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2011 Vuelta a España

66th edition of the cycling race

2011 Vuelta a España

66th edition of the cycling race

FieldValue
name2011 Vuelta a España
series[2011 UCI World Tour](2011-uci-world-tour)
race_no21
season_no27
imageVuelta a España 2011.png
image_size350px
date20 August – 11 September
stages21
distance3,300
unitkm
time84h 59' 44"
firstJuan José Cobo Chris Froome
first_natGBR
first_team
first_colorred
secondBradley Wiggins
second_natGBR
second_team
thirdBauke Mollema
third_natNED
third_team
pointsBauke Mollema
points_natNED
points_team
points_colorgreen
mountainsDavid Moncoutié
mountains_natFRA
mountains_team
mountains_colorblue polkadot
combinationJuan José Cobo Chris Froome
combination_natGBR
combination_team
combination_colorwhite
team_natESP
team
previous[2010](2010-vuelta-a-espana)
next[2012](2012-vuelta-a-espana)

The 2011 Vuelta a España was held from 20 August to 11 September. The bicycle race began in Benidorm with a team time trial and ended, as is traditional, in Madrid. The 2011 Vuelta was the 66th edition of the race and was the first Vuelta in 33 years that visited the Basque Country. The 33-year absence from the region was due to fear of political protests.

Commentators claimed that it was a race well suited for climbers due to the short time trials and the large number of climbing kilometres. Nine of the twenty-one stages were ranked as Mountain stages, and six of them had a mountain-top finish (including the very steep uphill finish on the Alto de L'Angliru). Two other stages had steep uphill finishes, both of which were won by Katusha leader Joaquim Rodríguez.

This Vuelta saw the introduction of a combativity award, much like that in the Tour de France. The most combative rider in each stage was awarded a red back number which he wore for the next stage.

The victory was originally awarded to Juan José Cobo who had a race-winning margin of just 13 seconds over Briton Chris Froome. Neither rider had been marked as a pre-race favourite, and both had gone to the Vuelta as domestiques for their team leaders: Cobo for Denis Menchov, and Froome for Bradley Wiggins; their team leaders originally finished 5th and 3rd respectively. The race was the first time that two Britons had stood on the podium of a Grand Tour, and Froome's second-place finish was, at the time, the best result in a Grand Tour by a British rider, until Wiggins won the Tour de France the following year. Cobo also won the Combination Classification. The King of the Mountains competition was won for the fourth consecutive time by Frenchman David Moncoutié. The points classification was won by Dutch rider Bauke Mollema who finished 4th overall.

On 13 June 2019, the sport's governing body, the Union Cycliste International (UCI), announced that Cobo had been found guilty of an anti-doping violation, according to findings from his biological passport. As a result, the UCI penalised him with a three-year period of ineligibility. Cobo was officially stripped of the title on 18 June 2019. On 17 July 2019, as the time for Cobo to appeal the decision expired with no application, the UCI announced it recognised Chris Froome as the 2011 champion, making him retroactively the first Briton to win a Grand Tour. Froome was also promoted to the winning position in the combination classification. Wiggins was promoted to runner-up, his second promotion on a Grand Tour podium due to doping, and Mollema was promoted to the podium in third.

Froome, who had in the intervening time finally won the 2017 Vuelta a España, 'on the road', officially received the 2011 winner's trophy at the start of the final stage of the 2020 edition on 8 November 2020.

Teams

Main article: List of teams and cyclists in the 2011 Vuelta a España

The 18 teams in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Proteam category were obliged to enter the race. Four UCI Professional Continental teams were also invited.

The full list of participating teams is:

†: Invited Pro-continental teams.

Pre-race favourites

Nibali
2011}} team, was seen as the top-favourite.

2010 winner Vincenzo Nibali came to defend his Vuelta title and was seen as the favourite due to the better time-trial skills than climbers as Igor Antón, Joaquim Rodríguez and Michele Scarponi. Anton was regarded as the strongest climber in the 2010 race, but due to a crash he had to withdraw from the race. Ezequiel Mosquera did not start the race, the 2010 runner-up being suspended from racing by his team due to an ongoing doping investigation.

Two other Grand Tour winners in the Vuelta peloton were Carlos Sastre (winner of the 2008 Tour de France) and Denis Menchov (two-time winner of the Vuelta and winner of the 2009 Giro d'Italia). Both riders of the team were looking for better results after disappointing Giro campaigns. Sastre finished in thirtieth place, while Menchov finished eighth. Menchov had allergies and physical problems at the Giro d'Italia and was looking for a third Vuelta win. The Russian could count on one of the best team supports in the mountains with climbers as Sastre, Juan José Cobo and Fabio Duarte.

