Gilbert Wins La Vuelta Stage 9

Last updated : 26 August 2012 By Kev Monks

BMC's Phillipe Gilbert won La Vuelta Stage 9 this afternoon.

This was a stage from Andorra to Barcelona and four riders in  Mickael Buffaz (Cofidis), Bert-Jan Lindeman (Vacansoleil-DCM), Javier Chacon (Andalucia) and Martijn Maaskant (Garmin-Sharp), got away from the start.

They had a lead of over five minutes but with thirty kilometres to go from the finish at the stadium used for the 1992 Olympic Games, that was down to 47 seconds.

There was a crash with 18kms to go which took down a number of riders before British Champion Ian Stannard took to the front.

The riders were strung out with 5kms to go on a sunny day through tree lined boulevards.

Allesandro Ballan of BMC attacked a kilometres later, followed by Nicholas Roche, race leader Joaquin Rodriquez and Phillipe Gilbert.

Rodriquez and Gilbert took over with 3kms left heading towards a stadium once used by Espanyol and where England have played Andorra for those who remember the wally with the brolly incident. 

Rodriquez led out Gilbert (below left) but it was the Belgian who won in a time of 4.45.28.

Tiralongo was third.

Joaquin Rodriquez extends his lead over Chris Froome to 53 seconds and a minute to Contador and Valverde. 

 

 

 

Picture copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM