Stage 0: Teams Presentation Full Results and Report
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Teams Presentation on shores of Benidorm. BMC with 6'4" Taylor Phinney (looming left) making his first Grand Tour start. | 
It's been a rough year for GEOX-TMC, but they've brought a strong climbers' team to the Vuelta led by two-time winner Denis Menchov (2nd from left). Is this Carlos Sastre's (far left) last Grand Tour? | 
Garmin-Cervelo sans Thor Hushovd, but with Dan Martin (far left) making his first Grand Tour start | 
Mark Cavendish arriving with his team bike | 
It will be interesting to see how focused HTC-Highroad works as a team knowing that this powerhouse unit will disband at the end of the year | 
RRRRRRRRRadioShack led by Jani Brajkovic (far right) | 
Euskaltel-Euskadi was leading last year before Igor Anton crashed out. This year with the Vuelta returning to the Basque Country, the Orangemen will be more motivated than ever | 
Katusha as the sun sets | 
Katasha's team leader, Joaquin Rodriguez, possibly being asked whether his time trial skills have improved since last year's debacle | 
Last year's overall winner Vincenzo Nibali being interviewed. Liquigas has brought a strong team including 21 year-old phenom Peter Sagan making his first Grand Tour appearance (3rd rider from right in the Slovak National Champs kit) |
Stage 1: Benidorm 13.5 km TTT Full Results and Report
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Leopard-Trek with the World Champ Fabian Cancellera in middle, set the best time on the tricky 13.5 km course along the beaches of Benidorm. 16:30. | 
Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) went to the front of the Leopard-Trek train with 200m to go and crossed first so you know what that means? (scroll to the bottom) | 
Liquigas-Cannondale with last year's overall winner Vincenzo Ninali at the front finished second + 0:05 | 
HTC-Highroad later dropped Mark Cavendish and a few other riders, but still finished 3rd + 0:10 | 
A surprisingly strong performance by Movistar, the top Spanish team on the day (5th + 0:15) | 
Garmin-Cervelo down the start ramp later finished 9th + 0:25. Not a good placing for a team that prides itself on the team time trial. But, this wasn't a straight-forward time trial. | 
Katusha placed a respectable 10th + 0:26 | 
The Basque mountain men should be pleased with 11th place. Euskaltel-Euskadi + 0:28. | 
After waiting for Jani Brajkovic, who "slipped his chain" going down the start ramp, RadioShack went on to finish a disappointing 14th + 0:29 | 
Despite Bradley Wiggins looking strong at the front, the Sky later fell in when two riders collided and four riders had to wait for Xabier Zandio. Team Sky finished 20th + 0:42. | 
Geox-TMC woes continued. They finished 2nd last (21st) + 0:44. | 
Leopard-Trek celebrating their TTT win. In no particular order: Daniele BENNATI (ITA), Fabian CANCELLARA (SUI), Jakob FUGLSANG (DEN), Maxime MONFORT (BEL), Stuart O'GRADY (AUS), Davide VIGANO (ITA), Robert WAGNER (GER), Oliver ZAUGG (SUI), Thomas ROHREGGER (AUT) | 
Jakob Fuglsang (DEN) gets the first Red leader's jersey for crossing first among his winning Leopard-Trek teammates |
Stage 2: La Nucía → Playas de Orihuela, 176 km Full Results and Report
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Race leader, Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard-Trek), after signing in on this beautiful morning in La Nucía just south of yesterday's TTT in Benidorm | 
There is some speculation that this may be Carlos Sastres last Grand Tour; he's expected to retire at the end of the year | 
Mark Cavendish during the pre-race sign-in and photo-op | 
Daniele Bennati (Ita) Leopard Trek descending the only categorized climb on the day in the first half of today's stage along the Costa Blanca. We'll see him again later. | 
Leopard-Trek's Davide Vigano taking a flyer off the front with less than a km to go | 
Hitting the 8% ramp with 700m to go while tourists hit the beaches. The temperature hit 42C today. | 
The peloton with Red Jersey (Jakob Fuglsang) and Mark Cavendish in the middle nearing the top of the ramp with 500m to go | 
Sky's Chris Sutton and Omega Pharma-Lotto's Vicente Reynes rolled off the front before Sutton opened up his winning sprint with 75m to go | 
"I knew it was a hard uphill finish. It kept switching back left and right and then someone from Lotto accelerated and I jumped on his wheel. I thought, 'This is a long way to go.' But I looked back and no one was there. I thought, 'Alright, I've got this one.' To win today is a dream come true. I can't believe it." -- (Chris Sutton via cyclingnews) | 
A pro since 2005, Sky's Chris Sutton claims his first Grand Tour win at age 26 | 
After a horrible start to the Vuelta during yesterday's team time trial, Team Sky has something to celebrate | 
As the top Leopard-Trek finisher today (6th), Daniele Bennati, becomes the new race leader since the peloton finished in the same time as the winner | 
Swarthy-looking Italian Daniele Bennati fits right in with the Vuelta cast of characters, but few would have expected him in Red |
Stage 3: Petrer → Totana, 163 km Full Results and Report
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Leopard-Trek's Daniele Bennati was proud to be in Red prior to the start stage 3 in Petrer. (Enjoy it while it lasts.) | 
Andrey Kashechkin rejoined Astana prior to the start of this year Vuelta after spending a year with Lampre following a two year suspension for his 2007 Tour de France positive test | 
Euskaltel-Euskadi ready to roll | 
A lumpy stage in very hot conditions produced a successful four-man break here on the second of two cat 3 climbs: Pablo Lastras Garcia (Movistar), Sylvain Chavanel (Quickstep, Markel Irizar (RadioShack), Ruslan Pydgornyy (Vacansoleil-DCM) | 
Jani Brajkovic (RadioShack) leading the GC contenders | 
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) and some of the remaining riders spread out down the hill | 
Daniele Bennati would only spend one day in Red as the race leader | 
Pablo Lastras (Movistar) attacked the break on the 8% section near the top of the cat 3 Alto de la Santa... | 
