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2011 Vuelta a España

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2011 Vuelta a España
2011 UCI World Tour, race 21 of 27
Race details
Dates20 August – 11 September
Stages21
Distance3,300 km (2,051 mi)
Winning time84h 59' 44"
Results
Winner  Juan José Cobo Chris Froome (GBR) (Team Sky)
  Second  Bradley Wiggins (GBR) (Team Sky)
  Third  Bauke Mollema (NED) (Rabobank)
Points  Bauke Mollema (NED) (Rabobank)
Mountains  David Moncoutié (FRA) (Cofidis)
Combination  Juan José Cobo Chris Froome (GBR) (Team Sky)
  Team Spain Geox–TMC
← 2010
2012 →

The 2011 Vuelta a España was held from 20 August to 11 September. The bicycle race began in Benidorm with a team time trial and ended, as is traditional, in Madrid. The 2011 Vuelta was the 66th edition of the race and was the first Vuelta in 33 years that visited the Basque Country. The 33-year absence from the region was due to fear of political protests.[1]

Commentators claimed that it was a race well suited for climbers due to the short time trials and the large number of climbing kilometres. Nine of the twenty-one stages were ranked as Mountain stages, and six of them had a mountain-top finish (including the very steep uphill finish on the Alto de L'Angliru). Two other stages had steep uphill finishes, both of which were won by Katusha leader Joaquim Rodríguez.[2]

This Vuelta saw the introduction of a combativity award, much like that in the Tour de France. The most combative rider in each stage was awarded a red back number which he wore for the next stage.

The victory was originally awarded to Juan José Cobo who had a race-winning margin of just 13 seconds over Briton Chris Froome.[3] Neither rider had been marked as a pre-race favourite, and both had gone to the Vuelta as domestiques for their team leaders: Cobo for Denis Menchov, and Froome for Bradley Wiggins; their team leaders originally finished 5th and 3rd respectively. The race was the first time that two Britons had stood on the podium of a Grand Tour, and Froome's second-place finish was, at the time, the best result in a Grand Tour by a British rider, until Wiggins won the Tour de France the following year. Cobo also won the Combination Classification. The King of the Mountains competition was won for the fourth consecutive time by Frenchman David Moncoutié.[4] The points classification was won by Dutch rider Bauke Mollema who finished 4th overall.

On 13 June 2019, the sport's governing body, the Union Cycliste International (UCI), announced that Cobo had been found guilty of an anti-doping violation, according to findings from his biological passport. As a result, the UCI penalised him with a three-year period of ineligibility. Cobo was officially stripped of the title on 18 June 2019.[5] On 17 July 2019, as the time for Cobo to appeal the decision expired with no application, the UCI announced it recognised Chris Froome as the 2011 champion, making him retroactively the first Briton to win a Grand Tour. Froome was also promoted to the winning position in the combination classification. Wiggins was promoted to runner-up, his second promotion on a Grand Tour podium due to doping, and Mollema was promoted to the podium in third.[6]

Froome, who had in the intervening time finally won the 2017 Vuelta a España, 'on the road', officially received the 2011 winner's trophy at the start of the final stage of the 2020 edition on 8 November 2020, ironically receiving his last of seven Grand Tour prizes for his first Grand Tour victory.[7]

Teams

[edit]
For a more comprehensive list, see List of teams and cyclists in the 2011 Vuelta a España.

The 18 teams in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Proteam category were obliged to enter the race. Four UCI Professional Continental teams were also invited.[8]

The full list of participating teams is:

†: Invited Pro-continental teams.

Pre-race favourites

[edit]
Nibali
2010 winner Vincenzo Nibali of the Liquigas–Cannondale team, was seen as the top-favourite.

