Vuelta España Stage 17: Calahorra > Burgos, 189kms
Jorge Azanza has managed to touch wheels and fall off in the neutralised zone, he's not a happy man...
Francisco Aramendia has been joined in today's escape by Adam hansen - they're pedalling into a mighty headwind...
Michael Matthews and Zak Dempster have plenty of time to discuss the expected sprint in Burgos...
Tyler Farrar is wearing a big smile on this sprint-finish day - but can he pull a stage-win off..?
Robert Wagner is smiling too, with ex-director Jose Azevedo - Wagner is a sprinter too, hence the smile...
The peloton is now in full flight as it races into a typical hilltop village in Rioja...
At such speeds, only a strong rider can go back and collect water bottles - Jacob Fuglsang obliges for Astana...
Vincenzo Nibali looks thirsty as he waits for Fuglsang to off-load one of his bottles...
Vuelta España - Stage 17
Christian Meier is leading the arrow formation at the head of the peloton - the headwind is becoming a crosswind on the high plains of Castille y Leon...
Aramendia and Hansen are still riding about seven minutes ahead of the peloton - they are two very strong cyclists..!
The peloton is still spaced apart, an indication that the real chase has yet to begin...
Daniele Ratto is perfecting his descending skills after challenging for some climbing points on the Pradilla ascent...
Bauke Mollema is fetching bottles for Belkin now, and in particular for Wagner...
Hansen is proving to be stronger than Aramedia as they reach the 50-kilomtres-to-go mark with a five-minute lead...
The peloton squeezes over a stone bridge with Lampre still leading the chase...
The crosswinds have split the peloton into many pieces - this is the turning-point of the day for many cyclists...
5th-placed Domenico Pozzovivo and sprinter Matthews are the primary victims of the wind, they'll lose several minutes by the end...
Saxo-Tinkoff seize the moment to hoist Roche up the G.C - Mateo Tosatto is loving the adrenalin rush..!
Bauke Mollema wins stage seventeen after attacking in the last 800-metres and ruining the sprinters' chances..!
