Samu 5th in Castilla y León prologue

Samu got off to a great start in the five-day Vuelta a Castilla y León today. He blasted through the 9.7-km long prologue to take 5th place, just 19 seconds down on winner Contador. Given that Samu is a long way off reaching top form, this is impressive stuff. Can't wait to see him in top form in July for the Tour de France. Samu might well end up on the final podium there, due to his constant progression in the time trials and in the mountains. But enough about the Tour... Iñaki also did well today to claim the 28th best time, 43 seconds down, while Dioni came in another two places back, 44 seconds down. Markel disappointed a bit by ending up a distant 60th, 1 minute 1 second down. Koldo was 70th, 1:06 in arrears, Amets was 87th, 1:12 back, Andoni was 99th, 1:22 backm while Jon ended 106th, a full 1:26 behind. The real racing will get underway tomorrow with a hilly 141,7-long affair from Segovia to Ávila, so I expect some of the riders, Dioni, Markel, Jon and Andoni in particular, to be in search of the right break.