2010 winner Vincenzo Nibali came to defend his Vuelta title and was seen as the favourite due to the better time-trial skills than climbers as Igor Antón, Joaquim Rodríguez and Michele Scarponi. Anton was regarded as the strongest climber in the 2010 race[by whom?], but due to a crash he had to withdraw from the race. Ezequiel Mosquera did not start the race, the 2010 runner-up being suspended from racing by his team Vacansoleil–DCM due to an ongoing doping investigation.[9]

Two other Grand Tour winners in the Vuelta peloton were Carlos Sastre (winner of the 2008 Tour de France) and Denis Menchov (two-time winner of the Vuelta and winner of the 2009 Giro d'Italia). Both riders of the Geox–TMC team were looking for better results after disappointing Giro campaigns. Sastre finished in thirtieth place, while Menchov finished eighth. Menchov had allergies and physical problems at the Giro d'Italia and was looking for a third Vuelta win. The Russian could count on one of the best team supports in the mountains with climbers as Sastre, Juan José Cobo and Fabio Duarte.[10]

Other favourites for the podium had had a disappointing Tour de France and were looking to improve in the Vuelta. Janez Brajkovič, Bradley Wiggins and Jurgen van den Broeck crashed out of the Tour in the first week while Andreas Klöden withdrew from the race a week later, also due to injuries of a crash. Wiggins showed good form before the Tour and was seen as a podium candidate for the Tour. His accomplished time-trialling, together with his improved climbing skills, made him a favourite for the Vuelta victory.[11]

Among the top ten contenders were several promising talents, including Dan Martin (winner of the 2010 Tour de Pologne, runner up of the 2011 Tour de Pologne and third overall at the 2011 Volta a Catalunya), Steven Kruijswijk (ninth in the 2011 Giro, third overall and a mountain stage win at the 2011 Tour de Suisse), Bauke Mollema (twelfth at the 2010 Giro d'Italia and fifth overall at the 2011 Tour de Suisse) and Rein Taaramäe (twelfth at the 2011 Tour de France, third overall at the 2011 Critérium International and fourth overall at the 2011 Paris–Nice. Other contenders for the top ten were Garmin's co-leader Christophe Le Mével and Ag2R's Nicolas Roche. [12][13]

Route and stages

[edit]

The full route for the 2011 Vuelta was unveiled in Benidorm on January 12, 2011. The climbers immediately liked the route of the race with six mountain stages with uphill finishes and another two flat stages with steep uphill finishes.[14] Among the uphill finishes were the infamous Alto de L'Angliru and the climb to the Sierra Nevada. Two finishes were on climbs that have never been featured in the Vuelta before. These are to Estacion de Montaña Manzaneda in Galicia on stage 11 and La Farrapona in the Asturias region on stage 14. Olympic Road Champion Samuel Sánchez pointed out that the lack of Time Trial kilometres make the race very interesting because there are not enough of them for GC riders with good time trialing ability to take advantage for the variety of mountain stages.

It was the first Vuelta since 33 years that visited the Basque Country. The 33-year absence of the region was due to fear of political protests. Separatists of the Basque Country were unhappy with the return of the Vuelta and calling the coming of the Vuelta 'A Waste of Money'.[15] Although the criticism of several Separatists on the route of this year, the organizers of the Vuelta announced on 8 September that the 2012 event will start in the Navarrese city of Pamplona.

Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1 20 August Benidorm 13.5 km (8.4 mi) Team time trial Team time trial Leopard Trek
2 21 August La Nucía – Playas de Orihuela 175.5 km (109 mi) Flat stage  Christopher Sutton (AUS)
3 22 August Petrer – Totana 163 km (101 mi) Flat stage  Pablo Lastras (ESP)
4 23 August Baza – Sierra Nevada 170.2 km (105.8 mi) Mountain stage  Daniel Moreno (ESP)
5 24 August Sierra Nevada – Valdepeñas de Jaén 187 km (116 mi) Medium mountain stage  Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP)
6 25 August Úbeda – Córdoba 196.8 km (122 mi) Medium mountain stage  Peter Sagan (SVK)
7 26 August Almadén – Talavera de la Reina 187.6 km (116.6 mi) Flat stage  Marcel Kittel (GER)
8 27 August Talavera de la Reina – San Lorenzo de El Escorial 177.3 km (110.2 mi) Medium mountain stage  Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP)
9 28 August Villacastín – Sierra de Bejar. La Covatilla 183 km (114 mi) Mountain stage  Dan Martin (IRL)
10 29 August Salamanca 47 km (29.2 mi) Individual time trial Individual time trial  Tony Martin (GER)
30 August Rest day
11 31 August Verín – Estación de Esquí Manzaneda 167 km (104 mi) Mountain stage  David Moncoutié (FRA)
12 1 September Ponteareas – Pontevedra 167.3 km (104.0 mi) Flat stage  Peter Sagan (SVK)
13 2 September Sarria – Ponferrada 158.2 km (98.3 mi) Mountain stage  Michael Albasini (SUI)
14 3 September Astorga – La Farrapona. Lagos de Somiedo 172.8 km (107.4 mi) Mountain stage  Rein Taaramäe (EST)
15 4 September Avilés – Angliru 142.2 km (88.4 mi) Mountain stage  Juan José Cobo (ESP)
 Wout Poels (NED)[16]
5 September Rest day
16 6 September Villa Romana La Olmeda (Palencia) – Haro 188.1 km (116.9 mi) Flat stage  Juan José Haedo (ARG)
17 7 September Faustino V (Oyón) – Peña Cabarga 211 km (131 mi) Mountain stage  Chris Froome (GBR)
18 8 September Solares – Noja 174.6 km (108.5 mi) Medium mountain stage  Francesco Gavazzi (ITA)
19 9 September Noja – Bilbao 158.5 km (98.5 mi) Medium mountain stage  Igor Antón (ESP)
20 10 September Bilbao – Vitoria-Gasteiz 185 km (115.0 mi) Medium mountain stage  Daniele Bennati (ITA)
21 11 September Circuito del Jarama – Madrid 94.2 km (58.5 mi) Flat stage  Peter Sagan (SVK)
TOTAL 3319.8 km (2062.8 mi)

