Vuelta a Espana 2013 - Stage 20
An incredible last day in the mountains has decided this year's Vuelta a Espana. The showdown on the Angliru that the organisers craved when they came up with the route did not disappoint, and it was a stage where you could not predict what would happen next. The stage was 142.2 kilometres from Aviles to the Alto de l'Angliru, one of the most brutal climbs in Spain, with gradients reaching a monsterous 20%.
This daunting finish didn't put a breakaway off however, a huge break of 31 men went away, containing some of the peloton's best men. Amongst them were Vasil Kiryienka of Sky, Kenny Elissonde of FDJ, and three of Vincenzo Nibali's teammates, including Paolo Tiralongo and Jakob Fuglsang. The break gradually disintegrated throughout the day, and by the bottom of the Angliru, two men remained, Paolo Tiralongo and Kenny Elissonde.
They had around five minutes, which on a flat stage would mean they could cruise to the finish, but on the punishing slopes of the Angliru, it was still touch and go as to whether they would make it. Joaquim Rodriguez's Katusha team were out in force putting in a fast pace on the lower slopes, as if to set it up for an attack from distance from their man. He clearly still had his eye on overall success in Madrid.
It was his first lieutenant Daniel Moreno who did most of the damage, his high pace causing a selection in the group, with only around eight riders remaining once he peeled off. Once he did, and Rodriguez didn't attack, it was Nibali who went, determined to take more than just the three seconds he required. This caused even more of a selection, with Horner slowly dragging Valverde and Rodriguez back up to the Italian.
However, Nibali wasn't finished, he kept putting in vicious accelerations, which dropped Valverde and then Rodriguez, with Horner clawing his way back each time, without his trademark smile. Chaos ensued on the steeper slopes, as riders, motorbikes, cars and fans all tried to occupy a piece of road no more than 6 metres wide.
Nibali put in a total of six stinging attacks, until Horner reeled his last one in, when he dropped away. Elissonde was still out in front, so Horner rode solo for the last part of the stage through the mist. It was Elissonde who put in a fine performance to win the day atop the Angliru, but the cameras were focused on the next man coming through the mist, the 41 year old American Chris Horner, resplendant in red, and again smiling.
Nibali had put up a valiant fight, and to him we must say chapeau, but he finished 37 seconds down on Horner. Valverde, Rodriguez, and Roche finish third, fourth and fifth respectively. Horner will ride into Madrid tomorrow as Vuelta champion, and the oldest man in the race. Don't ever say the Vuelta doesn't surprise you.