... despite cramps, Pablo Lastras (Movistar) soloed the final 13 km for the win in Totana | 
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35 year-old Pablo Lastras celebrates his first Vuelta stage win in almost 10 years | 
Pablo Lastras in the traditional wasting of a fine bottle of champagne | 
Pablo Lastras is now the race leader by 20s over Sylvain Chavanel (Quickstep) |
Stage 4: Baza → Sierra Nevada, 170 km Full Results and Report
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The first mountain stage of this year's race was bookended by a cat 1 climb at the start and the HC summit finish at Sierra Nevada | 
Movistar and race leader Pablo Lastras at the front of the chase during the lumpy middle section of the course | 
Chris Anker Sørensen (Saxo Bank Sungard) and Daniel Moreno (Katusha) at the front with several kms to go of the 23 km long finishing Sierra-Nevada climb | 
Joaquím Rodríguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha, Janez Brajkovic (RadioShack) and Daniel Martin (Garmin) at the front of the trailng peloton less than 30 seconds back | 
Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre - ISD , Michele Scarponi Lampre - ISD and Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto | 
Sierra Nevada panoramic | 
Daniel Moreno (Katusha) sprinted into the lead with 300m to go | 
Daniel Moreno (Katusha) easily dropped Chris Anker Sørensen (Saxo Bank Sungard) who led most of the final 8 km to the top | 
Daniel Moreno (Katusha) wins the first mountain stage | 
Chris Anker Sørensen (Saxo Bank Sungard) crossed second + 3s | 
Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervelo) won the bunch sprint for 3rd + 11s | 
Bradley Wiggins and others at the back of this group + 11s | 
Race favorite Euskaltel Euskadi's Igor Antón possibly explaining how he lost 1:36. Was it the heat? | 
Your stage 4 winner Daniel Moreno (Katusha) also won the 4th and final stage of Vuelta a Burgos earlier this month, the warm up race for the Vuelta a Espana. This is his first Grand Tour win at age 29. | 
With his 38th place finish (+ 57s), Sylvain Chavanel (Quickstep) assumes the race lead by 43s over Daniel Moreno (Katusha) |
Stage 5: Sierra Nevada → Valdepeñas de Jaén, 187 km Full Results and Report
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The peloton with the race leader leaving the Sierra Nevada, site of yesterday's mountaintop finish | 
Race leader, Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quickstep enjoying an early descent | 
Riders enjoying the nice scenery while tending to a little business | 
The peloton did one lap around the Jaén region before returning for the finish | 
Another beautiful but hot day in Spain | 
The riders on the narrow 27% finish in Valdepeñas de Jaén with 500m to go | 
Yesterday's Sierra Nevada winner, Daniel Moreno (Katusha) at the front for... | 
Katusha team leader, Joaquin Rodriguez, followed by last year's 2nd place finisher at Valdepeñas de Jaén and overall winner, Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale who faded back after this point and finished 11th | 
Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) on his way to 5th today | 
Perspective of the narrow, 27% section | 
Last year's Valdepeñas de Jaén winner Igor Anton (photos) had his second bad day in a row and likely doesn't have it this year. He finished 47th + 1:37. | 
Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) shifted into a gear no one could match in the final 300m to win convincingly ahead of Wout Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM + 0:04 and teammate Daniel Moreno + 0:05 | 
Your stage 5 winner, Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) | 
Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) is clearly back in good form for this year's race | 
His lead was reduced to just 8s, but Sylvain Chavanel (Quickstep) remains the race leader |
Stage 6: Úbeda → Córdoba, 197 km Full Results and Report
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The peloton rolling out from Úbeda for the 197 km lumpy ride to Córdoba in the west | 
The desert of the Córdoba province, Andalucía is one of the hottest regions of Europe with summer temperatures often exceeding 42 C | 
David Moncoutie (Cofidis) loves the heat and that's one reason he does well at the Vuelta. On the cat 2 climb 20 km from the finish he instigated a four man break on the descent into Córdoba. | 
Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) about to join David Moncoutie but the break was unsuccessful | 
Leopard-Trek and Liquigas chased down the break on the tricky descent into Córdoba. By this point all the sprinters were dropped except for all-around rider Peter Sagan. | 
Four Liquigas riders and Movistar's Pablo Lastras (winner of Stage 3) broke clear at the bottom of the descent. Among them was Vincenzo Nibali who was hoping to get the 20s bonus for winning the stage. | 
Valerio Agnoli (right) was disappointed teammate Peter Sagan came around him (and Nibali) to take the win, but if Sagan didn't Pablo Lastras would have won. Nibali ended up 4th outside the bonus placings. | 
Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) won the "field" sprint for 6th, but really, riders were scattered all over the road by the finish. | 
Race leader Sylvain Chavanel (Quickstep) did well to finish 10th | 
Peter Sagan looks uncertain with his new Córdoba hat | 
There we go. This is Peter Sagan's first of what will be many Grand Tour wins. At 21 years old, he's the youngest rider in the race. | 
Today's race leader podium kiss lacked the passion we like to see. Pucker up Sylvain Chavanel. |
Stage 7: Almadén → Talavera de la Reina, 188 km Full Results and Report
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Our modern day Man from La Mancha. With today's stage from Almadén → Talavera de la Reina we are now in the Castile-La Mancha region where the famous/classic novel, Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes was set | 
The Castile-La Mancha region is one of the most sparsely populated regions of Spain | 
