Victory dodges in Asturias
02 May 2011

Movistar Team is battling in all ways to snatch a stage win in the 55th Vuelta a Asturias. Despite the absence by Ángel Madrazo -crashing days before the tour- and Andrey Amador -giving up in the opening stage-, the lads directed by José Luis Jaimerena are doing their best to snatch a more than deserved victory in the Astur race.

While Iván Gutiérrez was only four seconds short to victory in Friday’s time trial around Piedras Blancas, plus Erviti -all race- and Pasamontes -during the final climb to El Acebo- seeked for the victory in the weekend, it was turn today for Javier Iriarte and Gutiérrez himself, head of the race with other seven cyclists for most of the fourth day of racing, 180 kilometers from Pravia to Oviedo again marked by heavy rain. The two riders from the telephone squad tried to impose their numerical superiority in the finale, with several attacks that did not lead to the victory, youngster Cabedo (ORB) reaching the uphill finish with a short gap over the pursuit -Gutiérrez taking 3rd place-, overtaken in the final straight by the first units from the bunch. Movistar Team will be once again looking for their options in the showdown atop the traditional Subida al Naranco, whose 175km route will vary from previous, standalone events to add different climbs before the traditional climb from Oviedo.