Efimkin: I will fight to the end

By Monika Prell

Caisse d'Epargne's revelation of the Vuelta a España, Russian Vladimir Efimkin, has vowed to continue fighting for the leader's jersey when racing continues on Wednesday. Efimkin currently holds second place on general classification, 2.01 minutes behind race leader and compatriot Denis Menchov (Rabobank). "After I lost my golden jersey in the Time Trial of Zaragoza I said that the Vuelta was far from being finished," declared Efimkin. "And I still believe so, today more than ever. Life taught me that you should never give up and I will fight till the end."

After an active day in the Vuelta peloton Caisse d'Epargne's Xabier Zandio is looking forward to the Grand Tour's first rest day today, which he plans on utilising by recovering from a bout of gastroenteritis. The Spaniard was struck with the illness, which has also affected team leader Oscar Pereiro, prior to the event and says while he's nearly fully recovered the rest day will.

"After I crashed and abandoned the Tour de France in Stage 4, I took the start of the Vuelta very motivated," said Zandio." Things did not start good for me as I suffered from the same gastroenteritis as Oscar Pereiro did. Fortunately, things went a lot better for me and this morning I felt much better and very motivated. The rest day will be a very good thing for me to help me recover completely so that I can keep on working for my team in the next stages."

Two of the squad's riders were able to join the 18-strong break away group on Monday's Stage 10. Zandio and David López formed part of the escape that commenced on kilometre 21 and gained an maximum advantage of 5.09 minutes.

Caisse d'Epargne is also the best squad of the team classification, ahead of Belgian squad Predictor Lotto and Euskaltel Euskadi.