Vuelta a Espana 2011 Photos; Stage 15: Avilés → Anglirú, 142 km
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Team Sky took the bull by the horns helping to reel in the early break		share this photo
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.		share this photo
This is only the fifth time the Vuelta has used Alto de l'Angliru but its already a mythic climb in every aspect		share this photo
Earlier in the day, a shot of the climb which peaks at the 1 km to go banner (1557m el)		share this photo
With 1 km to go, there is a twisty descent to the finish		share this photo
With Igor Anton off the front, Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) and race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) were leading the peloton		share this photo
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%		share this photo
A panorama of the 23% with 3 km to go		share this photo
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		share this photo
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		share this photo
Despite some strong encouragement, Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel-Euskadi) slipped back on the 23% section as well		share this photo
These fans at the top had the best perspective of the drama unfolding		share this photo
The perspectives of this climb are as good as any in cycling		share this photo
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) emerging on his own with just several steep switchbacks to go to the top		share this photo
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) picked a fine time to round into form at this year's Vuelta		share this photo
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) navigating the narrow path left by the fans; it's surprising fans rarely make detrimental contact with the riders		share this photo
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) looking focused		share this photo
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.		share this photo
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		share this photo
Behind Cobo, only Chris Froome (Sky) and Denis Menchov (Geox-TMC) remained...		share this photo
Oh, and Wout Poels (Vacansoleil-DCM) was there too		share this photo
It's always a sorry sight to see the race leader all by his lonesome after being dropped		share this photo
Race leader Bradley Wiggins (Sky) doing the paperboy weave		share this photo
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) got lots of support from the fans... many of them British		share this photo
Bradley Wiggins (Sky) in a world of pain		share this photo
Maxime Monfort (Leopard Trek) followed by Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) and Bauke Mollema (Rabobank)		share this photo
Maxime Monfort (Leopard Trek) in the hurt house		share this photo
Sergey Lagutin (Vacansoleil-DCM) bearing down on his way to 9th + 1:35		share this photo
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) was dropped again today		share this photo
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale)		share this photo
After the twisty 1 km descent to the finish, Juan Jose Cobo's (Geox-TMC) stoic face was replaced with a big smile		share this photo
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) wins in 4:01:55		share this photo
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		share this photo
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		share this photo
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.		share this photo
7th Joaquin Rodriguez (Katusha) + 1:35, 8th Maxime Monfort (Leopard Trek), 9th Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), 10th Sergey Lagutin (Vacansoleil-DCM)		share this photo
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) crossing on his own for 15th + 2:37. The defending champion is now down to 8th + 3:27.		share this photo
Jakob Fuglsang (Leopard Trek) crossed next for 16th + 2:43		share this photo
After a quiet year for both he and his team, Juan Jose Cobo and Geox-TMC are now happy to be in the limelight		share this photo
30 year-old Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) had lots to celebrate today		share this photo
Juan Jose Cobo's (Geox-TMC) convincing stage win turned a 55s 4th on GC deficit into a 20s lead over Chris Froome		share this photo
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.		share this photo
Vuelta a Espana 2011 Photos; Stage 15: Avilés → Anglirú, 142 km
« Stage 14 photos	return to: Vuelta a Espana 2011 Dashboard: Results, Photos, Video  |  Vuelta a Espana 2011 photo gallery	Stage 16 photos »