Monday, September 05, 2005
An Opportunistic Win
As Menchov and Heras sized each other up, Paco Mancebo snuck by both of them to take the stage. A curious finish, since according to cyclingnews.com, Menchov told the other riders he wasn’t going for the stage win. Probably Heras recalled the standing orders at his former squad shaped in the image of Bruyneel’s shameless spring against Indurain, and opted not to trust the Russian. Or at least trust, but verify.
Mancebo in winning his first stage of any Grand Tour also gained the most by passing Carlos Sastre for third in the overall classification. While Heras and his Liberty squad were the main animators of the day – shelling the rest of the field and also isolating Menchov on the climb to Arcalais – unlike the first mountain finish, Heras wasn’t able to make up any time on Menchov. Clearly not a good sign in his quest for a record fourth Veulta win.
Still Heras undoubtedly come out firing again tomorrow in another tough slog through the Pyrenees. Mancebo was almost dropped on one of Heras’ attacks today, so a little longer, a little harder, and he could be back in the driver’s seat of the race on the first rest day.
Mancebo in winning his first stage of any Grand Tour also gained the most by passing Carlos Sastre for third in the overall classification. While Heras and his Liberty squad were the main animators of the day – shelling the rest of the field and also isolating Menchov on the climb to Arcalais – unlike the first mountain finish, Heras wasn’t able to make up any time on Menchov. Clearly not a good sign in his quest for a record fourth Veulta win.
Still Heras undoubtedly come out firing again tomorrow in another tough slog through the Pyrenees. Mancebo was almost dropped on one of Heras’ attacks today, so a little longer, a little harder, and he could be back in the driver’s seat of the race on the first rest day.
