Category VII Cycling

A couple added in Spain as Roberto Heras actually puts in a better time against the clock than does his rival Denis Menchov on Saturday. Extra motivation for the wearer of the golden jersey, or Menchov finding it increasingly difficult to recover from his exertions in the race's opening half? Probably a little from column A and a little from column B.

More significantly, Alessandro Pettachi closed his Vuelta account with his fifth stage win, but importantly this time over the course where the rainbow jersey will be decided in a week. (Erik Zabel managed to come in second yet again.) Petacchi stuck out the entire three-week race, and as such got to see the World's course first hand under race conditions. Meanwhile, one of his biggest rivals for the World Championship title Tom Boonen left when the Vuelta hit the high mountains, preferring to complete his training back home in Belgium.

Perhaps ominously, after Tirreno-Adriatico, Boonen also headed back to Belgian for a few days of final prep work, while Pettachi went and rode the Cipressa and the Poggio. And we all know how Milan-San Remo worked out for the two...