BiciRace.com

• News
• Races
• Photos
• Interviews
• Inside Scoop
• Gear & Gadgets

Vuelta a España, Spain

Stage 14, Nestlé / La Penilla - Lagos de Covadonga, 172.3K

10 September

The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap
Days are Numbered

Stages and Maps, The Dust Devil's Daily Wrap

It looks like the crash of Roberto Heras the other day isn't going to have an impact on his Vuelta. He was up there again today in stage 14 making life very hard for Denis Menchov. I have to wonder if he's lacking that extra something that could've rocketed him to victory, or at least helped him to shed Menchov. We'll never know.

Carlos Sastre pulled back a handful of seconds today. Aided, I'm sure by the fact that he's is allowed space before he's becomes a overall threat. Had he been closer on GC to Menchov and Heras, he wouldn't have had so much freedom. He looked good nonetheless, which pleased me. Gilberto Simoni, the Italian hotshot who likes to shoot his mouth off, looked reborn today in his natural element of the mountains. Probably nothing any of the Spaniards need to worry about for the long run though.

Paco Mancebo had an off day and lost a minute. We'll see how he bounces back with more climbing tomorrow.

Menchov is becoming a more realistic victor of this 60th Vuelta a España everyday. He's defending himself so well. Matching Heras in the mountains has got to be one of the more painful ways to pass your time! He described after the stage how Heras was constantly changing the tempo on the climb trying to shake him. It would require a lot of mental strength to hang tough through that kind of battering. To have the mental confidence to know you can do it is really something. But, I guess having the leaders jersey brings it out of you. I'm not so sure we would be seeing the same Menchov if he was sitting 10th on GC.

More mountains tomorrow. Roberto Heras is running out of stages to steal time back. And so far he hasn't actually taken any time back! He will need a fair buffer in the final TT against someone like Menchov. We all know the little-man is no specialist against the watch!

I am off to find a Tapas bar... but stay tuned for more vertical racing!
- The Dust Devil