Kazakhs power to victory

ByEurosport

Published 14/09/2006 at 15:36 GMT

Andrey Kashechkin teamed up with gold jersey Alexandre Vinokourov to claim a stage 18 victory atop the HC Pandera as Vino enhanced his lead over Alejandro Valverde. The Astana team-mates worked together for the final three kilometres, hugging on their bik

Vinokourov, who won Wednesday's 17th stage to claim the overall lead, pulled away from about ten men on the day's final climb at Pandera with five kilometres left to race after Kashechkin feigned the first attack.

Valverde, who won the Vuelta stage in Pandera in 2003, was unable to respond to the attack as his Caisse D'Epargne team-mates began to drop like flies on the massive 8.3-km climb with portions as steep as 16% (average gradient 6.4%).

As Valverde and Carlos Sastre began to struggle, Kashechkin, riding ahead with Angel Gomez Marchante, took the opportunity to counter-attack and catch his team leader with three kilometres left to ride.

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The two Kazakhs then worked hand-in-hand in order to build Vino's overall lead as much as possible, as well as move Kashechkin into a podium position in front of Sastre.

Vinokourov let Kashechkin take the victory to assure that he would move into third overall, and the two men were virtually propping each other up after they crossed the finish line with their arms around one another.

Marchante crossed third a further 30 seconds back, and Valverde came in right behind him 32 seconds off of the Thursday's two clear victors.

Vino, who started the day with a 9 second margin over the second-place Valverde, now leads the Spaniard by a virtually unassailable 53 seconds.

"The Vuelta isn't finished yet, but I'm feeling much more confident and I hope I will put even more time into Valverde on Saturday in the final time trial," Vinokourov told reporters.

CYCLING Vinokourov Vuelta 2006

Image credit: dpa

"Today I decided that the best form of defence was an attack and then when Kashechkin's attack also worked out, it was even better."

Kashechkin is 2'06" behind his team-mate in the GC, and Sastre is within striking distance of the podium at 45 seconds behind Kasheckin.

"With Alexandre taking the lead yesterday (Wednesday) and me winning today, we've turned the tables on our rivals," the Astana number two said.

"Valverde's team kept the pace high, shredding the field, and then we attacked.

"But I don't think I'll be able to push Valverde out of second overall, he's too strong for that."

Friday's 19th stage is flat, while Saturday's 20th stage is a 27-km time trial that will offer Valverde his last hope of closing Vinokourov's now solid lead.

But the Spaniard practically conceded the victory to Vino after the final mountain stage.

"The two Kazakhs are making the running now," he said. "I can be satisfied with having led the race and taking a stage win."

Follow LIVE coverage of the Tour of Spain up through the final stage on Sept. 17 in Madrid right here on www.eurosport.com/co.uk.

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