The four man main break consisted of Cofidis pair Luis Angel Mate and Julien Fouchard, Antonio Cabello Baena (Andalucia Caja Granada) and Steve Houanard (AG2R La Mondiale). In 2009 a break succeeded in Talavera de la Reina, but 2007 there was a field sprint... | 
This year there was a field sprint in Talavera de la Reina with a high speed crash in the final corner | 
Crash close-up with the five fastest riders in the race escaping led by Marcel Kittel (Skil - Shimano) | 
Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - Shimano, who dominated the Tour of Poland sprints earlier this month, becomes another young rider to win his first Grand Tour stage at this year's Vuelta | 
This close-up shot pretty much summarizes today's sprint finish. 2nd Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Cannondale, 3rd Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team, 4th Daniele Bennati (Ita) Leopard Trek. | 
Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - Shimano celebrating his first Grand Tour win | 
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) had to walk his bike across the line but he looks unscathed. The same can't be said for other riders... | 
Lampre-ISD helps their team leader Michele Scarponi across the line | 
Stage 5 winner Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) crossed in some pain favoring his left arm/wrist | 
Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervelo) was the first rider to go down at high speed. A decision will be made tomorrow on whether he starts stage 8. | 
Imanol Erviti (Movistar) was the rider rolling around in the corner of the crash shots at the top | 
Vacansoleil-DCM’s Michal Golas crossing the line with some medical attention | 
Vacansoleil-DCM’s Michal Golas shorts | 
Vacansoleil-DCM’s Michal Golas suffered facial and dental injuries | 
The Tour of Poland was no fluke, 23 year-old Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - Shimano is the new big sprinter in cycling | 
Sylvain Chavanel (Quickstep) retains his race lead. No changes on GC provided all the GC favorites start tomorrow. |
Stage 8: Talavera de la Reina → San Lorenzo de El Escorial, 177 km Full Results and Report
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Another beautiful day at the Vuelta. The peloton climbing the cat 1 Puerto de Mijares, west of Madrid, in the first half of the race. | 
After an up and down mountainous stage with numerous attacks before the finish, Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) launches his winning move on the 28% section, 500m from the finish in San Lorenzo de El Escorial. | 
This is a cool shot with sunlight blown out, blurry arm waving | 
When he's on form, nobody is better than Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) on this sort of finish which average 20% for the final km | 
Michele Scarponi is the best Italian at this sort of finish, but this is Spain. He finished 2nd + 0:09. | 
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto was 4th + 0:10 | 
Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Leopard Trek finished 5th + 0:12 and moves up to 3rd overall + 0:34 | 
Igor Anton was much better today. He finished 6th + 0:15 while behind him Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank came on strong to finish 3rd + 0:10. | 
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) didn't look as good today finishing 23rd + 32s but he's still 4th overall + 45s | 
Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) digging deep for the line | 
Stage 5 winner, Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) takes a similar finish on stage 8 in San Lorenzo de El Escorial | 
Michele Scarponi crossing 2nd followed by a surprisingly large bunch | 
Post finish head hanging | 
Finishing climb perspective as trailing riders limp home | 
Cheerful Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) about to be rewarded with a nice monastical sovereign for his win | 
With the 20s bonus for first today, Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) jumps into the race lead by 32s over teammate Daniel Moreno |
Stage 9: Villacastín → Sierra de Bejar. La Covatilla, 183 km Full Results and Report
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Passing by a castle in Avila where Irishman Philip Deignan won his Vuelta stage back in 2009 (photos). Thanks to Bryan Scully for pinpointing the location. | 
Race leader Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha) in Red for his first day | 
Four man break passing through the feedzone | 
Castilla y León panoramic of the peloton passing through after the break | 
According to the jumbtron at the finish there is 31 km to go | 
Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervelo) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) on the attack on the finishing climb to the Covatilla ski resort | 
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) now at the front near the finish as the field continues to shatter followed by Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) and Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) and... | 
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) and Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervelo) now at the back of the lead group. Dan Martin looks like he's in the hurt house. | 
Chris Anker Sörensen (Saxo Bank Sungard) knows how to suffer too | 
Race leader Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) didn't enjoy his first and only day in Red. Here he is following his teammate Daniel Moreno for 25th + 0:50. | 
Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) looked good shattering the field early on the 10 km 7% climb, but he later cracked himself. He finished 32nd + 1:50. | 
The spread out dash for the line | 
Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervelo) wins the windy 18 km summit finish | 
Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervelo) crossing ahead of Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), the new race leader | 
3rd Juan Cobo (Geox-TMC) + 0:03, 4th Bradley Wiggins (Sky) + 0:04, 5th Christopher Froome (Sky) + 0:07, 6th Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) + 0:11 | 
Panoramic of trailing riders nearing the top of the ski resort finishing climb | 
