Status quo as Lagunas de Neila looms

In anticipation of Sunday's big decider, the general classification contenders kept their powder dry on Saturday's penultimate stage of the Vuelta a Burgos.

A fairly flat ride from Doña Santos Burpellet to Santo Domingo de Silos was eventually taken out by overall leader Anthony Roux, but only after the man first across the line, Cannondale's Daniele Ratto, was disqualified for his less than gracious maneuver in the final 20 metres.

Check it out below:

Samuel Sánchez kept his overall chances afloat by staying with the first batch of riders, even rising to fifth by the end of the day. Heading into the stage to the top of the mythical Lagunas de Neila, 'Samu' is only ten seconds down on Roux and the best placed of all the expected candidates for the final win. It remains to be seen, though, how he handles such a long and steady climb after approximately two months out of competition.

Once again an Euskaltel rider made it into the main break of the day. Ricardo García broke clear alongside countryman Aritz Bagües of Team Euskadi, Romain Hardy of Cofidis and Burgos BH's Efren Carazo. Even with the late-race reinforcements of Euskadi's Jon Larrinaga and Carazo's team-mate Pablo Torres, the quartet didn't stand a chance and were duly reeled in well in time for the sprint finish.

Results (Team Euskadi riders in cursive):

• (1, Anthony Roux (FDJ.fr), 3:54:59)
• 9, Carlos Barbero, s.t.
• 18, Samuel Sánchez, s.t.
• 22, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.
• 28, Unai Iparraguirre, s.t.
• 37, Mikel Landa, s.t.
• 38, Egoi Martínez, s.t.
• 51, Haritz Orbe, s.t.
• 58, Gorka Verdugo, s.t.
• 73, Illart Zuazubiskar, 0:16
• 82, Mikel Bizkarra, 0:57
• 88, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 90, Peio Bilbao, s.t.
• 108, Jon Larrinaga, 5:18
• 112, Aritz Bagües, s.t.
• 113, Igor Merino, s.t.
• 120, Ricardo García, 10:41

Photo: BCPT