Confusion reigns in Vuelta stage as riders tackle roundabout wrong way

Bradley Wiggins and Ian Stannard, Vuelta a Espana 2011, stage 16

Confusion is the word that best sums up most of stage 16 of the 2011 Vuelta a Espana, a seemingly straightforward trek across the flatlands of northern Spain with a bunch sprint - a beast so rare in this year's Vuelta it's on the point of extinction - at the end of the stage.

That was the theory. However, the practice was slightly different, first of all thanks to a crash at 12 kilometres to go which saw Spanish star Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) lose over 11 minutes overall - he may end up abandoning - then a later intermediate sprint where Chris Froome (Sky) first gained two seconds time bonus overall then, thanks to the commissaires, lost them again.

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