Bennati wins Vuelta stage, Cobo keeps slim lead over Froome
Vuelta a Espana 2011, stage 20 photo gallery by Graham Watson>>
Italian Daniele Bennati won the 20th stage of the 2011 Vuelta a Espana in Vitoria on Saturday. He sprinted ahead of Italian Enrico Gasparotto after his Leopard-Trek team led into the final kilometres.
Team Sky's Chris Froome finished in the same group, still just 13 seconds adrift behind overall leader, Spaniard Juan José Cobo (Geox-TMC). He briefly accelerated ahead of Cobo and the group at 20 kilometres remaining, but eased off soon after. He seemingly misjudged the banner for the intermediate sprint, which was moved ahead of the stage and came four kilometres later.
Froome and Bradley Wiggins, in third at 1-39 minutes, were unable to re-shape the overall in the 185-kilometres leg, one suited to the Vuelta's remaining sprinters.
It was a win in "the penultimate stage, after a very hard Vuelta," Bennati said. "I just tried to stay in contact over the Urkiola."
Bennati's team helped him maintain position after the race's final climb, the Puerto de Urkiola with 46.4 kilometres to race. It then pulled back an escape by Carlos Barredo, who had attacked to gain maximum points.
Former Tour de France winner, Carlos Sastre was the last to have a crack. He escaped following the final intermediate sprint, caught Barredo, but failed to hold off Leopard's charge.
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Frenchman David Moncoutié (Cofidis) secured a record fourth straight win today in the mountains competition, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Sky's fight for the overall competition continues in the final stage tomorrow to Madrid. It is likely to finish the race on the second and third podium steps given the 95.6-kilometre stage is flat and traditionally travels at a parade-like pace.
Results
Vuelta a Espana 2011, stage 20: Bilbao to Vitoria, 185km
1. Daniele Bennati (Ita) Leopard-Trek
2. Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Astana
3. Damiano Caruso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
4. Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Garmin-Cervelo
5. Koen De Kort (Ned) Skil-Shimano
6. Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-ISD
7. Davide Malacarne (Ita) Quick Step
8. Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Quick Step
9. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank
10. Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale all same time
Other
26. Christopher Froome (GB) Sky
28. Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Geox-TMC
39. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Sky all same time
90. Ian Stannard (GB) Sky at 10-23
Overall classification after stage 20
1. Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Geox-TMC
2. Chris Froome (GB) Sky at 13 secs
3. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Sky at 1-39
4. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank at 2-03
5. Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC at 3-48
6. Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard-Trek at 4-13
7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 4-31
8. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 4-45
9. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha at 5-20
10. Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 5-33
Other
104. Ian Stannard (GB) Sky at 3-49-31
Juan Jose Cobo kept a tight grip on his overall lead
Daniele Bennati finally gets his Vuelta stage win
Related links
Vuelta a Espana 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Vuelta a Espana 2011: Latest news
Cobo: Sky will attack in Bilbao
Froome narrows gap on Cobo to take first grand tour stage win
Wiggins and Froome in 'enemy territory' on stage 17
Confusion reigns in Vuelta stage as riders tackle roundabout wrong way
Sky uses rest day to regroup before final leg of Vuelta
Wiggins upbeat despite losing Vuelta lead on Angliru
Crunch time for Wiggins and Froome in Vuelta
Wiggins says he will give it 100 per cent to defend Vuelta lead
Vuelta tackles unknown mountain top finish today
Froome: "This lead is a big milestone"
Wiggins in Vuelta: "We're in an amazing position"
Dan Martin delighted with King of the Mountains jersey
Sky dominates in Vuelta a Espana
Martin delighted with first ever grand tour stage win
Wiggins: A fantastic finish
Interview: Wiggins looks ahead of crucial three days of Vuelta
Farrar taken to hospital after Vuelta crash
Arvesen quits Vuelta with crash injuries
Anton suffers again but Rodriguez becomes Spain's top contender
Wiggins pleased with strong ride in Spanish sierras
Cavendish abandons Vuelta a Espana
Vuelta a Espana 2011: Teams, riders, start list
Vuelta a Espana 2011: Who's riding?
Vuelta a Espana 2011 team list
Vuelta a Espana 2011
: Stage reports
Stage 19: Anton takes win on Basque home soil as Cobo foils Froome
Stage 18: Gavazzi salvages poor Vuelta for Lampre as Cobo enjoys trouble-free day
Stage 17: Froome wins Vuelta stage 17 but can't unseat Cobo from race lead
Stage 16: Haedo wins confusing stage 16 finish in Vuelta
Stage 15: Wiggins loses race lead as Cobo stakes claim for overall on Angliru
Stage 14: Taaramae takes stage as Wiggins puts time into rivals
Stage 13: Albasini wins Vuelta stage 13 as Wiggins hangs on to lead
Stage 12: Sagan takes second 2011 Vuelta stage win
Stage 11: Wiggins takes overall lead as Moncoutie wins stage
Stage 10: Brit Froome moves into overall Vuelta lead after time trial
Stage nine: Martin wins as Wiggins moves further up GC
Stage eight: Rodriguez wins again to take overall lead
Stage seven: Kittel wins chaotic bunch sprint
Stage six: Sagan takes Vuelta stage win in controversial circumstances
Stage five: Rodriguez takes second win for Katusha but Chavanel holds on
Stage four: Moreno wins first mountain skirmish at Sierra Nevada
Stage three: Lastras solos to stage and takes red jersey
Stage two: Sutton grabs stage win to set things right for Sky
Stage one: Leopard-Trek win opening TTT to put Fuglsang in front
Vuelta a Espana 2011: Photo galleries
By Graham Watson
Stage 19 photo gallery
Stage 18 photo gallery
Stage 17 photo gallery
Stage 16 photo gallery
Stage 15 photo gallery
Stage 14 photo gallery
Stage 13 photo gallery
Stage 12 photo gallery
Stage 11 photo gallery
Stage 10 photo gallery
Stage nine photo gallery
Stage eight photo gallery
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one photo gallery
Vuelta a Espana 2011: TV guide
Vuelta a Espana 2011: ITV4 TV schedule
Vuelta a Espana 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule
ITV to show 2011 Vuelta
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