Race overview

[edit]

For details see 2011 Vuelta a España, Stage 1 to Stage 11 and 2011 Vuelta a España, Stage 12 to Stage 21

The Vuelta began with a team time trial in Benidorm. The Leopard Trek squad won this stage. Danish General Classification contender Jakob Fuglsang passed the finish line as first and was the first cyclist to wear the red leaders jersey.[17] Fuglsang lost the leaders jersey after just one day to team-mate Daniele Bennati in a sprinter's stage which was won by Christopher Sutton of Team Sky.[18]

Stage 3 saw the first victory out of a break-away. Out of this break-away it was Pablo Lastras (Movistar Team) who attacked on the last climb and held a small margin until the finish line in Totana. Runner-up of the stage, Sylvain Chavanel (Quick-Step), was the third cyclist who was awarded the red leaders jersey.[19]

No serious attacks were made by the GC contenders on the first mountain stage of the Vuelta. On the climb to the Sierra Nevada it was Daniel Moreno (Team Katusha) who attacked with Chris Anker Sørensen (Saxo Bank–SunGard) and who beat the Danish climber in the sprint. Chavanel was the first rider who was awarded the leaders jersey two days in a row.[20]

Igor Antón (Euskaltel–Euskadi) won in the 2009 Vuelta a España the stage on the steep ascend of Valdepeñas de Jaén. The Basque lost much time on stage 4 and showed no good form in the Vuelta.[21] He couldn't repeat his stage victory. Joaquim Rodríguez (Team Katusha), a specialist on very steep hills, won the stage before the surprisingly strong Dutchman Wout Poels (Vacansoleil–DCM) and team-mate Daniel Moreno. Leader Chavanel lost several seconds but managed to keep the lead in the race.[22]

The Liquigas team of Vincenzo Nibali rode a strong descent in the final of stage 6 and managed to form a small break-away with four Liquigas riders and former stage winner Lastras. From the four Liquigas riders Peter Sagan took his first Grand-Tour victory. Nibali failed to gain bonification seconds due to miscommunication within the team. The 2010 winner took sixteen seconds on his direct concurrents for the overall victory.[23] The next day Sagan sprinted again for the stage victory but couldn't beat German talent Marcel Kittel (Skil–Shimano) in a sprint which was characterized by a huge crash of American sprinter Tyler Farrar (Garmin–Cervélo) in which he didn't suffer any serious injuries.[24]

Doping

[edit]

On 13 June 2019, the UCI announced that Cobo's biological passport had indicated the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the period between 2009 and 2011. He was therefore considered ineligible for results. Cobo had one month to lodge an appeal against the decision.[25] On 17 July 2019, as the time for Cobo to appeal the decision expired with no application, the UCI announced that it recognised Chris Froome as the 2011 champion. Bradley Wiggins was promoted to second place, and Bauke Mollema promoted to third.[6]

