Samu goes close in Ávila

Samu went oh so close to winning the first real stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y León today. He put in a last-ditch attack up the steep, cobbled climbs leading up to Ávila, but was reeled in with some 400 metres to go. At one stage he looked to have won it, going solo up the climb, but the last hundred metres of flat proved to be Samu's undoing today. He looked superb though, so he should no doubt take encouragement from his display. The peloton split into several pieces up the last climb, as expected, and three other Euskaltel riders made it in with the first group. Koldo got 20th, two places behind Samu, Dioni was 27th and Iñaki was 39th. Markel and Amets lead home a small group 29 seconds in arrears, also including Jon, placing 78th, 79th and 83rd respectively. Andoni is nowhere to be seen on the list of results, so I assume he must have abandoned underway. Tomorrow's stage will be one for the fast-men, so expect Koldo to fight for the win alongside JJ Haedo in particular.