Beñat 5th overall in Asturias

Beñat showed his form is still there after getting through a hilly day in the Vuelta a Asturias today and lying in fifth place overall. A select group of 20 riders came to the line together. Vicioso naturally won the stage with Beñat taking 7th and thus fifth place on GC. Not bad. The other Euskaltel riders spent their energy working for their captain and as a result ended up way back. Romain did well to come home just 39 seconds back in 34th place, while Jorge was 2:16 down in 70th place, Javier was 91st at 8:47, Pablo 96th at 11:41, Jonathan 97th at 12:02, Gorka 98th 12:04 down and Miguel dead last in 100th place 12:04 down as well. Aketza Peña (remember him?) is really riding himself back into form and today took a good 18th place and is now 9th overall. As for Orbea, Jon Izagirre was once again impressive with his 23rd place 38 seconds down, while Mikel Landa was also good, taking 26th just one second further back. Ricardo García was 2:16 down, while Xabier Zabalo was 5:16 down and Andoni Blázquez 7:34 down. Mikel Ilundain and Adrián Sáez de Arregi were both 8:47 back, while Aritz Etxebarria was 11:41 down just ahead of a quartet of Euskaltel riders. Gorka lost his Intermediate Sprints jersey and is now second, while Mikel Landa is now third in the mountains ranking.