Taaramae takes stage as Wiggins puts time into rivals

Cofidis climber Rein Taarmae won the fourteenth stage of the Vuelta on the mountain finish of Lagos de Somiedo, finishing ahead of Geox pair Juan Jose Cobo and David De La Fuente.

Cobo attacked from the peloton four kilometres out, but couldn't catch the Estonian, despite the help of de la Fuente, who had been in front with Taaramae for the closing 40 kilometres as the survivors of a seventeen-strong break.

Wiggins turns the screw

Behind, Bradley Wiggins impressively gained time on his big rivals, putting 1-21 into Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha).

The Briton had looked under pressure on the penultimate climb of the Puerto de San Lorenzo, as Rodriguez tried an attack.

However, the tables were turned on the final climb to Lagos de Somiedo. As the gradient reared with four kilometres to go, the Froome-Wiggins partnership moved to the front and kicked into gear again.

The Team Sky pair set a fierce pace that saw chief rivals Rodriguez, Kessiakoff, Fuglsang and Nibali melt away. Only Poels, Mollema and Menchov could keep up.

Wiggins and Froome have consolidated their overall advantage in first and second place, also likely striking a psychological blow with their controlling ride.

However, the race's queen stage comes tomorrow, finishing on the ultra-steep Angliru, where we will see if the Britons' opponents can gain back time.

Results

Vuelta a Espana 2011, stage 14: Astorga to La Farrapona-Lagos de Somiedo

1. Rein Taarmae (Est) Cofidis 175km in 4-39-01

2. Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Geox-TMC at 25secs

3. David De La Fuente (Spa) Geox-TMC at 29secs

4. Wouter Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil at 40secs

5. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky at 45secs

6. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky

7. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank

8. Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC

9. Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 55secs

10. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 1-00

Others

16. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Cervelo at 1-37

26. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 2-06

27. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale

Overall classification after stage 14

1. Bradley Wiggins (GB) Team Sky 55-54-45

2. Chris Froome (GB) Team Sky at 7secs

3. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank at 36secs

4. Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) Geox-TMC at 55secs

5. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek at 58secs

6. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana at 1-23

7. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 1-25

8. Maxime Monfort (Bel) Leopard Trek at 1-37

9. Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto at 2-16

10. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha at 2-24

Others

15. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 3-32

18. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 4-17

21. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Cervelo at 5-36

Rein Taaramae wins the stage

Vuelta a Espana 2011: Related links

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Wiggins: A fantastic finish

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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 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 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