Vino makes amends
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ByEurosport
Published 02/09/2006 at 12:31 GMT
Alexandre Vinokourov made amends for missing out on a victory in the mountains by winning stage eight of the Vuelta in north-western Galicia. The Kazakh, who was pipped to the line by Alejandro Valverde on Friday, had time to raise his hands following an
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On a day when the peloton raced along at in excess of 45 km/h, the Astana powerhouse had the strength on the steep incline over the final kilometre and crossed the line well ahead of Lampre's Ruggero Marzoli and Phonak's Uros Murn.
Luca Paolini of Liquigas-Bianchi went for a long one as the leaders went under the 1km to go kite but he had answer to Vinokourov's counter-attack in the final stages which earned him a fifth stage victory in the grand tours.
The gradient of the finish did not suit the sprinters with Thor Hushovd fourth and Erik Zabel sixth, to undermine much of the hard work done by their Credit Agricole and Milram teams respectively to catch long-time escapee Kevin Van Impe.
After an opening hour in which any escape was foiled by the main group which averaged 53,2 km/h, the Belgian rider from Quick Step eventually escaped after 68km.
Van Impe, nephew of the last Belgian Tour de France winner Lucien Van Impe, crossed the summit of the third category Alto de Ares with a lead of 5:42 but could not increase the advantage over the flat roads.
He was eventually caught with just under 10km remaining to set up the finish claimed by the 32-year-old who is tenth on general classification.
Young Slovenian Janez Brajkovic maintained his five second lead over Alejandro Valverde ahead of Sunday's big mountain stage in Asturias.
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