Your stage 9 winner, Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervelo), becomes the latest rider to capture his first Grand Tour win at this year's Vuelta | 
Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) is now the new race leader by just 1s over the previous leader, Joaquin Rodriguez heading into Monday's 47 km ITT |
Stage 10: Salamanca 47 km ITT Full Results and Report
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The ITT finish area in Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 | 
Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad | 
1st Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) in 55:54 | 
The big surprise of the day was Christopher Froome (Sky) finishing 2nd + 0:59 and ahead of... | 
Teammate and team leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) started fast | 
But, he faded in the second half of the 47 km ITT. 3rd Bradley Wiggins (Sky) + 1:22 and moves up to 3rd overall + 0:20. | 
The World ITT Champ, Fabian Cancellara (Leopard Trek) was 4th + 1:27 | 
5th Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) + 1:33 | 
6th Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) + 1:37 and moves up to 2nd overall + 0:12 | 
The Slovenian ITT champ, Janez Brajkovic (RadioShack) was 8th + 1:56 and moves into the top 10 overall, 9th + 2:04 | 
Two time Vuelta winner, Denis Menchov (Rus) Geox-TMC, was 13th + 2:19 | 
Last year's overall winner, Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) hasn't looked as sharp this year. He was 15th today + 2:24, but is still 4th + 0:31 | 
The race leader going into today's ITT was Bauke Mollema (Rabobank). He finished 25th + 3:09 and drops down to 7th overall + 1:07. | 
Many pure climbers lost a lot of time today as expected. Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) was just 1s off the race lead going into the ITT but he finished 71st + 5:24 and drops down to 14th overall. However, with seven mountain stages remaining and no more time-trialing, the pure climbers have time to chip away at their deficit. | 
Your convincing stage 10 Salamanca ITT winner, Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) | 
Despite having never won a Pro race in Europe, 26 year-old Kenyan native Christopher Froome (Sky) is now the race leader after posting the 2nd best ride today |
Stage 11: Verín → Estación de Esquí Alto de la Manzaneda, 167 km Full Results and Report
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The large break crossing Ponte Bibei over Rio Bibei during the hilly first half of Stage 11. The large Bibei Bridge is one of the best preserved Roman bridges. | 
What they lacked in numbers, they made up for with enthusiasm; spectators cheering on Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and Stuart O'Grady (Leopard) at the base of the final climb, the 19 km 5.9% Alto de la Manzaneda | 
It's a little disappointing to see the race leader working as domestique after earning the Red Jersey this far into a Grand Tour. But, Chris Froome (Sky) not the team leader so he was working for Bradley Wiggins who was 3rd overall before today's stage. | 
After making the early break of the day, France's David Moncoutie (Cofidis) soloed the final 12 km of the 19 km HC finishing climb | 
It seems all of David Moncoutie (Cofidis) big stage wins follow this pattern: lose a lot of time on GC early on then try to get in breaks with summit finishes and solo the final climb. | 
Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale and Amets Txurruka (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi on their way to top 10 performances. They were part of the early break. | 
Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) jumped away from the GC contenders to finish 9th + 3:01. After initially gaining a 30s advantage, he only finished 7s ahead of... | 
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) at the front of the GC contenders closing the gap to Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) and extending it over Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) who was dropped. | 
Christopher Froome (Sky) lost touch of the GC contenders near the top after leading the charge at the base of the climb. He lost the leader's jersey to his teammate, but he's still 2nd overall + 7s. | 
Four finger salute for his 4th Vuelta stage win in four years; David Moncoutie (Cofidis) wins by 1:08. Of course, he's way down on GC in 27th + 6:04. | 
Your stage 11 winnner, David Moncoutie (Cofidis) | 
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) needs to sort out his garments if he wants to look like the best rider in the race |
Stage 12: Ponteareas → Pontevedra, 167 km Full Results and Report
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Despite slipping down to 22nd overall + 4:45 after Monday's ITT, Michele Scarponi was in good spirits during this morning's sign in | 
The first overcast stage of the race greeted Bradley Wiggin's first day in Red | 
Bradley Wiggins signing in | 
Maybe this morning's arduous upper body workout will help Bradley Wiggins fill out the sleeves of his leader's jersey | 
Liquigas' Vincenzo Nibali and Peter Sagan talking strategy prior to today's start in Ponteareas | 
At the rear, BMC Racing's Taylor Phinney resetting his output meter. The American has admitted his first Grand Tour has been a difficult, but he's had several top 10 finishes and is still in the race | 
The two category 3 climbs in the first half of the race produced the expected break | 
However, the break was brought back in the closing kms and we had a sprint finish | 
The slightly uphill sprint finish in Pontevedra was won by Peter Sagan (Liquigas) ahead of 2nd John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad) and 3rd Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) | 
Panoramic of the finish and podium areas | 
The youngest rider in the race, Peter Sagan (Liquigas), has notched his second win | 
No major changes on GC; your race leader remains Bradley Wiggins (Sky) |
Stage 13: Sarria → Ponferrada, 158 km Full Results and Report
