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

Le Bon Takes on Mantle of Fulcrum in Stage 20

IMG_2268.JPGThe 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.

Hincapie Again on Cusp at Paris-Roubaix

George Hincapie at the 2008 Tour of California, photographed by Thomas Fanghaenel. Hincapie has finished on the cusp of the point d’appui twice in 2012.

In the 2012 Paris-Roubaix, 86 riders finished the race, meaning no Point d’Appui was awarded; however, the cuspides on the day were George Hincapie, who finished 7.46 adrift, and Johan Le Bon at 7.48. Hincapie also finished on the cusp at the Tour of Flanders.

Tom Boonen of Belgium won the day for Omega Pharma-Quick Step with a time of 5:55.22.

The Lanterne Rouge went to Austrian Bernard Eisel of Sky Procycling finishing with Belgian Gert Steegmans of Omega Pharma-Quickstep, both of them 17.17 behind the leader.