COVERITLIVE.COM

3:07

Charles F. Pelkey - Good day and welcome to VeloNews.com’s Live Coverage of the 21st and final stage of the 2009 Vuelta a España, a 110.2-kilometer ride from Rivas-Vaciamadrid to Madrid.

Well folks, it’s pretty much all over except for the name of the rider who will win the final charge to the line in Madrid today. The peloton has a pretty easy ride from Rivas-Vaciamadrid and then takes six laps around a six-kilometer circuit through the streets of the traditional closer to the Vuelta. Like the traditional closer of the Tour de France, the final day of the Vuelta is largely ceremonial until the final circuits, when the remaining sprinters aim for their final shot at a stage win.

3:07

3:07

CPelkey -

As for the overall standings, it looks like the GC picture was confirmed yesterday:

General Classification, after Stage 20

1. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, 84:10:32

2. Samuel Sánchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 55

3. Cadel Evans (Aus), Silence-Lotto, at 01:32

4. Ivan Basso (I), Liquigas, at 02:12

5. Ezequiel Mosquera (Sp), Xacobeo Galicia, at 04:27

6. Robert Gesink (Nl), Rabobank, at 06:40

7. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, at 09:08

8. Paolo Tiralongo (I), Lampre-N.G.C, at 09:11

9. Philip Deignan (Irl), Cervélo TestTeam, at 11:08

10. Juan José Cobo (Sp), Fuji-Servetto, at 11:27

3:07

CPelkey - There are two previous winners of this stage in the peloton today: Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank), who won here last year, and Daniele Bennati (Liquigas). Of course, points leader André Greipel – already a winner of three stages in this Vuelta – may have a thing or two to say about the planned repeat performances of either man.

Julian Dean (Garmin-Slipstream) is set to become the only rider to have completed all three grand tours this year and he’s not doing lead-out-man duties, so he, too, could be a factor today. Other sprinters in the field include Cofidis’ Leonardo Duque and Vacansoleil’s Borut Bozic, the Slovenian sprinter who’s already scored one win in this Vuelta.

3:08

CPelkey - Speaking of Greipel, he has a pretty good hold on the points jersey, given that most of those close to him on the count are GC contenders, whose primary concern is finishing safely rather than to try and pull off a stage win. Still, you might keep in mind that Alejandro Valverde, no slouch when it comes to a dash to the line – especially with a late attack – may want to score a stage win in the Vuelta, something he’s yet to do this year.

Overall Points

1. André Greipel (G), Columbia-HTC 123 Points

2. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne 111 Points

3. Cadel Evans (Aus), Silence-Lotto 99 Points

4. Samuel Sánchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi 89 Points

5. Daniele Bennati (I), Liquigas 81 Points

6. Ezequiel Mosquera (Sp), Xacobeo Galicia 68 Points

7. Robert Gesink (Nl), Rabobank 68 Points

8. Ivan Basso (I), Liquigas 64 Points

9. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 54 Points

10. Borut Bozic (SLO), Vacansoleil 52 Points

3:08

CPelkey - On the KOM front, the situation is pretty much what it’s been for several days now. David Moncoutie merely has to finish today’s stage within the prescribed time cut and he’s won himself his second successive King of the Mountains jersey at the Vuelta a España. Take a look at the substantial lead Moncoutie enjoys in that contest:

1. David Moncoutie (F), Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne 186 Points

2. Fuente David De La (Sp), Fuji-Servetto 99 Points

3. Julián Sánchez Pimienta (Sp), Contentpolis-Ampo 73 Points

4. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne 67 Points

5. Ezequiel Mosquera (Sp), Xacobeo Galicia 61 Points

6. Pieter Weening (Nl), Rabobank 60 Points

7. Javier Ramírez Abeja (Sp), Andalucia Cajasur 59 Points

8. Robert Gesink (Nl), Rabobank 58 Points

9. Johnny Hoogerland (Nl), Vacansoleil 54 Points

10. Samuel Sánchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi 52 Points

3:08

CPelkey - Today’s stage start officially began at 2:23 p.m. and as you might suspect on the traditional “parade” stage, we have not seen – nor will we see – early breaks from the main field today. Indeed, it probably won’t be until the peloton covers the first lap that we will see attempted breaks

3:12

CPelkey - There were 139 starters today, the number that finished yesterday’s time trial in Toledo. At this point, anyone planning to leave the Vuelta to prepare for worlds or due to illness has done so. We can expect that anyone who made it to the line today is pretty much committed to finishing it at this point.

So with 21 teams and 189 riders at the start in Holland - way back three weeks ago - we arrive in Madrid with 139. Not all that bad, really, when you consider that the Vuelta finished with 133 last year.

