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Alberto Di Lolli/AP/Press Association Images
Sprint Finish

Vuelta á Espana: Contador prepares coronation in Madrid

Denis Menchov won the penultimate stage of La Vuelta.

Result: RUSSIA’S DENIS MENCHOV of the Katusha team won the 20th and penultimate stage of La Vuelta after a mountainous ride from La Faisanera to Bola del Mundo.

Sky’s Richie Porte finished second, 17 seconds off Menchov with Kevin De Weert third. Saxo-Bank rider Contador retaining the red jersey of the overall leader.

Here’s how it happened: A 20-rider breakaway group split from the peloton after 20km, but was reduced to just three 10km out from the finish.

Menchov called on all his climbing skills to notch up the stage victory 17sec ahead of Sky’s Australian rider Richie Porte, with Belgian Kevin De Weert (Omega-Pharma) a further 25sec adrift.

De Weert had dropped off the pace in the climb, but Menchov was left to see off Porte in a final desperate sprint.

Who’s wearing what jersey?

  • Red (general classification): Alberto Contador
  • Green (points): Joaquim Rodriguez
  • Blue dots (mountains): Simon Clarke
  • White (all-round): Joaquim Rodriguez

How did Nico do? well, he’s still in 12th place overall. But the recent stages of La Vuelta haven’t been kind to him. Today he came in 27th, 1:20 behind Contador and 5:35 off Menchov.

What happens tomorrow? It’s all over. Contador, who lost his 2010 Tour and 2011 Giro titles after being banned for testing positive for clenbuterol during the 2010 Tour, has now to safely negotiate the 21st and final 115km largely flat stage from Cercedilla to Madrid to claim victory.

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