Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Farrar wins final sprint and Nibali champion at the Vuelta as all eyes turn to Geelong

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News 2010

Published on Monday, 20 September 2010 11:26

Written by Luca Salvatelli

American Tyler Farrar and Italian Vincenzo Nibali have finished the Tour of Spain victors, taking out the final stage win and overall title respectively in a colossal confidence boost for the pair as all eyes now turn to Geelong for the 2010 UCI Road World Championships.

Nibali’s win is Italy’s first in 20 years after Marco Giovannetti’s victory in 1990, and has already propelled the 25-year-old as his nations answer to cycling’s immortal Alberto Contador.

"Victory in the Vuelta is very important for me because it puts me up there with the top riders. Now, there's nothing I can't aim for," Nibali told Italian media. "Alberto Contador is the number one in stage races and it's very difficult to beat him. But one day, I hope I'll be able to take him on in the Tour de France."

Nibali, who will ride in support of Italian team captain Filippo Pozzato at the world championships, will join his national teammates later today before leaving for Australia tomorrow.

"It’s an incredible season but it isn’t over yet. I’m going to join up with the rest of the Italian team tomorrow that is about to leave for Australia," Nibali said.

"It’s going to be my first world championships but I’m ready to give it everything. National coach Paolo Bettini knows me pretty well and I’ll do whatever he asks me to do. There isn’t a lot of time to recover from the Vuelta but that’s okay."

The full Italian roster, including reserves, will race in the Herald Sun World Cycling Classic Ballarat this Sunday, 26 September as a warm up to the 2010 UCI Road World Championships which begin next Wednesday, 29 September.

Farrar wins final stage and Cavendish sprinters jersey despite mechanical issues

American Tyler Farrar has beaten sprint king Mark Cavendish (Great Britain) to the line to take out his second and the final stage of the Tour of Spain.

Australian world championships representatives Allan Davis and Matthew Goss finished third and fifth respectively.

Victory on the Madrid circuit will give a further boost to Farrar, who is expected to be named as one of the leaders for the American worlds team when it is announced later today.

"This is amazing. To win two stages at the Vuelta is more than I hoped. It’s great. I already won two stages at the Giro and now I do the same at the Vuelta," Farrar said.

"There was only one possibility left for winning. I’m so happy to win such a prestigious stage in Madrid. Today on the circuit, there were three U-turns that made it hard to control because it was easy for everyone to come on the inside. I stayed healthy and I came through all three weeks of the Vuelta very strong, so I’m looking forward to the World’s."

Hindered by a broken spoke in the final kilometers of the race, Cavendish wasn’t able to combat the speed of Farrar for his fourth stage victory of the tour, but did manage to hold onto the points title. In a bitter sweet ending, Cavendish is now focused on recovery ahead of his rainbow jersey pursuit in Geelong.

"More than my three stage wins, I’m so happy with how the team has ridden here, and our five stages in total," Cavendish said. "I’m tired, as you always are at the end of a grand tour, but I’ve got time to recover. I’m happy with my form."

The 2010 UCI Road World Championships will be the biggest cycling event ever seen in Australia. Held from Wednesday 29 September to Sunday 3 October, it will include road races and individual time trials for elite men and women and under-23 men.

As a prelude to the championships, the Herald Sun World Cycling Classic Ballarat will take place on Sunday, 26 September.