Vuelta a España 2012: Stage 15

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January 1 - September 9, La Robla, Spain, Road - WorldTour

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Hello and welcome to live coverage from stage 15 of the Vuelta from La Robla to Lagos de Covadonga.

It may not be as tough as the Angliru or several of the other epic ascents that the Vuelta organisers have located recently but Lagos de Covadonga is arguably the race’s classic climb. Appearing for the 18th time on the route, it has regularly provided the launchpad for a move towards overall victory. The parcours gets severe 50km from the finish, where the riders start up the short cat 1 Puerto del Fito. Covadonga starts off gently but ramps up viciously just before the 10km banner. The 6km up to the infamous La Huesera – "the boneyard" – are brutal. The whole race could very well be won or lost here.

Bingen Fernandez:

134km remaining from 186km

Distance: 186.7km
Highest point: 1,380m
Category: High mountains

David de la Fuente (Caja Rural), Kevin Seeldrayers (Astana), Andrey Kashechkin (Astana), Ruben Perez Moreno (Euskaltel) Vicente Reynes (Lotto), Sergey Lagutin (Vacansoleil), Lloyd Mondory (AG2R), Simon Geschke (Argos-Shimano), Antonio Piedra Perez (Caja Rural), and Pablo Lastras (Movistar) are in the break and now, after 65km of racing, have a lead of 3:47.

And the leaders are now on the 3rd cat climb of Santo Emiliano

Daniel Moreno, Rodriguez's right hand man, has crashed. We'll bring you more on the situation as soon as we have it.

116km remaining from 186km

At the head of the race De La Fuente who was struggling for a team at the end of last season, leads the break over the climb.

The lead is now up to 8:50 as the break race through Langreo.  We've still no news on Cataldo or Moreno from the earlier crash.

Kashechkin is the highest placed GC rider in the group. The Astana rider is 22:34 down on Rodriguez as the gap to the break goes out to 9:15.

It's a decent looking break too. Lastras has won stages in the Vuelta (last year in fact) and the Tour and the Giro. He's 36 now and he's been with the same team throughout his career, signing with Banesto a year after Indurain retired.

Lagutin was top 20 last year, the two  Astana boy can both climb as well.

No news on Moreno by the way so we assume he's still in the race but in the middle of the bunch. His Katusha teammates are setting the pace on the front for  now.

99km remaining from 186km

Here's where we stand on GC.

89km remaining from 186km

That lead has drifted out to 11.47.

Regarding the final climb, it's 1135m, and has a length just short of 14km with an average gradient of 6.9 per cent.

Located in the stunning Picos de Europa range that is still home to bears and wolves, its steepest sections, which reach 15 per cent, is known as La Huesera.

73km remaining from 186km

At the start of the stage this morning, Chris Froome told the Vuelta's official website: "I like the atmosphere of La Vuelta a España more than the Tour de France. I like the Spanish culture and the attitude of the people. Spectators have many Spanish riders to encourage and they also encourage me. That helps me to keep my motivation high even though I'm a little tired."

The leaders are approaching the Mirador del Fito with a lead of over 14 minutes. Katusha continue to set the pace on the front of the peloton but they won't be worried by this break at the moment.

This is a tough climb with an average gradient of 8.3 per cent.

Katusha are closing in on the foot of the climb  but up ahead in the break riders have their jerseys unzipped and flapping in the wind as they tackle the lower slopes of the climb. Simon Geschke is on the front and setting the pace.

42km remaining from 186km

Sky and Rabobank have both moved closer to the front of the peloton, positioning Froome, ten Dam and Gesink closer to the action. It will be interesting to see what card Mollema plays today. If he has the legs, will Rabobank use him to go on the attack or will be ride in next to Gesink and ten Dam for as long as possible.

36km remaining from 186km

31km remaining from 186km

The break are in the valley between the final two climbs. They need to keep their advantage over the 11-12 minute mark as Reynes goes back to the Lotto team car to pick up a new set of bidons.

Dekker has run off the road and needs a new wheel by the the looks of it.

22km remaining from 186km

The riders in the break about about 5 km from the foot of the climb proper but they're still sharing the workload between them, with the gap now at 13:28.

