a team-mate of Stybar's, was sixth.

Italy's Vincenzo Nibali (Astana), who won May's Giro d'Italia, retained the overall leader's red jersey by three seconds from American Chris Horner(RadioShack) with Ireland's Nicolas Roche (Saxo-Tinkoff) third after his 27th place finish.

Roche also continues to lead the Mountains Classification.

Roche's cousin Dan Martin finished 116th today after suffering a nasty crash late in the stage and slips to 43rd overall.

Saturday's eighth stage is the 167km route from Jerez de la Frontera to a summit finish at Estepona Alto Penas Blancas.

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Astana Win Vuelta Time Trial

Vincenzo Nibali's Astana won the opening team time trial of the Vuelta a Espana to put Janez Brajkovic into the race leader's red jersey.

Astana won the 27.4km stage from Vilanova de Arousa to Sanxenxo in 29 minutes 59 seconds - 10 seconds clear of RadioShack Leopard.

Omega Pharma-QuickStep, featuring world time-trial champion Tony Martin, were six seconds further back in third.

Team Sky were led over the line 22 seconds adrift by Welshman Luke Rowe.

"It was a great time trial," said 28-year-old Nibali, who won the Giro d'Italia earlier this season.

"The team was fantastic. My condition is very good but the Vuelta is very hard and long, and has some very important stages. We'll have to see day by day."

Sunday's stage covers 177.7km from Pontevedra to Alto Do Monte Da Groba, featuring the first summit finish of the race.

The Vuelta is the final three-week Grand Tour of the season and finishes in Madrid on Sunday, 15 September.

Result of team time trial

1. Astana (Kaz) 29 minutes 59 seconds

2. RadioShack (Lux) +10"

3. Omega Pharma-Quick-Step (Bel) +16"

4. Team Sky (GB) +22"

5. Movistar (Sp) +29"

6. Saxo-Tinkoff (Den) +32"

7. NetApp (Ger) +35"

8. BMC Racing (US) +36"

9. Orica (Aus) +45"

10. Belkin (Ned) +49"

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Nissan End Radio Shack Deal

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Nissan has withdrawn its co-title sponsorship of the RadioShack-Nissan-Trek cycling team with immediate effect. The squad has felt the full force of the Lance Armstrong scandal.

David Reuter, the vice-president of corporate communications for Nissan Americas, said: "Nissan and the management team of RadioShack-Nissan-Trek cycling have reached an agreement that provides for Nissan's immediate withdrawal as a sponsor of the team, while enabling the team to continue competing in the upcoming 2013 season. Nissan wishes the riders, team management and professional cycling well in future endeavours."

Johan Bruyneel left his role as general manager of the Luxembourg-based team in October after being implicated in the United States Anti-Doping Agency investigation into the practices of Armstrong and his United States Postal Service team.

The Belgian was team director of the US Postal team during the Armstrong era, and continues to protest his innocence and fight charges, long after the Texan was banned for life and stripped of all results from 1 August 1998, including seven Tour de France titles.

The RadioShack squad also had to face the most high-profile drugs scandal of the 2012 Tour, when Frank Schleck, third in the 2011 Tour, tested positive for the banned diuretic Xipamide and left the race.

Schleck protested his innocence, with suggestions he had been poisoned, and his position, and any suspension, is still to be clarified by the International Cycling Union.

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