Great stage for the young Basque on his first day with good feelings at the Vuelta until now. Bruseghin and Pardilla were again with GC contenders in the final ascent At last Beñat Intxausti found good feelings in Vuelta a España 2011. The Basque young rider was second in the eleventh stage of the big Spanish race, finishing at the summit of La Manzaneda (HC), in which the Frenchman Moncoutié (Cofidis) got its usual partial victory, his fourth in the last four editions of the race. Intxausti has been part of today’s break –composed by 16 riders from km 40 - which has played a massive role all day and hasn’t broken up until 19 kilometers from the final climb. There, Intxausti has tried to attack and reply a first attempt made by Moncoutié and, once caught, has followed him in the next two, but the Basque could not keep up after a fourth attack of the French, who has gone alone to the triumph.

Beñat remained behind with Frank (BMC), Paulinho (RSH) and Luis León Sánchez (RAB), who were surpassed at the finish line by the Basque. Eventually, Intxausti took a second place on the stage, very important in the aspect of mind “Since km. 0 I felt good, I have been lucky enough to be in the breakaway, but it has been so because of my legs. The problem was that there were many strong riders: Luisle, Paulinho, Moncoutié… I knew that the wheel to be aware was Moncutié’s and I’ve tried to follow it from below. I have replied his attacks two or three times, but at fourth it has been impossible and although we were four together, we saw that we had nothing to do. The second place leaves a good taste in my mouth because the good sensations and being one of the strongest riders today. Morally I needed something and this will come in handy. We will see if I can have another good day and finish with a stage win. The hardest climbs, that we came to recognize, still remain and the same for the stages of Basque Country, that I know by heart. But before coming to the Vuelta, with the physical and psychic level I had, the goal was to reach Madrid and next year we will think about other things”.

Sergio Pardilla finished with top riders and having good feelings: “I don’t know where I will find my limit, but my intention is to make a good GC and fight for the victory at the summit finishes. People is saving energy and today, for example, the pace has not been so fast, although it is true that the headwind was a reason for the few number of attacks”. The air has also been crucial in the twenty seconds lost by Marzio Bruseghin, now 12th in the general classification: “I wasn’t well positioned and in one of the pace changes I’ve suffered a little and with the headwind it been impossible to re-enter. It has been just few seconds, but the main problem is that we are many riders in a very short time”. Good day, anyway, for Movistar Team after being best team in the stage, so it will be tomorrow on the podium in Pontevedra, the end of stage 12 which begins in Ponteareas.