Other favourites for the podium had had a disappointing Tour de France and were looking to improve in the Vuelta. Janez Brajkovič, Bradley Wiggins and Jurgen van den Broeck crashed out of the Tour in the first week while Andreas Klöden withdrew from the race a week later, also due to injuries of a crash. Wiggins showed good form before the Tour and was seen as a podium candidate for the Tour. His accomplished time-trialling, together with his improved climbing skills, made him a favourite for the Vuelta victory.

Among the top ten contenders were several promising talents, including Dan Martin (winner of the 2010 Tour de Pologne, runner up of the 2011 Tour de Pologne and third overall at the 2011 Volta a Catalunya), Steven Kruijswijk (ninth in the 2011 Giro, third overall and a mountain stage win at the 2011 Tour de Suisse), Bauke Mollema (twelfth at the 2010 Giro d'Italia and fifth overall at the 2011 Tour de Suisse) and Rein Taaramäe (twelfth at the 2011 Tour de France, third overall at the 2011 Critérium International and fourth overall at the 2011 Paris–Nice. Other contenders for the top ten were Garmin's co-leader Christophe Le Mével and Ag2R's Nicolas Roche.

Route and stages

The full route for the 2011 Vuelta was unveiled in Benidorm on January 12, 2011. The climbers immediately liked the route of the race with six mountain stages with uphill finishes and another two flat stages with steep uphill finishes. Among the uphill finishes were the infamous Alto de L'Angliru and the climb to the Sierra Nevada. Two finishes were on climbs that have never been featured in the Vuelta before. These are to Estacion de Montaña Manzaneda in Galicia on stage 11 and La Farrapona in the Asturias region on stage 14. Olympic Road Champion Samuel Sánchez pointed out that the lack of Time Trial kilometres make the race very interesting because there are not enough of them for GC riders with good time trialing ability to take advantage for the variety of mountain stages.

It was the first Vuelta since 33 years that visited the Basque Country. The 33-year absence of the region was due to fear of political protests. Separatists of the Basque Country were unhappy with the return of the Vuelta and calling the coming of the Vuelta 'A Waste of Money'. Although the criticism of several Separatists on the route of this year, the organizers of the Vuelta announced on 8 September that the 2012 event will start in the Navarrese city of Pamplona.

StageDateCourseDistanceTypeWinner[1](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-1)[2](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-2)[3](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-3)[4](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-4)[5](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-5)[6](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-6)[7](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-7)[8](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-8)[9](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-9)[10](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-10)[11](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-11)[12](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-12)[13](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-13)[14](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-14)[15](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-15)[16](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-16)[17](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-17)[18](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-18)[19](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-19)[20](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-20)[21](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-21)Total
20 AugustBenidorm13.5 km[[File:Time Trial.svg20pxTeam time trial]]Team time trial
21 AugustLa Nucía to Playas de Orihuela175.5 km[[File:Plainstage.svg22px]]Flat stageChristopher Sutton
22 AugustPetrer to Totana163 km[[File:Plainstage.svg22px]]Flat stagePablo Lastras
23 AugustBaza to Sierra Nevada170.2 km[[File:Mountainstage.svg]]Mountain stageDaniel Moreno
24 AugustSierra Nevada to Valdepeñas de Jaén187 km[[File:Mediummountainstage.svg]]Medium mountain stageJoaquim Rodríguez
25 AugustÚbeda to Córdoba196.8 km[[File:Mediummountainstage.svg]]Medium mountain stagePeter Sagan
26 AugustAlmadén to Talavera de la Reina187.6 km[[File:Plainstage.svg22px]]Flat stageMarcel Kittel
27 AugustTalavera de la Reina to San Lorenzo de El Escorial177.3 km[[File:Mediummountainstage.svg]]Medium mountain stageJoaquim Rodríguez
28 AugustVillacastín to Sierra de Bejar La Covatilla183 km[[File:Mountainstage.svg]]Mountain stageDan Martin
29 AugustSalamanca47 km[[File:Time Trial.svg20pxIndividual time trial]]Individual time trialTony Martin
30 AugustRest day
31 AugustVerín to Estación de Esquí Manzaneda167 km[[File:Mountainstage.svg]]Mountain stageDavid Moncoutié
1 SeptemberPonteareas to Pontevedra167.3 km[[File:Plainstage.svg22px]]Flat stagePeter Sagan
2 SeptemberSarria to Ponferrada158.2 km[[File:Mountainstage.svg]]Mountain stageMichael Albasini
3 SeptemberAstorga to La Farrapona. Lagos de Somiedo172.8 km[[File:Mountainstage.svg]]Mountain stageRein Taaramäe
4 SeptemberAvilés to Angliru142.2 km[[File:Mountainstage.svg]]Mountain stageJuan José Cobo
Wout Poels
5 SeptemberRest day
6 SeptemberVilla Romana La Olmeda (Palencia) to Haro188.1 km[[File:Plainstage.svg22px]]Flat stageJuan José Haedo
7 SeptemberFaustino V (Oyón) to Peña Cabarga211 km[[File:Mountainstage.svg]]Mountain stageChris Froome
8 SeptemberSolares to Noja174.6 km[[File:Mediummountainstage.svg]]Medium mountain stageFrancesco Gavazzi
9 SeptemberNoja to Bilbao158.5 km[[File:Mediummountainstage.svg]]Medium mountain stageIgor Antón
10 SeptemberBilbao to Vitoria-Gasteiz185 km[[File:Mediummountainstage.svg]]Medium mountain stageDaniele Bennati
11 SeptemberCircuito del Jarama to Madrid94.2 km[[File:Plainstage.svg]]Flat stagePeter Sagan
3319.8 km (2062.8 mi)

