September 15, 2014

Keizer Wins Vuelta’s 2014 Point d’Appui

Martijn Keizer of Belkin Pro Cycling moved up one place to earn the Point d’Appui for the 2014 Vuelta a España.

Keizer joined Belkin at the last moment this season and rode to higher placement this year than in his two previous Vueltas (153rd in 2011 and 103rd in 2012), but a slight drop from his 63rd place showing in the Giro.

Alberto Contador Velasco of Tinkoff-Saxo won the race and Andrea Guardini of Astana Pro Team wound up with the Lanterne Rouge.

Stage-by-stage results:

Stage 1 – No fulcrum
Stage 2 – No fulcrum
Stage 3 – No fulcrum
Stage 4 – No fulcrum
Stage 5 – No fulcrum
Stage 6 – No fulcrum
Stage 7 – Daniele Bennati of Tinkoff-Saxo
Stage 8 – Nikolas Maes of Omega Pharma-Quick-Step
Stage 9 – No fulcrum
Stage 10 – No fulcrum
Stage 11 – No fulcrum
Stage 12 – No fulcrum
Stage 13 – No fulcrum
Stage 14 – Simon Clarke of Orica GreenEdge
Stage 15 – No fulcrum
Stage 16 – Kristof Vandewalle of Trek Factory Racing
Stage 17 – Tom Boonen of Omega Pharma
Stage 18 – No fulcrum
Stage 19 – Kristof Vandewalle of Trek Factory Racing
Stage 20 – Johan Le Bon of FDJ.fr
Stage 21 – Martijn Keizer of Belkin Pro Cycling

September 13, 2014

Le Bon Takes on Mantle of Fulcrum in Stage 20

The penultimate stage of the Vuelta a España brought Johan Le Bon of FDJ.fr to the fulcrum, making him the odds-on favorite to win the 2014 Point d’Appui.

Le Bon is 20 seconds behind Yannick Martinez of Team Europcar and 20 seconds ahead of Martijn Keizer of Belkin Pro Cycling Team, so he’s still subject to the whims of peloton float.

Alberto Contador solidified his lead by winning Stage 20 atop Ancares. Andrea Guardini of Astana Pro Team holds the Lanterne Rouge.

September 10, 2014

Vandewalle Falters and Winds Up as Newest Point d’Appui

Kristof Vandewalle

Kristof Vandewalle of Trek Factory Racing slipped back from his Stage 15 placement to land in the Point d’Appui general classification after Stage 16 of the 2014 Vuelta a España.

Vandewalle had been in 184th place early in the race but has slowly climbed in the standings, reaching 79th on Sunday but falling back to 87th just as the fulcrum moved forward to the same spot.

Alberto Contador remains the GC leader of the tour, and Carlos Alberto Betancur of AG2R La Mondiale still holds the Lanterne Rouge.

Three riders fell out of the race on Stage 15: Oscar Gatto of Cannondale had to abandon. Then Gianluca Brambilla of Omega Pharma-Quick-Step and Ivan Rovny of Tinkoff-Saxo were disqualified after trading jabs while they were in the break, a “slap-match” as one commentator called it. The fisticuffs were flung in front of a race official’s car and with cameras rolling.

September 8, 2014

Five Abandons Leave Vuelta without Fulcrum

With five abandons during Stage 15 of the 2014 Vuelta a España, the race is once again in les Cuspides and without a fulcrum.

The two riders on the cusp of the fulcrum after a difficult mountaintop finish are George Bennett of Cannondale and Stef Clement of Belkin Pro Cycling Team.

Alberto Contador continues to lead the overall race for general classification, but a new Lanterne Rouge has taken the stern after Matteo Pelucchi abandoned the race: Carlos Alberto Betancur Of AG2R La Mondiale, who is 3 hours, 36 minutes and 40 seconds adrift of Contador.

September 7, 2014

Stage 14 Proves Lucky for Clarke

After five days without a fulcrum, the 2014 Vuelta a España came to a new mountaintop finish, La Camperona, that put the hurt on the peloton and led to an odd number of finishers, 191.

Simon Clarke of Orica GreenEdge finished in 91st place to take control of the general classification Point d’Appui as the Vuelta finished Stage 14. Clarke also held the Point d’Appui at the end of Stage 14 during the 2013 Tour de France.

Alberto Contador leads the Vuelta’s general classification, and Matteo Pelucchi continues to hold the Lanterne Rouge.

Point d'Appui

Month: September 2014