Vuelta Skelter: Dumoulin rouge and the red hot Dutch three secs show
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Updated 09/09/2015 at 18:39 GMT
Our daily sideways glance at the ups and downs of the Vuelta a España features a red hot Tom Dumoulin and a lurking Fabio Aru split by just three seconds - plus a down but not out Joaquim Rodriguez.
Vuelta : ITW Dumoulin
Image credit: Eurosport
We knew it would be close but for the top two riders to be separated by just a few slender seconds after Wednesday’s all-important time trial is beyond our dreamiest of expectations.
Throw in a wounded Spaniard still within touch of the summit and some revitalised Movistars and all the ingredients are there for a frantic finale to this race.
But first, let’s look at who was hot and who was not in the race against the clock around Burgos.
UP- TOM DUMOULIN
Such was the Dutchman’s performance that many people almost conceded the overall victory to Dumoulin before the time trial had finished.
Victory for Dumoulin admittedly came in the absence of the three riders who beat him in July's Tour de France opening time trial back in Utrecht – Rohan Dennis, Tony Martin and Fabian Cancellara.
But you can only beat those you’re up against – and no one came within a minute of Dumoulin’s blistering pace in Burgos. Cue many more commentators joining the bandwagon foreseeing Dumoulin making history in Madrid on Sunday…
Of course, it’s worth adding that these statements – despite their breezy air of finality - were made before Dumoulin has even crossed the finish line.
The excitement was understandable: Dumoulin was well up over his GC rivals at both intermediate checks. But no one had expected a certain Sardinian to have put in such a rallying final third…
UP- FABIO ARU
But yes, indeed, it was Ed Miliband lookalike Aru who made the folk on Twitter swallow their words after his recovered to limit his losses to just 1:53 on the day, putting him only three seconds behind Dumoulin on GC.
Nevertheless, Dumoulin remained most people’s tip for the top – but not everyone’s.
Ok, let’s do just that right now, shall we?
Yep, one man versus Astana (not to mention the other teams still in with a shout) over four back-to-back first-category climbs will be a doddle.
At least one certain Welshman can foresee what’s in store for the final run in to Madrid…
And one thing is for sure – Aru will have his knives ready.
DOWN- JOAQUIM RODRIGUEZ
Poor Purito! Once again the Spanish climber was found out by an ITT while wearing the leader’s jersey of a major race. And it wasn’t as if this was a course for the pure specialists, either.
It didn’t look good from the outset – and we’re not just talking about the red skin suit and the fluorescent yellow boots.
In the end it was painful to watch as Rodriguez shipped more than three minutes to Dumoulin to drop from first to third on GC.
But not everyone has given up on the veteran Spaniard landing that elusive Grand Tour… although it may take a bit more than two crossed fingers.
DOWN- RAFAL MAJKA
It was a good day for one of Tinkoff-Saxo’s three Poles but unfortunately for Rafal Majka it wasn’t him. While Maciej Bodnar stormed to second place, Majka could only manage 17th as he moved out of the podium places in what was a cruel wake-up call.
Top marks for effort, mind.
Although you’d think Mr Tinkov could afford some sessions in the wind tunnel for his riders…
Coming from a Giant-Alpecin team-mate of Dumoulin’s, that last one was quite the put-down.
UP- ALEJANDRO VALVERDE
The veteran Spaniard just keeps getting better and better… and after a disappointing week suffering from the after-effects of a crash, third-place Valverde was back to his best in Burgos.
With team-mate Nairo Quintana finishing sixth and both riders within 3-odd minutes of the race summit, we can expect Movistar to throw caution to the wind and go all out in the next few stages – what do they have to lose?
DOWN- ASHLEY’S PREDICTIONS
Eurosport’s Vuelta Extra presenter is doing a sterling job alongside Juan Antonio Flecha on the telly box but his Mystic Meg skills leave a lot to be desired.
Nice try, Ashley. Three minutes? Try three seconds!
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