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An early break checking their gap at an opportune time. With two category 1 and three category 3 climbs evenly spread out over the first 130 km, today's stage was expected to have some early fireworks. | 
The peloton descending one of the narrow, twisty cat 3 climbs in the Galicia region early in the race | 
Euskaltel Euskadi drove the main break most of the day but they didn't get much for their efforts. Amets Txurruka taking his turn at the front. | 
Alberto Contador rode in the race commissare's car today. Here he is stopping to announce he intends to race in the 2012 Vuelta a España so get your stage wins while you can. | 
Euskaltel Euskadi's Mikel Nieve, Katusha's Alberto Losada and AG2R La Mondiale's Nicolas Roche reaching the high point of the stage, the category 1 Puerto de Ancares (el. 1648m) | 
Also, in the main break were Carlos Sastre (Geox-TMC), Michael Albasini (HTC-Highroad) and Eros Capecchi (Liquigas-Cannondale). There were 20 riders into total in the main break. | 
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas) at several points separated himself from race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) but only temporarily. He did however, gain 6 seconds for winning an early intermediate sprint after a descent. | 
The main break descending to the finish in Ponferrada | 
Euskaltel Euskadi's Gorka Verdugo leading the way | 
David Moncoutie (Cofidis) was in the main break and picked up more points for the mountains classfiication which he leads | 
Race leader Bradley Wiggins descending with the GC contenders who were content to let the break stay away until the finish | 
The 20 man bunch sprint in Ponferrada | 
Michael Albasini (HTC-Highroad) won the bunch sprint ahead of Eros Capecchi (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Daniel Moreno (Katusha) who is obscured behind Alasini. Moreno moved into the top 10 by gaining 1:33 on the GC contenders and the bonus seconds for third | 
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Your stage 13 winner, Michael Albasini (HTC-Highroad) about to receive a cool trophy | 
Today's prize with Castilla y León castles is definitely a keeper | 
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) remains the race leader although he looked somewhat inattentive on the road | 
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) has five riders within 36s of taking his leader's jersey after stage 13 | 
Euskaltel Euskadi's Amets Txurruka was awarded the most aggressive rider today for his work in the break although the award should be shared with his teammates | 
Hard to believe Amets Txurruka is almost 29 years old | 
David Moncoutie (Cofidis) has won the mountains classification at the Vuelta before and he has a good lead this year | 
Daniel Moreno (Katusha) was the top place GC contender in the break and moves up to 9th overall which helps to make him the leader of the Combination classification (combined total of gc, points and mountains) | 
Alberto Contador was on hand for today's award ceremony | 
Alberto Contador was on hand while Joaquin Rodriguez received another green jersey for leading the points classification | 
At 3:03 down on general classification, it's looking like Joaquin Rodriguez's (Katusha) best shot may be the Green Jersey |
Stage 14: Astorga → La Farrapona. Lagos de Somiedo Full Results and Report
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The stage 14 rollout from Astorga | 
Cantabrian Mountains panorama | 
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Race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) out of the saddle | 
Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) alone near the top of the final climb, La Farrapona 16,8 Km @ 6.0 % | 
Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) in the final km | 
Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) in the final km | 
Geox-TMC twins David De La Fuente (Spa) and Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) about 25 seconds back | 
Sky's Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome followed by Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) | 
A nice shot of Matteo Montaguti (AG2R La Mondiale) | 
Final 300m: Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) on his way to victory | 
Things were looking pretty blurry for Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) at this point | 
Final 300m. Geox-TMC's Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) trying to catch Taaramae and extend his gap on the GC contenders | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Spa) digging for the line. He finished 2nd today + 0:25 and with bonus seconds jumps up to 4th overall + 0:55, easily the best placed Spaniard in the race | 
His twin, David De La Fuente (Geox-TMC) knows how to suffer too. After dropping back from Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) to help Cobo, de la Fuente went on to finish 3rd + 0:29 | 
Bradley Wiggins limiting his losses to Cobo | 
16th Daniel Martin (Garmin-Cervelo) + 1:37 and 18th Kevin Seeldraeyers (Quickstep) | 
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver (Katusha) and Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) were the big losers today | 
Taaramae reigns in Spain | 
1st Estonia's Rein Taaramae (Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne) wins in 4:39:01 | 
Sky's Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome strengthened their first and second GC positions with 5th and 6th today + 0:45 | 
Some dreams were dashed today but you wouldn't know it; Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana) with his bike throw for 21st + 1:59 | 
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) "didn't eat enough" before the final climb and bonked. He crossed with Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) + 2:06 and slips down to 7th overall + 1:25 | 
Grupetto panoramic | 
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Movistar's Angel Madrazo learned what it's like to really suffer today. He gets to do it all over again tomorrow. | 
Taaramae doing his reign dance on the podium | 
Estonia's Rein Taaramae (Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne) celebrates his first race win in three years | 