Classification leadership table

[edit]
Stage Winner General classification
 Points classification
 Mountains classification
 Combination Classification
 Team classification Combativity award
1 Leopard Trek Jakob Fuglsang no award no award no award Leopard Trek Fabian Cancellara
2 Christopher Sutton Daniele Bennati Christopher Sutton Paul Martens Jesús Rosendo Adam Hansen
3 Pablo Lastras Pablo Lastras Pablo Lastras Pablo Lastras Pablo Lastras Movistar Team Sylvain Chavanel
4 Daniel Moreno Sylvain Chavanel Daniel Moreno Daniel Moreno Team RadioShack Thomas Rohregger
5 Joaquim Rodríguez Daniel Moreno Michael Albasini
6 Peter Sagan Joaquim Rodríguez Martin Kohler
7 Marcel Kittel Peter Sagan Luis Ángel Maté
8 Joaquim Rodríguez Joaquim Rodríguez Joaquim Rodríguez Adrián Palomares
9 Daniel Martin Bauke Mollema Daniel Martin Bauke Mollema Geox–TMC Sebastian Lang
10 Tony Martin Chris Froome Leopard Trek Tony Martin
11 David Moncoutié Bradley Wiggins Matteo Montaguti Team RadioShack Adrián Palomares
12 Peter Sagan Adam Hansen
13 Michael Albasini David Moncoutié Daniel Moreno Amets Txurruka
14 Rein Taaramäe Bauke Mollema Geox–TMC David de la Fuente
15 Juan José Cobo
Wout Poels 		Juan José Cobo Juan José Cobo Simon Geschke
16 Juan José Haedo Jesús Rosendo
17 Chris Froome Bauke Mollema Johannes Fröhlinger
18 Francesco Gavazzi Joaquim Rodríguez Sérgio Paulinho
19 Igor Antón Igor Antón
20 Daniele Bennati Carlos Barredo
21 Peter Sagan Bauke Mollema no award
Final Juan José Cobo
Chris Froome 		Bauke Mollema David Moncoutié Juan José Cobo
Chris Froome 		Geox–TMC Adrián Palomares

Standings

[edit]

General classification

[edit]
Rider Team Time
DSQ  Juan José Cobo (ESP) Geox–TMC 84:59:31
1  Chris Froome (GBR) Team Sky 84:59:44
2  Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky + 1' 26"
3  Bauke Mollema (NED) Rabobank + 1' 50"
4  Denis Menchov (RUS) Geox–TMC + 3' 35"
5  Maxime Monfort (BEL) Leopard Trek + 4' 00"
6  Vincenzo Nibali (ITA) Liquigas–Cannondale + 4' 18"
7  Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL) Omega Pharma–Lotto + 4' 32"
8  Daniel Moreno (ESP) Team Katusha + 5' 07"
9  Mikel Nieve (ESP) Euskaltel–Euskadi + 5' 20"

Points classification

[edit]
Rider Team Points
1  Bauke Mollema (NED) Rabobank 122
2  Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) Team Katusha 115
3  Daniele Bennati (ITA) Leopard Trek 101
4  Peter Sagan (SVK) Liquigas–Cannondale 100
DSQ  Juan José Cobo (ESP) Geox–TMC 92
5  Chris Froome (GBR) Team Sky 88
6  Daniel Moreno (ESP) Team Katusha 83
7  Wout Poels (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM 71
8  Dan Martin (IRL) Garmin–Cervélo 70
9  Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky 69

King of the Mountains classification

[edit]
Rider Team Points
1  David Moncoutié (FRA) Cofidis 63
2  Matteo Montaguti (ITA) Ag2r–La Mondiale 56
DSQ  Juan José Cobo (ESP) Geox–TMC 42
3  Dan Martin (IRL) Garmin–Cervélo 33
4  Daniel Moreno (ESP) Team Katusha 32
5  David de la Fuente (ESP) Geox–TMC 24
6  Nico Sijmens (BEL) Cofidis 22
7  Chris Froome (GBR) Team Sky 21
8  Chris Anker Sørensen (DEN) Saxo Bank–SunGard 20
9  Koen de Kort (NED) Skil–Shimano 19

