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2014 Vuelta a Espana: Stage 7 preview, live blog

29th August, 2014
General classification
1 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Movistar Team 22:48:08
2 Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:00:15
3 Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:18
4 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:22
5 Jhoan Esteban Chaves Rubio (Col) Orica Greenedge 0:00:41
6 Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Team Katusha 0:00:45
7 Robert Gesink (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:00:55
8 Fabio Aru (Ita) Astana Pro Team 0:00:58
9 Warren Barguil (Fra) Team Giant-Shimano 0:01:02
10 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Belkin Pro Cycling Team 0:01:06
Joaquim Rodriguez looks primed to take the red leader's jersey at the Vuelta a Espana. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
Expert
29th August, 2014
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1081 Reads

Time gaps shouldn’t open up too much on Stage 7 of this year’s Vuelta a Espana but it won’t be a pure sprinter standing atop the podium after 169 km from Alhendin to Alcaudete. Join The Roar for live updates from 12:00am AEST.

On Stage 6 Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), who claims to be working for teammate Nairo Quintana, attacked in the final straight to win the stage and take back the red jersey which he briefly held earlier in the race.

In doing so he took Alberto Contador (Saxo) and Chris Froome (Sky) with him, while dropping Quintana and causing him to lose time to Froome and Contador.

It will be interesting to see how the Movistar story develops throughout the Vuelta.

It has become clear that Cadel Evans either doesn’t have the legs or is working for Samuel Snachez as he lost a minute to Sanchez on Stage 6.

A major success story however during Stage 6 was that of the young Orica-GreenEDGE climber Esteban Chavez, who finished seventh on the stage and moved into fifth overall.

Stage 7 rolls up and down all day, and in the heat of Spain it looks to be prime for a breakaway. Orica-GreenEDGE could end up chasing it down as they have a number of options for the end of the stage in Michael Matthews, Adam Yates or Chavez.

Giant–Shimano could also be confident about John Degenkolb’s chances, but the stage victory might be beyond both him and Matthews, with the final uphill.

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It will of course depend greatly on the speed of the peloton throughout the day, however the repetition of ups and downs should be enough to get rid of the sprinters.

Stage 7 has about 2500 metres of vertical gain. If the peloton manage to catch up with the breakaway Joaquim Rodríguez will be the favourite, although any of the general classification riders could go for the win and the time bonuses it affords.

The GC riders are set to battle to not lose time, and the sprinters who can ride up hills will be hanging on for the finish line.

Catch all the action live on The Roar from 12 midnight AEST.

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