Tomorrow's dashboard banner | 
He suffered but not as badley as most others; race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) is starting to feel good about his chances. | 
Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) moved to the top of the Combination classification (gc, points, mountains) with his 7th place finish today | 
David De La Fuente (Geox-TMC) was awarded most aggressive rider today. He may have won the stage too if he didn't drop back on the final climb for this teammate | 
With a strong performance today, Geox-TMC has taken over the teams classification lead. Carlos Sastre, Denis Menchov and David De La Fuente on the podium |
Stage 15: Avilés → Anglirú, 142 km Full Results and Report
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Team Sky took the bull by the horns helping to reel in the early break | 
Jumping ahead to the final climb of the day which everyone has been waiting for, Alto de l'Angliru (12.8 km at 10%, max 23%). No, this photo wasn't taken from a helicopter. | 
This is only the fifth time the Vuelta has used Alto de l'Angliru but its already a mythic climb in every aspect | 
Earlier in the day, a shot of the climb which peaks at the 1 km to go banner (1557m el) | 
With 1 km to go, there is a twisty descent to the finish | 
With Igor Anton off the front, Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) and race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) were leading the peloton | 
The real action on Alto de l'Angliru starts with 7 km to go. From here as the sign says, the climb doesn't dip below 10.8% and hits a maximum of 21.2 23.5% | 
A panorama of the 23% with 3 km to go | 
With 5 km to go, Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) caught and passed Igor Anton. When he hit the 23% on his own, the fans were going wild | 
Chris Froome (Sky) leading his team captain and race leader, Bradley Wiggins, through the narrow corridor of fans just before the 23% section cracked Wiggins | 
Despite some strong encouragement, Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel-Euskadi) slipped back on the 23% section as well | 
These fans at the top had the best perspective of the drama unfolding | 
The perspectives of this climb are as good as any in cycling | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) emerging on his own with just several steep switchbacks to go to the top | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) picked a fine time to round into form at this year's Vuelta | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) navigating the narrow path left by the fans; it's surprising fans rarely make detrimental contact with the riders | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) looking focused | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) had a nice cadence the entire climb and rarely got out of the saddle. Apparently, he was the only rider with 34x32 gearing. | 
The fans going nuts as the only Spaniard in the top 10 on GC, Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC), continued to stretch out his lead | 
Behind Cobo, only Chris Froome (Sky) and Denis Menchov (Geox-TMC) remained... | 
Oh, and Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) was there too | 
It's always a sorry sight to see the race leader all by his lonesome after being dropped | 
Race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) doing the paperboy weave | 
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) got lots of support from the fans... many of them British | 
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) in a world of pain | 
Maxime Monfort (Leopard Trek) followed by Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) and Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) | 
Maxime Monfort (Leopard Trek) in the hurt house | 
Sergey Lagutin (Vacansoleil-DCM) bearing down on his way to 9th + 1:35 | 
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) was dropped again today | 
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) | 
After the twisty 1 km descent to the finish, Juan Jose Cobo's (Geox-TMC) stoic face was replaced with a big smile | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) wins in 4:01:55 | 
By the finish, Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) stretched out a lead of 48s on the trailing group to go along with his 20s time bonus for winning the stage | 
2nd Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) + 0:48 and 3rd Denis Menchov s.t. scooped up the remaining time bonuses leaving 4th place Christopher Froome (Sky), obscured, with nothing | 
5th Bradley Wiggins (Sky) crossed with his eyes closed in disbelief or pain or both along with 6th Igor Anton + 1:21. Wiggins slipped from 1st to 3rd today on GC and now trails by 46s. | 
7th Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) + 1:35, 8th Maxime Monfort (Leopard Trek), 9th Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), 10th Sergey Lagutin (Vacansoleil-DCM) | 
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) crossing on his own for 15th + 2:37. The defending champion is now down to 8th + 3:27. | 
Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) crossed next for 16th + 2:43 | 
After a quiet year for both he and his team, Juan Jose Cobo and Geox-TMC are now happy to be in the limelight | 
30 year-old Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) had lots to celebrate today | 
Juan Jose Cobo's (Geox-TMC) convincing stage win turned a 55s 4th on GC deficit into a 20s lead over Chris Froome | 
We here at steephill.tv always like it when the Queen Stage winner becomes the new race leader. An epic day... lets hope it was for real. |
Stage 16: Villa Romana La Olmeda (Palencia) → Haro, 188 km Full Results and Report
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Descending from the plateau to the plains in Northern Spain. When Fabian Cancellara went to the front, there was no chance of the break succeeding. | 
Crash in the crosswinds on the flat run to the finish in Haro | 