Race overview

For details see 2011 Vuelta a España, Stage 1 to Stage 11 and 2011 Vuelta a España, Stage 12 to Stage 21

The Vuelta began with a team time trial in Benidorm. The squad won this stage. Danish General Classification contender Jakob Fuglsang passed the finish line as first and was the first cyclist to wear the red leaders jersey. Fuglsang lost the leaders jersey after just one day to team-mate Daniele Bennati in a sprinter's stage which was won by Christopher Sutton of .

Stage 3 saw the first victory out of a break-away. Out of this break-away it was Pablo Lastras () who attacked on the last climb and held a small margin until the finish line in Totana. Runner-up of the stage, Sylvain Chavanel (), was the third cyclist who was awarded the red leaders jersey.

No serious attacks were made by the GC contenders on the first mountain stage of the Vuelta. On the climb to the Sierra Nevada it was Daniel Moreno () who attacked with Chris Anker Sørensen () and who beat the Danish climber in the sprint. Chavanel was the first rider who was awarded the leaders jersey two days in a row.

Igor Antón () won in the 2009 Vuelta a España the stage on the steep ascend of Valdepeñas de Jaén. The Basque lost much time on stage 4 and showed no good form in the Vuelta. He couldn't repeat his stage victory. Joaquim Rodríguez (), a specialist on very steep hills, won the stage before the surprisingly strong Dutchman Wout Poels () and team-mate Daniel Moreno. Leader Chavanel lost several seconds but managed to keep the lead in the race.

The Liquigas team of Vincenzo Nibali rode a strong descent in the final of stage 6 and managed to form a small break-away with four Liquigas riders and former stage winner Lastras. From the four Liquigas riders Peter Sagan took his first Grand-Tour victory. Nibali failed to gain bonification seconds due to miscommunication within the team. The 2010 winner took sixteen seconds on his direct concurrents for the overall victory. The next day Sagan sprinted again for the stage victory but couldn't beat German talent Marcel Kittel () in a sprint which was characterized by a huge crash of American sprinter Tyler Farrar () in which he didn't suffer any serious injuries.

Doping

On 13 June 2019, the UCI announced that Cobo's biological passport had indicated the use of performance-enhancing drugs in the period between 2009 and 2011. He was therefore considered ineligible for results. Cobo had one month to lodge an appeal against the decision. On 17 July 2019, as the time for Cobo to appeal the decision expired with no application, the UCI announced that it recognised Chris Froome as the 2011 champion. Bradley Wiggins was promoted to second place, and Bauke Mollema promoted to third.

