Vuelta a Espana 2011 Photos; Stage 18: Solares → Noja, 175 km
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Getting ready for the second of two stages in race leader Juan Jose Cobo's home region of Cantabria		share this photo
Some of the picturesque scenery around Solares where stage 18 started and passed through later in the day		share this photo
Postcard scenery		share this photo
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.		share this photo
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)		share this photo
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		share this photo
Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD) crossing 1st directly followed by Kristof Vandewalle (Quickstep)		share this photo
First Grand Tour win by 27 year-old Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD)		share this photo
Alexandre Geniez (Skil - Shimano) won the bunch sprint for 3rd + 0:10 among the remaining break riders		share this photo
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) following Christopher Froome (Sky) as the peloton makes its way to the line more than seven minutes later		share this photo
Your stage 18 winner, Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre-ISD)		share this photo
Francesco Gavazzi is the first Italian to get a Grand Tour stage win since this year's Giro d'Italia		share this photo
An easy day for race leader Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC)		share this photo
By making today's break and finishing 8th, Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) regained the lead in the points competition		share this photo
Juan Jose Cobo (Geox-TMC) is also the combined leader		share this photo
For his valiant solo bid off the front of the break late in the stage, Sergio Paulinho (RadioShack) was awarded most aggressive rider		share this photo
Vuelta a Espana 2011 Photos; Stage 18: Solares → Noja, 175 km
« Stage 17 photos	return to: Vuelta a Espana 2011 Dashboard: Results, Photos, Video  |  Vuelta a Espana 2011 photo gallery	Stage 19 photos »