Saxo Bank have taken a back seat today, especially compared to yesterday after they did so much work for Contador. It's Katusha who have controlled the bunch for the majority of the stage.

The break are now on the lower slopes of the climb,  still with a gap close to 14 minutes.  Mondory is on the front but immediately one of the Astana riders increases the pace and riders have already been dropped.

A slight lull in pace and Lagutin, one of those who was dropped, is able to latch back on.

Lastras leads a counter-attack and again it's all back together.

Pierdra establishes a small gap but Lastras, and the rest of the group quickly move to close it down.

Piedra, has though, pushed his advantage out to around 100 meters.

The Caja Rural rider has 22 seconds on the chase group.

Sky have moved to the front of the peloton with Stannard doing the damage as up ahead Piedra has pushed his lead out to 44 seconds.

Stannard's done and now Saxo Bank are back as the peloton lead onto the lower slopes of the final climb.

This have everyone stretched out and riders are sprinting to get back into contention and Froome is already in trouble. Valverde has to sprint to get back.

Navarro has gone off the front, Quintana attacks to  mark him as Uran sets the pace for the GC favourites.

8km remaining from 186km

8km remaining from 186km

The Rodriguez group is down to less than 30 men though with Cunego already dropped.

Contador order another teammate to attack and again it's matched by a domestique from Movistar.

Piedra is on a section of 14 per cent as Hernandez attacks for Saxo Bank.

Euskaltel have joined the Saxo/Movistar move off the front of the bunch.

Piedra has 1:18 on the chase group of Mondory and co.

This has put Katusha pack on the front of the peloton - or rather -what's left of it - and it looks like Rabobank are riding defensively at the moment. Anton has made it into the Hernandez group.

It's up to 15 per cent for Piedra now as he's cheered on by the thousands of fans on the road side.

Contador has three men in the Hernandez group. How long until he tries to close the gap with one big attack?

And Gesink attacks.

The Navarro/Anton/Hernandez group has been brought back.

Rodriguez is near the front with Moreno at his side and still Piedra is holding his own. His lead is at 1:03 over the chase group.

A Movistar rider attacks and is matched by Euskaltel.

And Gesink is on the front setting the pace. Froome is at the very back of the group.

And Anton has attacked.

Rabobank are looking to drop Froome it seems.

Froome has two  men with him but he's right at the back of the group with Roche right next to him.

3km remaining from 186km

And Valverde attacks with Contador with him. Rodriguez is there too.

And Froome is in pieces now as Valverde joins up with a teammate. Contador and Rodriguez are just following for now.

Quintana is the man with Valverde as they catch and pass Anton.

Contador slips back onto Rodriguez's wheel.

Froome is around 30 seconds down and he's struggling to stay with Uran and Henao as now Contador attacks.

Rodriguez goes with him and Valverde too but at a slower rate in chase.

Contador just can't get rid of Rodriguez.

Piedra will take the stage. He's inside the final km.

Valverde meanwhile moves to the front of the GC group of three and sets the pace. He simply wants to put time into Froome and secure that final podium place.

Contador goes again and Rodriguez waits, he doesn't panic and he now he goes after him.

And this is a little tougher to close this time around.

Valverde and Quintana come up to Contador and Rodriguez.

Froome is 40 seconds back.

3km to go for Contador and co.

Cut and paste: Again Contador attacks, Rodriguez catches him.

Quintana attacks and they let him go.

Froome is at 37 seconds.

Contador brings them back to Quintana.

And Froome has been dropped by the Gesink group.

Valverde, Rodriguez, and Contador finish in the same time.

Froome finishes a further 42 seconds down in a group that included Talansky and Gesink.

Roche loses more time, finishing with Monfort.

Piedra takes the biggest win of his career

GC:

1 Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 58:17:21
2 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank 0:00:22
3 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 0:01:41
4 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:02:16
5 Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha Team 0:04:51
6 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:05:42
7 Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin - Sharp 0:06:48
8 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:07:17
9 Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:07:39
10 Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-Dcm Pro Cycling Team 0:09:01

Rodriguez holds his lead over Contador but it was Valverde who profited the most, dropping Froome on the final climb and taking third in GC.

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