Classification leadership table

StageWinnerGeneral classification
[[Image:Jersey red.svg25px]]Points classification
[[Image:Jersey green.svg25px]]Mountains classification
[[File:Jersey blue dotted.png25px]]Combination Classification
[[Image:Jersey white.svg25px]]Team classificationCombativity award[1](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-1)[2](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-2)[3](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-3)[4](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-4)[5](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-5)[6](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-6)[7](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-7)[8](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-8)[9](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-9)[10](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-10)[11](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-1-to-stage-11-stage-11)[12](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-12)[13](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-13)[14](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-14)[15](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-15)[16](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-16)[17](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-17)[18](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-18)[19](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-19)[20](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-20)[21](2011-vuelta-a-espana-stage-12-to-stage-21-stage-21)**Final**Juan José Cobo
Chris FroomeBauke MollemaDavid MoncoutiéJuan José Cobo
Chris FroomeAdrián Palomares
Jakob Fuglsang*no award**no award**no award*Fabian Cancellara
Christopher SuttonDaniele BennatiChristopher SuttonPaul MartensJesús RosendoAdam Hansen
Pablo LastrasPablo LastrasPablo LastrasPablo LastrasPablo LastrasSylvain Chavanel
Daniel MorenoSylvain ChavanelDaniel MorenoDaniel MorenoThomas Rohregger
Joaquim RodríguezDaniel MorenoMichael Albasini
Peter SaganJoaquim RodríguezMartin Kohler
Marcel KittelPeter SaganLuis Ángel Maté
Joaquim RodríguezJoaquim RodríguezJoaquim RodríguezAdrián Palomares
Daniel MartinBauke MollemaDaniel MartinBauke MollemaSebastian Lang
Tony MartinChris FroomeTony Martin
David MoncoutiéBradley WigginsMatteo MontagutiAdrián Palomares
Peter SaganAdam Hansen
Michael AlbasiniDavid MoncoutiéDaniel MorenoAmets Txurruka
Rein TaaramäeBauke MollemaDavid de la Fuente
Juan José Cobo
Wout PoelsJuan José CoboJuan José CoboSimon Geschke
Juan José HaedoJesús Rosendo
Chris FroomeBauke MollemaJohannes Fröhlinger
Francesco GavazziJoaquim RodríguezSérgio Paulinho
Igor AntónIgor Antón
Daniele BennatiCarlos Barredo
Peter SaganBauke Mollema*no award*

Standings

General classification

RiderTeamTime
DSQJuan José Cobo
1Chris Froome [[File:Jersey red.svg20px]] [[File:Jersey white.svg20px]]
2Bradley Wiggins
3Bauke Mollema [[File:Jersey green.svg20px]]
4Denis Menchov
5Maxime Monfort
6Vincenzo Nibali
7Jurgen Van den Broeck
8Daniel Moreno
9Mikel Nieve

Points classification

RiderTeamPoints
1Bauke Mollema [[File:Jersey green.svg20px]]
2Joaquim Rodríguez
3Daniele Bennati
4Peter Sagan
DSQJuan José Cobo
5Chris Froome [[File:Jersey red.svg20px]][[File:Jersey white.svg20px]]
6Daniel Moreno
7Wout Poels
8Dan Martin
9Bradley Wiggins

King of the Mountains classification

RiderTeamPoints
1David Moncoutié [[File:Jersey blue polkadot.svg20px]]
2Matteo Montaguti
DSQJuan José Cobo
3Dan Martin
4Daniel Moreno
5David de la Fuente
6Nico Sijmens
7Chris Froome [[File:Jersey red.svg20px]][[File:Jersey white.svg20px]]
8Chris Anker Sørensen
9Koen de Kort

Combination classification

RiderTeamTotal
DSQJuan José Cobo
1Chris Froome [[File:Jersey white.svg20px]][[File:Jersey red.svg20px]]
2Bauke Mollema [[File:Jersey green.svg20px]]
3Daniel Moreno
4Dan Martin
5Wout Poels
6Bradley Wiggins
7Joaquim Rodríguez
8Chris Anker Sørensen
9Denis Menchov

Team classification

Pos.TeamTime
1ESP254h 32′ 28"
2LUX+ 10′ 19"
3ESP+ 16′ 44"
4+ 43' 18"
5FRA+ 43′ 27″
6NED+ 54′ 32″
7KAZ+ 58′ 56″
8ITA+ 1h 01′ 51"
9ESP+ 1h 05′ 11″
10GBR+ 1h 09′ 45″

The UCI disqualified Juan José Cobo and Carlos Barredo from the race. If you ignore them in the daily results, Geox–TMC would drop to 3rd place, Rabobank would end up 13th, and Team RadioShack would be 10th.