As a review, here's a look at those riders who have withdrawn from the Vuelta a España since it began on Saturday, August 29th:

Withdrawals – 2009 Vuelta a España

Stage 19
Sergio Domínguez (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo - Abandoned
Matteo Tosatto (ITA) Quick Step - Abandoned
Stage 18
Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ) Astana - Did Not Start
Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) Garmin-Slipstream - Did Not Start
Christian Meier (CAN) Garmin-Slipstream - Did Not Start
Bert Grabsch (GER) Columbia-HTC - Did Not Start
Julien Loubet (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale - Abandoned
Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Slipstream - Abandoned
Gerald Ciolek (GER) Milram - Abandoned
Björn Leukemans (BEL) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling - Abandoned

Stage 17
Damiano Cunego (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C - Did Not Start
Alessandro Ballan (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C - Did Not Start
Wouter Weylandt (BEL) Quick Step - Did Not Start
Stuart O’Grady’ (AUS) Saxo Bank - Did Not Start
Alexander Efimkin (RUS) AG2R La Mondiale - Abandoned

Stage 15
Svein Tuft (CAN) Garmin-Slipstream - Abandoned

Stage 14
Xavier Tondo (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur - Did Not Start
Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU) Cervelo TestTeam - Did Not Start
Fabian Cancellara (SUI) Saxo Bank - Did Not Start
Sandy Casar (FRA) Francaise Des Jeux - Abandoned
Marco Marzano (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C - Abandoned

Stage 13
Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA) AG2R La Mondiale - Abandoned
Franck Bouyer (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom - Abandoned
Simon Gerrans (AUS) Cervelo TestTeam - Abandoned
Dominique Rollin (CAN) Cervelo TestTeam - Abandoned
Sébastien Chavanel (FRA) Francaise Des Jeux - Abandoned
Eros Capecchi (ITA) Fuji-Servetto - Abandoned
Davide Vigano (ITA) Fuji-Servetto - Abandoned
Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick Step - Abandoned
Óscar Freire (ESP) Rabobank - Abandoned
Björn Schröder (GER) Milram - Abandoned

Stage 12
Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-Slipstream - Did Not Start
Vitaliy Buts (UKR) Lampre-N.G.C - Did Not Start
Linus Gerdemann (GER) Milram - Did Not Start
Marco Marcato (ITA) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling - Did Not Start
Alberto Fernández Sainz (ESP) Xacobeo Galicia - Did Not Start
José Luis Rubiera (ESP) Astana - Abandoned
Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ) Astana - Abandoned
Pierrick Fedrigo (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom - Abandoned
Francesco Tomei (ITA) Lampre-N.G.C - Abandoned
Paul Martens (GER) Rabobank - Abandoned

Stage 11
Frank Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank - Did Not Start
John Gadret (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale - Abandoned
Michael Albasini (SUI) Columbia-HTC - Abandoned

Stage 10
Thomas Rohregger (AUT) Milram - Did Not Start
J. Antonio López Gil (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur - Abandoned

Stage 9
Laurent Lefevre (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom - Abandoned
Mikel Gaztañaga (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo - Abandoned
Carlos Barredo (ESP) Quick Step - Abandoned
Allan Davis (AUS) Quick Step - Abandoned

Stage 8
Giovanni Bernaudeau (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom - Abandoned
Vincent Jerome (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom - Abandoned
Andy Schleck (LUX) Saxo Bank - Abandoned

Stage 6
Kim Kirchen (LUX) Columbia-HTC - Did Not Start
Manuel Ortega (ESP) Andalucia Cajasur - Abandoned
Casarrubios Óscar García - (ESP) Contentpolis-Ampo - Abandoned

Stage 5
Christopher Horner (USA) Astana - Did Not Start
Robert Kiserlovski (CRO) Fuji-Servetto - Did Not Start

Stage 4
Charles Wegelius (GBR) Silence-Lotto - Abandoned

3:15

CPelkey - As we said, today's gonna see a sloooow ride until the peloton hits Madrid. There is a great deal of laughter, chatter and posing for pictures in the main field. Already an hour into the stage, the "speed" is averaging less than 25kph ... but these guys have been on their bikes for at least three weeks. Many have ridden two grand tours and one has ridden all three. Time for a little soft-pedal action, we'd say.

3:23	CPelkey - At 26km, the peloton is still in rolling party mode. We need to come up with some questions or something to pass the time. Do you have any comments or questions you want us to field while things are a touch on the slow side?

3:26	[Comment From Bri ] Good Afternoon! How did the Vuelta compare to the other Grand Tours for you?

3:29

CPelkey - I enjoyed this one - the Vuelta - largely because it had the largest concentration of mountain-top finishes of any grand tour in recent memory.

I understand that the Tour de France tried an innovative approach - saving the hard climb up the Ventoux for last - but it didn't really work for me. For one thing, had we had a spate of tough mountain-top finishes early on in the Tour, it would have quickly settled that lingering leadership question on Astana, which was more of a side-show than anything.

3:29	[Comment From Jim in Indiana ] Is Team LUG-Hoody going to the world next week?

3:31	CPelkey - We don't have plans to do Live from worlds at this point. Hoody will be at worlds. Pelkey? I'm going to be home in Wyoming and taking my family to a Flogging Molly concert at Red Rocks the night before the elite road race.

3:31	[Comment From Rob in Athens ] Mornin'! How does the caravan at the Vuelta compare to that of the Tour?

3:32	CPelkey - Like the Tour, there is a publicity caravan at the Vuelta, but it doesn't come close to the size - or the level of weirdness - of the caravan at Le Tour.

3:32	[Comment From randy_indiana ] What's next as for VeloNews coverage? Do you expect us to work ALL day from now until Tour of Cali?

3:34	CPelkey - We may do Live from world cyclocross championships; the Spring Classics; the Tour of California and the grand tours. Of course, we may have more, and if we do, we will make sure that folks know, by making an announcement on VeloNews.com.

3:35	CPelkey - At 33km, the peloton is ambling along. We may see some action at km56.8 when they reach the day's first intermediate sprint mark.

3:35	[Comment From Bri ] why would they put the Tour of California at the same time as the Giro?? Talk about poor planning

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