Rodriguez hangs onto lead as Kessiakoff wins time trial

Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) clung onto his overall lead in the Vuelta a España by just one second after finishing seventh in today's time trial between Cambados-Pontevedra.

Swede Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana) was the surprise winner of the stage, 17 seconds ahead of Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank).

Britain's Chris Froome (Team Sky) was third a further 22 second further behind Contador. Having started the day in second overall seven seconds ahead of Contador, he consequently slipped a place in the general classification.

The emergence of the climber and former mountain biker turned Kessiakoff at the head of affairs was perhaps indicative of the importance of the third category climb that featured midway through the stage.

10km long and starting from near sea level to ascend almost all of it's 490m altitude, it was by far the most significant section of the 39.4km course which zig-zagged it's way across a corner of the Galician countryside between the coast and an estuary.

Although Contador was quicker through the first time check at 13.5km, it was the Swede who put in a more consistent ride.

He was fastest through the second check on top of the climb and extended his margin further on the wooded descent and finale through the finish town's streets.

"I've been thinking about this stage for a few days," he explained after the stage. "I came here ready to suffer."

Given his time trial results of late, Froome -riding in the white skinsuit of leader of the combined competition- might have expected to move into the lead today.

While he looked somewhat tired on the bike, immediate rivals Contador, Rodriguez and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) enjoyed relatively good rides.

Nonetheless, if Froome failed to seize an expected advantage from this stage, it remains tight at the top and there will be plenty of other opportunities over the remaining week and a half.

The first of these possibly comes tomorrow with a savage but short uphill finish high above the Atlantic Ocean.

If, at 2km, that proves more to Rodriguez's liking, an onslaught of four more mountainous days start on Saturday.

Results

Stage 11: Cambados-Pontevedra 39.4km

1. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Astana 52-36

2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank at 17secs

3. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky at 39secs

4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar at 1-08

5. Benat Instxausti (Spa) Movistar at 1-09

6. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky at 1-15

7. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha at 1-16

8. Cameron Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge at 1-17

9. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp at 1-24

10. Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Movistar at 1-34

Overall

1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha 40-26-16

2. Alberto Contador (Spa) Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank at 1sec

3. Chris Froome (GBr) Sky at 16secs

4. Alejandro Valvaerde (Spa) Movistar at 59secs

5. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank at 2-27

6. Daniel Moreno (Spa) Katusha at 2-54

7. Nicholas Roche (Irl) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 3-39

8. Andrew Talansky (USA) Garmin-Sharp at 4-08

9. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank at 4-22

10. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank at 5-10

Chris Froome

Alberto Contador

Joaquin Rodriguez

Fredrik Kessiakoff, stage winner

Joaquin Rodriguez keeps lead

Related links

Vuelta a Espana 2012: Coverage index