Cobo rules on stage Vuelta stage 19.

Spanish translation" "Yeah, Baby!!!!"

Not speaking a world of Spanish other than cerveza and bano, deciphering stage 19 winner Juan Jose Cobo’s post race comments was tough. Twisted Spoke did catch the word “duro” which means hard or difficult. That word and the happy, lap dog tongue he stuck out as he crossed the finish line pretty much tells the story. Difficult but joyous.

Cobo won from a select group of all the favorites except Robert Gesink, who slid off the podium due to the after effects of his crash several days ago. Valverde, Evans, Mosquera, Basso and Sanchez formed an elite group heading into La Granja, Real Fábrica de Cristales — which is Spanish for “town-with-the-crazy-long name. Mr. Cobo crashed their party. When he attacked in the final kilometer, no one answered. Valverde and Evans followed Cobo home for second and third, bonus seconds that put Valverde even further ahead of Sanchez and Basso for the overall classification.

Is the Vuelta over? Will soon-to-be-disgraced doper Alejandro Valverde be crowned the champion? Yes, si, adios amigos. What is the Spanish word for scandal?

(More to come after I pick up my sick kid from school.)

Irishman Deignan wins Vuelta stage 18. Seamus raises a pint.

Seamus, look at that fellar Deignan.

Philip Deignan and  Roman Kreuziger played cat and mouse on the wet cobblestones of Avila and the mouse won. Jerry beat Tom the house cat in this Spanish Vuelta version of the Hanna Barbera cartoon.

Part of an early and large 16 rider breakaway, the two men escaped and worked well together until they reached the long medieval fortress walls of the city.

The more experienced Kreuzinger (Liquigas) appeared to have the upper-hand. Snaking through Avila on wet roads, the Czech kept the skinny Deignan (Cervelo) up front. If you compared their number of wins, all bets would be on the Liquigas rider.

Tom & Jerry meet Philip & Roman.

The little Irishman looked like the typical rookie forced to lead out. Then unaccountably, Kreuzinger attacked early and it was the mouse that pounced, easily coming round to take the biggest victory of his career.

“I got on the wheel good, when I went I still had some power left,” said a smiling Deignan. “Winning a stage is more than I ever expected.”

Somewhere Seamus Elliot and Sean Kelly are raising a pint of Guinness. (That would be the pub in Heavan for Mr. Elliot.) Young Deignan joins that illustrious group as the third Irishman to win a stage of the Vuelta.

For the overall GC contenders, it was watch and be watched. Like the TV cop that shouts “nobody move, ” Alejandro Valverde kept his rivals from doing a thing. Suffering from his injuries in yesterday’s crash, Robert Gesink was happy to finish without another ambulance ride to the hospital. Samual Sanchez and Ivan Basso (Liquigas)  hung out in the peloton wishing Valverde would hit a pothole or take a wrong turn.

Tom Danielson, runner-up to Cadel Evans in this year’s Veulta Bad Luck competition, abandoned due to sickness and injury. The war of attrition reinforced the Valverde’s grip on the gold jersey. Only the Court of Arbitration in Sport could stop the Spanish rider–and they won’t render a decision on his alleged doping until the season ends.

For Philip Deignan, it was a grand day out, with rain reminiscent of his Irish homeland. Three cheers for the mouse who roared. Gather the Cervelo lads, it’s time to hit the pubs in Avila.

Lars Boom solo’s to victory in Vuelta stage 15. Jimi Hendrix smiles.

“Are you experienced?”

Lars Boom, the 23 year old rider on Rabobank, answered the Jimi Hendrix question with a brilliant solo victory in today’s 167km stage from Jaen to Cordoba. Yes, he is experienced.

The young dutch rider powered away from his breakaway escapados with 22 kilometers to go and went into full time trial mode. His cadence was high and smooth and whenever the road dipped, his chin was on the handlebar. He probably was humming Hendrix’ song Spanish Castle Magic or jamming to Crosstown Traffic. Then again, maybe he prefers the sassy Belgian dance pop of Jesse de Smet.

