2009 Vuelta a España
August 29 - September 20, 2009

Pictures sent by Fotoreporter Sirotti from Stage 13, Saturday, Sept 12, Berja - Sierra Nevada, 172.4 km


Tom Danielson (Garmin, in center) was looking like a real contender for overall victory, but was hit overnight by a stomach bug. Damn! He held on as best he could, but fell from fourth in GC to ninth. That's Haimar Zubeldia in the Astana kit on Danielson's left.

The bad-luck gremlim struck Cadel Evans (in white, on Paolo Tiralongo's wheel) again. He got a flat and a bad wheel change, costing him 68 seconds (compared to Valverde's time) and his second place. He's now fifth, at 1min 33sec.

The big GC guns, from left: Ivan Basso (in green), Robert Gesink (unzipped Rabobank jersey) and Alejandro Valverde (in gold).

David Moncoutie has left his break companions behind.

Xacobeo rider Ezequiel Mosquera is going after Moncoutie, but Moncoutie, who had been caught close to the line in stage 6 by Damiano Cunego, was not going to be denied his stage victory.

Moncoutie takes the stage and has almost an iron lock on the climbers' jersey.

Valverde easily outsprints Gesink and Basso for third place (and its precious bonus time).