The 14th stage from Puerto Lumbreras to Villacarrillo was difficult.
That could not be concluded on the basis of the categories of the climbs – four ascents listed third category. Nevertheless,
the stage turned out to be a difficult one, comparable to some of the classic races. Therefore, the top-favourite was Stefan
Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) and the German rider was one of the escapees in the 11 man breakaway group, which managed to come
through. The classification riders who were positioned behind that group all conformed to the tempo that had been imposed
on the bunch by the Rabobank squad of race leader Denis Menchov.
Schumacher did not win. It was the American Jason McCartney who claimed the
victory. He broke away solo during the thrilling finale and was therefore the well-deserved winner of the fourteenth stage.
Jason McCartney (Discovery Channel) doesn’t hesitate in defining his
vision of cycling: "This sport is my passion. I haven't seen my family in the last two months because they're in the United
States. This victory is a great incentive to keep working hard. I’m a good racer, but not a sprinter, so I knew I should
attack some distance from the finish. I hope this win allows me to find a place for the 2008 season, since my contract with
Discovery Channel is up and I still don't have anything firm set up for next year."
Jaén native Manuel Beltrán explained that he views Denis Menchov as a leader
with no apparent weaknesses: "There was one of the big-name riders who didn't look like he was in very good shape to
me, but I prefer not to mention his name in case it’s not true and I got the wrong impression. But there’s no
doubt about Menchov. He looks very good to me: with his mouth closed. You can see that he’s strong, very strong and
it’s almost better not to look at him directly because he's riding so easily it may take a toll on your morale." Beltrán,
who is in ninth place, had this to say about today’s stage and the one facing the riders tomorrow: "It didn’t
look like today was terribly hard but cumulatively we did 3,000 metres of actual climbing. That is a figure worthy of a true
mountain stage. And that is going to have its effect tomorrow. In Granada, we’re going to see a stage where racers will
look for the stage win up ahead, but there will also be a genuine battle behind them. We’re going to see some serious
attacks among the favourites."
Rabobank sports director Erik Breukink said: "There was a high pace.
It was full-speed racing during the first fifty, sixty kilometers. No one was left alone, neither was Menchov. Things became
somewhat more quiet for us after the decisive lead group had broken away." Breukink was not too surprised about the fact that
the classification riders then conformed to the tempo of his team on the tough parcours ('not one flat meter, so it was a
tough job'). "There was not much left to win, and tomorrow's stage might also have been in the back of their minds."
Breukink was also looking forward to Sunday's stage. "A first category
climb, on which the classification riders will try to show themselves before the descent to our final destination Granada.
It is important that we control the difficult part of the race until the foot of the mountain. After that, our captain will
have to do it himself."
CSC's Christian Vande Velde was also in the decisive break: "Christian
was fired up from the beginning and he insisted on making that break today. He obviously had the legs for it, but it meant
that the other riders were watching him closely. But he took a chance and shoved that his on top form and he might make another
move before this race is over," said CSC sports director Kim Andersen, who has to do without Michael Blaudzun in the final
week of the Vuelta, because the Dane didn't start in the 14th stage.