A U23 time trial champion two years ago, Boom increased his lead of over chaser David Herrero (Xacobeo Galicia) with every time check. Winning a grand tour stage isn’t easy, winning solo even harder, and taking the victory this young, well, let’s just say team Rabobank is popping corks on the cava tonight.

Am I experienced? Yes, I am, Jimi.

Heading to the finish in Cordoba, the Dutch rider was so far ahead he not only zipped up the jersey, but got  it dry-cleaned and pressed. Three shakes of his fist and the winner of the Tour of Belgium had a much bigger win for his wiki bio.

Two days later, the main peloton wandered in with all the favorites. Sorry, it was actually 25 minutes. Hard to call it a rest day on two wheels; hard to call it a race day.

Drug felon Alejandro Valverde still has the golden jersey on his back instead of prison stripes. (What a great idea for riders returning from suspensions.) Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) decided to burn some energy he’ll need later by attacking off the front. A senseless move that was brought back by every team with a rider in the top 10. Question for Samuel’s DS: what was the point? You really have to wonder what’s going on in that team car.

Sure sign that teams don’t teach handling the bubbly: yes, Boom got the cork out but his spray technique left something to be desired. This is a photo op for the sponsors! Learn the proper spray skills so you can shoot geysers on the fans. He’s only 23, there’s time, it’s not essential. But buy a case of champagne and practice this winter.

Cunego takes solo victory in Veulta stage 14. Valvede survives slugfest.

Valverde: it's so hard to ride with boxing gloves on.

Look cycling fans: the Alejandro Valverde punching bag.

A half dozen riders took vicious shots at Valverde on the 157k stage from Granada to La Pandera.  In the end, nothing worked: no knockouts, no time gains. Ivan Basso (Liquigas) was the first to hit the Spaniard, then Cadel Evans (SIlence-Lotto) went to the front and took a swing. Neither had the power or acceleration to force a big gap but the furious pace put Valverde in trouble.

When the gap opened, Robert Gesink (Rabobank) was the next to deliver a punch. Valverde hasn’t been hit this hard since the Italian Olympic Committee smacked him with the two year ban that forced him out of the Tour de France.  The Golden Jersey wearer was isolated, the climbing grade reached 13% and for a kilometer the Vuelta looked up for grabs. Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo Galicia) saw his chance to jump onto the podium and he went hard. For the first time, Samuel Sanchez thought the golden jersey was possible and he accelerated up the road. The punches were coming fast and furious. It was “Let’s Beat Up Alejandro Day.”

Whatever your opinion of Valverde’s doping allegations, there is not questioning his talent and his mental toughness. He knew this La Pandera climb; he’d won it before and slowly but surely he pulled himself back to Basso and Evans. Vuelta done for them. Then the Caisse d’Epargne rider shower his immense strength, closing on Gesink and passing the young Rabobank rider. Sanchez and Mosquera were still ahead but Valverde found his rhythm and craved up their advantage. By the finish line, it was cycling-pugilist Valverde who’d out-punched all his rivals. It wasn’t Mohammad Ali’s Thrilla in Manilla but it was the Pandera Punch-out.

Ohh, we forgot about the Little Prince. Well, he was in on his little bike on a big, big mountain. The wolf was chasing the little prince. “Go away wolf, get away from my $5000 bike.” The winner of stage eight bolted up the mountain from his breakaway group. Nobody even bothered to try catching him. Cunego showed a high end acceleration that reminded Twisted Spoke of Ricarrdo Ricco. Not that we’re making any assumptions but nobody else has that burst in the Vuelta. (Certainly not the post-Operacion Puerto Ivan Basso.)

Sadly, it was another rough day for Tom Danielson who lost six minutes yesterday due to illness. The Garmin-Slipstream rider fought hard on the Pandera and managed to keep his 9th place in the overall competition. Danielson has shown a tenacity that will serve him well as the Vuelta continues.

Alejandro Valverde said whoever wore the Golden Jersey at the summit of La Pandera would win the Vuelta. He must feel pretty confident but we offer a cautionary tale. Fellow Spaniard Roberto Heras won the Pandera stage and the Vuelta in 2005 only be be stripped of the title for doping. With Valverde’s own case awaiting the Court of Arbitration decision, history may well repeat itself.