RABOBANK'S GESINK HOLDS ONTO SECOND PLACE AFTER VUELTA STAGE 14

Robert Gesink’s chances of becoming Holland’s first podium finisher in a major tour in nearly 20 years rose radically after a strong ride to the Vuelta a España’s fifth and final summit finish at La Pandera.

The Rabobank rider tried to shake off race leader Alejandro Valverde half-way up La Pandera’s 20 percent slopes in the final kilometers, and he briefly succeeded. But while Valverde clawed his way back up to Gesink and finally passed him close to the line, the Dutchman still remains in second overall.

Gesink finished sixth on the rain-dampened stage, 3 minutes and 26 seconds down on stage winner Damiano Cunego -- but more importantly he lost just four seconds on Valverde. Overall, Gesink is the only rider now at a minute or less behind Valverde, at 31 seconds. The ranking of riders following Gesink was substantially changed as other GC favorites could not keep up with the 2 podium leaders. Third is Spaniard Samuel Sanchez of Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1 minute 10 seconds behind Valverde. Ivan Basso of Liquigas is in fourth, 1:28 back. In fifth is Ezequiel Mosquera of Xacobeo Galicia at 1:34. Australian Cadel Evans lies now in 6th place, 1:41 in arrears.

“I felt good today, my legs were in great shape and I wanted to try to take the overall lead,” Gesink told Giant. “In the end I was a little bit blocked, and while Valverde bent a bit, he didn’t break.”

“I attacked Alejandro at exactly the right moment,” he continued, “just when [rivals] Ivan Basso and Cadel Evans had done the same. Finally, though, perhaps Valverde had the best tactic of continuing at a steady rhythm, not going all out.”

Gesink said despite being disappointed he had not managed to take the lead, he could still continue racing in the Tour of Spain with a sense of real accomplishment. “I can be proud of what I’ve done,” the 23-year-old said. “It’s been a very difficult race, and if I end up on the podium in Madrid, that will be a major achievement.”