Three of the 'big four' minus Chris Froome grind to the top of Saturday's final climb. Photograph: AFP Photo
The Vuelta hit its first rast day today, which was fine by me as I was back into work after a nice weekend in which I, for once, had the free time to sit down and watch both stages. That sort of stuff is becoming all to rare, so when I realised I had a free weekend I jumped on the computer to see what kind of stages lay ahead for my viewing pleasure. I almost got a nasty scare.
I misread the stage schedule at first and thought it said the rest day was on Sunday. I began cursing the race organisers for not putting everyone's weekend and a rare opportunity to put aside a couple of straight hours to watching the race on TV, only to find out it was my error and that I should curse myself for giving myself such a nasty shock.
Four way battle
Saturday was a 'high mountain' stage according to the stage guide which precisely the words a cycling fan loves to watch when they look to see what the stage they're about to watch has in store. And it didn't disappoint.
Once again it turned into a battle of Joaquim Rodriguez (in the leaders red jersey) vs. Chris Froome vs. Alberto Contador vs. Alejandro Valverde. They all took a turn to attack at one stage or another but it was Valverde who made the first move before Froome rode across. Froome himself then went clear but had to deal with that classic tactic of Contador wheel sucking, waiting for his moment as opposed to helping a break that had developed. Had the two of them rode on upthe climb there's a chance we'd be talking about a two-way battle for the GC in this race today, so maybe it's a good thing Contador almost came to a standstill when Froome slowed to try force him to take a pull.
They were eventually caught by the other two and just when it looked like they might contest the four-way sprint, Contador made his move. It was classic Contador, and baring flipping the finger at the others, he charged off up the mountain. But then it wasn't classic Contador ... he couldn't sustain it and as Froome cracked from his earlier effort that perhaps highlighted why Contador wouldn't take a pull at the time, Rodriguez and Valverde charged after the other Spaniard.
They caught him on the final turn and it was Valverde who kicked across the line in first. A fantastic win on a finish full of high drama and despite Froome trailing in 15 seconds behind, it left the GC wide open with Rodriguez still in red, Froome 33 seconds back, with Contador at 40 seconds and Valverde at 50.
At long last Philippe Gilbert
Sunday's stage was generally a day off for the biggest names. Or it should have been. There was a 3rd category climb near the finish and a little hill up to the line, but nothing that should have troubled a big name nor enough for one of them to make a move. But the later didn't apply and as is proving to be the case in this Tour, unpredictability reigned.
They hit the third category climb altogether and with a bunch sprint not entirely out of the question but then Contador of all men made the attack and it kissed goodbye to half the field as the hurt was put on. They eventually rode across to him and then, of all people, the red jersey of Rodriguez made a move. It wasn't the kind of attacks we expected in a relatively short, though very steep climb, but someone like Rodriguez must realize all too well what he could lose in the upcoming time-trial and so is taking every chance he can to nibble back time on any climb and especially on the line where time bonus' are up for grabs. It's a very similar tactic to the one he employed against Ryder Hesjedal in the Giro and even then it wasn't enough come that final time-trial.
He was joined by a surging Philippe Gilbert, who after dominating the road scene in 2011 was still riding without a race in 2012. It had been an awful year for the Belgian after signing a big contract with the BMC team this past winter, but the minute you seen him power across to Rodriguez you felt this would be his best chance yet for a stage win. I'd love to have seen the power data he was putting through the pedals over the top of that climb and onto the wheel of Rodriguez, but I dare say it would have been enough watts to keep my home lit for the week.
The two of them pressed one; one after a stage win, one after time. It was the perfect mix and when it came down to it Rodriguez was never going to out sprint Gilbert. The Belgian finally had his stage win and the Spaniard gained a dozen seconds plus a time-bonus.
The upshot of it all was that heading into the rest day after a week of brilliant racing, Rodriguez was still in Red with a healthy 53 second gap over Froome. Tuesday is a rare flat stage which should prove effectively to be a second rest day for the big names before Wednesday's time-trial. It's doubtful that 53 seconds will be enough for Rodriguez, but it's enough that he shouldn't lose his race lead by too much and it'll more than allow him to attack to win it back when the mountains roll around again. Unlike at the Giro, this time-trial comes with lots of racing still to come.
General classification after stage 9
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha Team in 34-44-55
2. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling at 53 sec
3. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank at 1-00
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team at 1-07
5. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team at 2-01
6. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha Team at 2-08
7. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale at 2-34