Combination classification

[edit]
Rider Team Total
DSQ  Juan José Cobo (ESP) Geox–TMC 9
1  Chris Froome (GBR) Team Sky 16
2  Bauke Mollema (NED) Rabobank 17
3  Daniel Moreno (ESP) Team Katusha 21
4  Dan Martin (IRL) Garmin–Cervélo 26
5  Wout Poels (NED) Vacansoleil–DCM 38
6  Bradley Wiggins (GBR) Team Sky 39
7  Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) Team Katusha 48
8  Chris Anker Sørensen (DEN) Saxo Bank–SunGard 51
9  Denis Menchov (RUS) Geox–TMC 52

Team classification

[edit]
Pos. Team Time
1 Spain Geox–TMC 254h 32′ 28"
2 Luxembourg Leopard Trek + 10′ 19"
3 Spain Euskaltel–Euskadi + 16′ 44"
4 Team Katusha + 43' 18"
5 France Ag2r–La Mondiale + 43′ 27″
6 Netherlands Rabobank + 54′ 32″
7 Kazakhstan Astana + 58′ 56″
8 Italy Liquigas–Cannondale + 1h 01′ 51"
9 Spain Movistar Team + 1h 05′ 11″
10 United Kingdom Team Sky + 1h 09′ 45″

The UCI disqualified Juan José Cobo and Carlos Barredo from the race. If you ignore them in the daily results, Geox–TMC would drop to 3rd place, Rabobank would end up 13th, and Team RadioShack would be 10th.

World rankings points

[edit]

The Vuelta was one of 27 events throughout the season that contributed points towards the 2011 UCI World Tour. Points were awarded to the top 20 finishers overall, and to the top five finishers in each stage. Only riders on UCI ProTour teams were eligible to receive rankings points, so winner Juan Cobo was not rewarded in this table.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "Vuelta heads to Basque Country after 33-year absence". Cyclingnews.com. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  2. ^ Alasdair Fotheringham (2011-01-12). "Climbers set to dominate in 2011 Vuelta". Cyclingweekly.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  3. ^ "Cobo celebrates his Vuelta win in Madrid". Cycling News. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Moncoutié seals fourth Vuelta mountains title". Cycling News. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  5. ^ "Juan José Cobo has been stripped of his 2011 Vuelta a España title after being found guilty of doping". cyclingnews.com. 18 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Chris Froome named winner of 2011 Vuelta a Espana". Cycling News. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  7. ^ "Chris Froome awarded 2011 Vuelta a España trophy". 8 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Vuelta a España wildcards announced". Cyclingnews.com. 31 May 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Vacansoleil keeps Mosquera out of Vuelta". Cyclingnews.com. 2011-08-15. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  10. ^ Peter Cossins (2011-08-02). "Menchov aiming for third Vuelta victory". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  11. ^ Daniel Benson (17 August 2011). "Vuelta top ten contenders". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  12. ^ Daniel Benson (17 August 2011). "Martin keeps Vuelta a España ambitions in check". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  13. ^ Pierre Carrey (2011-08-20). "Le Mével targets Vuelta a España top ten". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  14. ^ Stephen Farrand (2011-01-12). "Climbers like mountainous Vuelta a Espana 2011 route". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  15. ^ Pierre Carrey (2011-08-19). "Separatists unhappy about the Vuelta a Espana visiting Basque Country". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
  16. ^ Ballinger, Alex (18 July 2019). "'It's pretty s***': Wout Poels crowned winner of Angliru stage at 2011 Vuelta a España after Juan José Cobo doping revelation". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  17. ^ "Leopard Trek claims team time trial". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  18. ^ "Sutton speeds to victory in Spain". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  19. ^ "Lastras solos to Vuelta stage win". Cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  20. ^ "Moreno climbs to stage victory in the Sierra Nevada". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  21. ^ "Anton's Vuelta hopes fade". Cyclingnews.com. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  22. ^ "Rodriguez powers to stage victory". Cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Sagan leads Liquigas lashing in Córdoba". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  24. ^ "Farrar unbroken after dramatic Vuelta crash". Cyclingnews.com. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  25. ^ "Chris Froome stands to be declared winner of 2011 Vuelta a Espana". cyclingnews.com. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  26. ^ "Points scale – UCI World Ranking". Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-17.
  27. ^ "2011 UCI World Ranking Detailed Gained Points". Union Cycliste Internationale. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  28. ^ "UCI World Ranking – 2011". Union Cycliste Internationale. 12 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 July 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2011. This update also includes races that took place during the Vuelta, and one that finished a few hours after the Vuelta but on the same day.
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