Final roundabout chaos as Leopard-Trek follows a race motorbike the wrong way around. How about having a course marshall to block the right side of the roundabout? The Vuelta really doesn't like a good sprint finish; JJ Haedo in the clear. | 
Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank) gets an easy one after being alert in the final corner | 
Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank) wins in Haro ahead of Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre - ISD) and Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek). Bennati summerized the stage best, "It's crazy that we had raced on a straight road for 200km and then there was a roundabout at 300 metres from the line." (cyclingnews) | 
"It crowns my career so far, absolutely!" Please...  | 
Despite appearances, Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) had a relatively easy first day in Red | 
Those caught out by the crash crossing 11 minutes later | 
Caught in the crash, the Green Jersey leader Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) was one of the last riders to finish | 
Your stage 16 winner, Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank). Hopefully, this won't be the highlight of his career. | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) looking comfortable in the role of race leader | 
Five time Tour de France winner, Miguel Indurain giving a hand during the award ceremony. He lives in Pamplona just northeast of today's finish. |
Stage 17: Faustino V → Peña Cabarga, 211 km Full Results and Report
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Rollout from the Faustino V(ineyard) for the longest and according to the riders, the hardest of this year's Vuelta | 
This was a fast stage as Katusha wanted to keep the race together for their man Joaquin Rodriguez who won the climb to finish at Peña Cabarga last year | 
Last year's winner of Peña Cabarga, Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha), and race leader Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) navigating today's twisty route | 
Whoa! Follow the amazing descent off the category 2 Portillo de Lunada. The Cantabria (and Asturias) regions of northern Spain look a lot like the Pyrenées. | 
After Dan Martin (Garmin-Cervelo) was caught on the 6 km 10 % Peña Cabarga, race leader Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) and Chris Froome (Sky) went to the front to start an epic GC slugfest over the final 3 km | 
Chris Froome (Sky) attacking with 1 km to go | 
Apparently, the Spanish fans on the road said they would kill Chris Froome if he won. It was all in good fun, of course. | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) coming through next with his race lead in serious jeorpardy | 
We knew who the Spanish fans were cheering for today especially this being the home region of the race leader | 
Close up of the last shot | 
The Vuelta has the most chaotic finishing climbs when fans spill onto the road | 
The fans going crazy for their local boy who lives in the area; Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) got a huge lift of support and later bridged up to Froome with 200m to go. | 
Cobo chasing down Froome. He couldn't dare let this one slip away. | 
Second last year on Peña Cabarga, Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) finished 15th today + 0:51 | 
The fast early pace and his downward spiraling form spelled trouble for last year's Peña Cabarga winner, Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha). He could only manage 23rd + 2:14. The Giro d'Italia has caught up with him? | 
After being caught with 200m to go, Christopher Froome (Sky) surged one final time for the stage win over race leader, Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) + 0:01 | 
A truly classic, memorable finish between the top 1-2 GC contenders on the final summit finish of this year's Vuelta | 
No comment necessary | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) was on the ropes but saved a 13s race lead margin | 
3rd Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) + 0:21 and 4th Daniel Martin (Garmin-Cervelo) + 0:24 | 
Euskaltel-Euskadi teammates (Igor Anton and Mikel Nieve) crossing 5th and 6th + 0:27 | 
Bauke Mollema (Rabobank) expressing his opinion of stage 17 | 
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) finished outside the top 10, 12th + 0:39, but hangs on to 3rd overall | 
Chris Froome (Sky) picked a fine time for his first pro win in Europe, a memorable summit finish at a Grand Tour. You can't help, but wonder what would have happened if his team had worked for him after he gained the Red Jersey way back on Stage 10. | 
Race leader Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) maintains a reduced 13s lead with the difficult stages now over. But, a slim lead heading into the twisty, hilly Basque Country is not safe. | 
Mom is proud of her Juanjo |
Stage 18: Solares → Noja, 175 km Full Results and Report
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Getting ready for the second of two stages in race leader Juan Jose Cobo's home region of Cantabria | 
Some of the picturesque scenery around Solares where stage 18 started and passed through later in the day | 
Postcard scenery | 
Geox-TMC and their race leader Juan Jose Cobo had an easy day despite the medium mountainous terrain as Team Sky decided not to go after the intermediate sprint bonuses so the break stayed away. | 
The 11 man break was reduced to a two-man dual with 2 km to go between Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre - ISD) and Kristof Vandewalle (Quickstep) | 
After a very quiet Vuelta thus far, Lampre - ISD not only gets a good result, but a stage win by Francesco Gavazzi in front of a big local and tourist crowd on the beaches of Noja in northern Spain | 
Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD) crossing 1st directly followed by Kristof Vandewalle (Quickstep) | 
First Grand Tour win by 27 year-old Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD) | 
Alexandre Geniez (Skil - Shimano) won the bunch sprint for 3rd + 0:10 among the remaining break riders | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) following Christopher Froome (Sky) as the peloton makes its way to the line more than seven minutes later | 
