Vuelta stage 18

Pablo Urtasun formed part of an eight-man break on today's stage 18 between Valladolid and Salamanca. The break didn't succeed in holding the pack off, naturally, but nonetheless it was a good move and a signal of intent from the powerful speedster. Koldo tried his hand in the sprint, but got boxed in inside the last 500 metres and sat up, realising another chance of glory had passed him by. Pablo, smarting from his day-long adventure, came in 3:04 adrift of the immense Cavendish, while the rest of the guys came through the stage safe and sound in the peloton.