World rankings points

The Vuelta was one of 27 events throughout the season that contributed points towards the 2011 UCI World Tour. Points were awarded to the top 20 finishers overall, and to the top five finishers in each stage. Only riders on UCI ProTour teams were eligible to receive rankings points, so winner Juan Cobo was not rewarded in this table.{{cite web |access-date=2010-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603221313/http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTU2MzU&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NDk5MDY&LangId=1 |archive-date=3 June 2010 |url-status=dead

NameTeamPoints
{{sortnameChrisFroome}}157
{{sortnameBradleyWiggins}}108
{{sortnameBaukeMollema}}108
{{sortnameMaximeMonfort}}70
{{sortnameDanielMoreno}}68
{{sortnameVincenzoNibali}}62
{{sortnamePeterSagan}}56
{{sortnameJurgenVan Den Broeck}}54
{{sortnameDanMartinDan Martin (cyclist)}}44
{{sortnameMikelNieve}}38
{{sortnameJoaquimRodríguez}}38
RankPrev.NameTeamPoints
12{{sortnamePhilippeGilbert}}698
21{{sortnameCadelEvans}}574
33{{sortnameAlbertoContador}}471
45{{sortnameJoaquimRodríguez}}366
54{{sortnameMicheleScarponi}}357
66{{sortnameSamuelSánchez}}307
716{{sortnameBradleyWiggins}}289
87{{sortnameFränkSchleck}}284
913{{sortnameVincenzoNibali}}272
1017{{sortnameEdvaldBoasson Hagen}}260

References

References

  1. (9 September 2011). "Vuelta heads to Basque Country after 33-year absence". Cyclingnews.com.
  2. Alasdair Fotheringham. (2011-01-12). "Climbers set to dominate in 2011 Vuelta". Cyclingweekly.co.uk.
  3. (12 September 2011). "Cobo celebrates his Vuelta win in Madrid". Cycling News.
  4. (11 September 2011). "Moncoutié seals fourth Vuelta mountains title". Cycling News.
  5. (18 June 2019). "Juan José Cobo has been stripped of his 2011 Vuelta a España title after being found guilty of doping".
  6. (8 November 2020). "Chris Froome awarded 2011 Vuelta a España trophy".
  7. (31 May 2011). "Vuelta a España wildcards announced". Cyclingnews.com.
  8. (2011-08-15). "Vacansoleil keeps Mosquera out of Vuelta". Cyclingnews.com.
  9. Peter Cossins. (2011-08-02). "Menchov aiming for third Vuelta victory". Cyclingnews.com.
  10. Daniel Benson. (17 August 2011). "Vuelta top ten contenders". Cyclingnews.com.
  11. Daniel Benson. (17 August 2011). "Martin keeps Vuelta a España ambitions in check". Cyclingnews.com.
  12. Pierre Carrey. (2011-08-20). "Le Mével targets Vuelta a España top ten". Cyclingnews.com.
  13. Stephen Farrand. (2011-01-12). "Climbers like mountainous Vuelta a Espana 2011 route". Cyclingnews.com.
  14. Pierre Carrey. (2011-08-19). "Separatists unhappy about the Vuelta a Espana visiting Basque Country". Cyclingnews.com.
  15. (18 July 2019). "'It's pretty s***': Wout Poels crowned winner of Angliru stage at 2011 Vuelta a España after Juan José Cobo doping revelation". Cycling Weekly.
  16. "Leopard Trek claims team time trial". Cyclingnews.com.
  17. "Sutton speeds to victory in Spain". Cyclingnews.com.
  18. "Lastras solos to Vuelta stage win". Cyclingnews.com.
  19. "Moreno climbs to stage victory in the Sierra Nevada". Cyclingnews.com.
  20. (24 August 2011). "Anton's Vuelta hopes fade". Cyclingnews.com.
  21. "Rodriguez powers to stage victory". Cyclingnews.com.
  22. "Sagan leads Liquigas lashing in Córdoba". Cyclingnews.com.
  23. (27 August 2011). "Farrar unbroken after dramatic Vuelta crash". Cyclingnews.com.
  24. (13 June 2019). "Chris Froome stands to be declared winner of 2011 Vuelta a Espana".
  25. (15 August 2011). "2011 UCI World Ranking Detailed Gained Points". [[Union Cycliste Internationale]].
  26. (12 September 2011). "UCI World Ranking – 2011". [[Union Cycliste Internationale]].
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