Your stage 18 winner, Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD) | 
Francesco Gavazzi is the first Italian to get a Grand Tour stage win since this year's Giro d'Italia | 
An easy day for race leader Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) | 
By making today's break and finishing 8th, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) regained the lead in the points competition | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) is also the combined leader | 
For his valiant solo bid off the front of the break late in the stage, Sergio Paulinho (RadioShack) was awarded most aggressive rider |
Stage 19: Noja → Bilbao, 159 km Full Results and Report
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Another beautiful day in Spain. The Stage 19 roll out from the beaches of Noja in northern Spain where we left off yesterday. | 
Entering the Basque Country at km 100 for the first time in 33 years during the Vuelta a España | 
The peloton wasn't welcomed by all, but race leader Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) was too focused to notice | 
By and large, the avid cycling fans of the Basque region out numbered the protesters | 
The first of two passes over the category 2 Alto el Vivero. Marzio Bruseghin (Movistar) and Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) leading the four man which also included Alexsandr Dyanchenko (Astana) and Gorka Verdugo (Euskaltel-Euskadi) | 
This looks like the Tour de France | 
Geox-TMC's David de la Fuente took second in the first intermediate sprint for race leader and teammate, Juan Jose Cobo earlier in the stage and was his right hand man throughout day | 
The rest of the peloton squeezing through the category 2 Alto El Vivero | 
On the second time over the category 2 Alto El Vivero, Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) dropped Marzio Bruseghin (Movistar) | 
Marzio Bruseghin (Movistar) crested the final climb 31s behind Anton with 14 km to go | 
Juan Jose Cobo stayed glued to the wheel of Chris Froome (his seat barely visible bottom right), who attempted to drop Cobo on the final climb | 
Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel-Euskadi) and the rest of the GC contenders | 
Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha), who won the first intermediate sprint, later had some sort of mechanical on the final climb | 
This is probably the first and only time you'll see Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) getting pushed up a hill | 
Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) continued to extend his lead on the descent into Bilbao | 
Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) wins by 41s over Marzio Bruseghin (Movistar) in front of a massive crowd in Bilbao, Spain's 10th largest city | 
Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) finally finds his form just in time for a solo home win in the area where he grew up | 
Being a Basque rider for a Basque team winning in the Basque Country was pretty exciting for Igor Anton (Euskaltel-Euskadi) | 
Igor Anton wasn't even born the last time the Vuelta passed through the Basque Country | 
"The biggest win of my career" | 
Juan Jose Cobo's (Geox-TMC) eyes and face are starting to match his red leader's jersey after 19 days of racing in the hot sun |
Stage 20: Bilbao → Vitoria, 185 km Full Results and Report
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A flying start: a dancer performs the traditional "Aurresku" before the start of the 20th stage in Bilbao where we left off in the Basque Country after stage 19 | 
Race leader, Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) was feeling good about his chances with one medium mountain stage standing in his way | 
The GC contenders on the final test of the day (and this year's Vuelta) before 50 km of flat cycling to the finish | 
Basque/Spanish police guarding the finish in Vitoria | 
After Carlos Sastre was caught with several km to go, we had a rare field sprint at this year's Vuelta | 
1st Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) ahead of 2nd Enrico Gasparotto (Astana) and 3rd Damiano Caruso (Liquigas-Cannondale) | 
Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) finally gets the stage win that has eluded him at this year's Vuelta | 
Race leader Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) after all but wrapping up the overall win | 
Your stage 20 winner, Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) | 
Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) enjoying the Basque hospitality | 
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Race leader Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) knows it's in the bag now |
Stage 21: Circuito del Jarama → Madrid, 94 km Full Results and Report
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The traditional finishing circuits in Madrid for the final stage of this year's Vuelta | 
Geox-TMC at the front one final time for their race leader Juan Jose Cobo | 
A very close field sprint decided the final stage | 
Peter Sagan (Liquigas) charged up from behind the pure sprinters to edge out yesterday's winner Daniele Bennati (Leopard Trek) while 3rd Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre - ISD) was shut out at this year's Vuelta. | 
Peter Sagan (Liquigas) and his three finger salute. Three stage wins is a good Grand Tour debut especially when you're only 21 years-old. | 
The big winner on the day was Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) was awarded the final Red Jersey by Felipe, Prince of Asturias | 
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) with the best prize of all... being on the top step of the podium with your kid on the final day. Update: that's Cobo's nephew Hugo | 
A moment of reflection on the GC podium as the Spanish national anthem is played for race winner Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) flanked by Sky's Bradley Wiggins 3rd + 1:41 and 2nd Chris Froome 2nd + 0:13 | 
Lets get this party started | 
Hopefully, this picture is as pure as it looks |
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