What an effort
from Tony Martin on stage 6. Alone in front from the start to the end, well
almost to the end. Fabian Cancellara got a jump on the Argos-Shimano train and
performed a perfect leadout for Michael Mørkøv who won the stage. This is only
the second professional win in Mørkøv’s career. The first one came in June
earlier this year when he won the Danish Championship. Impressive.
Stage 7 is
another flat stage and after missing out on Thursday, I’m sure the sprinters’
teams won’t take any chances. The peloton continues south into Andalucía and
without a single categorized climb, this won’t be a difficult day in the
saddle. The GC riders will have their mind fixed on tomorrow’s mountain stage
and they will hope for a quiet day in the peloton.
Everybody
managed to stay upright despite the technical finish on stage 6 and hopefully
the same will happen Friday afternoon. Once again the race organizers have put
in numerous obstacles on the final kilometers. Six roundabouts within the last
three kilometers are what the riders have to overcome. The last one, turning
right, is placed just 700 meters from the line. The road slightly bends to the
left on the last 300 meters and first rider out of this bend most likely wins
the stage.
It’s
another technical finish but luckily the riders will have a chance to get to
know it before it counts. There is an intermediate sprint on the finishing line
with 31.4 km to go and knowing the route will hopefully keep everybody upright
in the final.
Argos-Shimano
almost managed to set up Ramon Sinkeldam
perfectly on stage 6. Tony Martin’s strong effort made them take the lead a
little too early and they paid for their work in the end. Sinkeldam was extra
motivated to win on his wife’s birthday but despite great legs, he couldn’t do
better than 15th place. As I mentioned yesterday, this isn’t
Argos-Shimano’s top leadout team. It’s a young team but they still show a lot
of power taking the lead. I think it will be a “normal” bunch sprint on stage 7
and if they manage to set up Ramon Sinkeldam again, he could take the peloton
by surprise.
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| The final 5 kilometers of stage 7. Click for larger view. |
Like
Argos-Shimano, also GreenEdge have a couple of strong guys for the sprints. Michael Matthews is obviously the
fastest one right now but a flat sprint like this one is probably better for Leigh Howard. Matthews said that
everything now is just a bonus but I’m sure the Australians are very eager to
take another win. Matthews is now riding in the green points jersey and the
despite the many mountains, this could be a goal for him. It won’t be easy but
if GreenEdge decides to go for him in all the sprints, I can’t see why he
shouldn’t win a handful more stages.
Max Richeze has been second the last two days in a row and
he’s definitely one of the favorites for this stage. The Argentinian sprinter
is getting better and better as the race goes on. He doesn’t have that final
leadout rider to deliver him in the sprints but he’s very fast on the final
meters. Richeze needs to get on the right wheel and he if manages so, he could
very well end up winning this stage.
Tyler Farrar couldn’t to better than fourth place on stage
6 but to be fair, Farrar was very fast in the end. The American’s big problem
is his positioning. Personally, I don’t understand why Garmin doesn’t wait
until the end before taking the lead. Alex Rasmussen is a brilliant leadout
rider and if Farrar enters the last bend on the wheel of Rasmussen, he will be extremely
difficult to beat.
Omega
Pharma Quickstep will most likely try to set up Gianni Meersman again on stage 7. The Belgian sprinter doesn’t seem
to be as fast as Matthews and Richeze right now but with a little bit of luck,
Omega Pharma Quickstep may finally take a stage win.
I also have
to mention Michael Mørkøv among the candidates after his impressive win on
stage 6. The Danish Champion said he was sure he would win when he saw the
finish line on the wheel of Cancellara. Obviously he’s in great shape right
now. Usually, Mørkøv works hard for his teammates but after his win in Cáceres,
I’m sure he will be eager to try again in Mairena Del Aljarafe.
The way I
see it, there is 95 % chance of this stage ending in a bunch sprint. A break
will definitely get away in the beginning but they know it’s almost doomed. It’s
usually local riders and riders from the smaller teams who get into these kind
of breakaways and as one of the semi-locals, look out for Luis Angel Maté. El Lince Andaluz is not afraid of
attacking despite poor chances of succeeding and I’m sure we will see the
Cofidis rider in a break soon. If not this Friday then definitely in the
weekend.
Eurosport is covering this year’s Vuelta a España intensively. Before and after each stage you will get inside information from the many interviews with the riders. The interviewer is Spanish journalist Laura Meseguer. She knows what’s going on inside the peloton and each day she will get you her own personal winner picks for the stage.
Eurosport is covering this year’s Vuelta a España intensively. Before and after each stage you will get inside information from the many interviews with the riders. The interviewer is Spanish journalist Laura Meseguer. She knows what’s going on inside the peloton and each day she will get you her own personal winner picks for the stage.
For Stage 7, Laura picks Michael Matthews to win.
For live coverage of the stage go to steephill.tv
