2011 Vuelta a Andalucía - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 2011 Vuelta a Andalucía is the 57th edition of the Vuelta a Andalucía

Vuelta a Andalucía

The Vuelta a Andalucía or Ruta del Sol is a regional Spanish road bicycle race. Since 2005, it has been a 2.1 category race on the UCI Europe Tour....

stage race. The previous edition was won by 's Michael Rogers. The race started on 20 February and will finish on 24 February.

Teams

There are 18 teams taking part in the 2011 Vuelta a Andalucía. Amongst these are nine UCI ProTour

UCI ProTour

The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...

teams, six UCI Professional Continental teams, and two Continental teams. Each team was allowed seven riders on their squad, giving the event a peloton

Peloton

The peloton , field, bunch or pack is the large main group of riders in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close near other riders...

of 126 cyclists at its outset.

The 18 teams in the race were:
UCI ProTour

UCI ProTour

Teams

UCI Professional Continental Teams

Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Caja Rural is a professional continental cycling team based in Spain that participates in UCI Europe Tour races and UCI World Tour events when given a wildcard invitation. The team was founded in 2010.- Major results :2010...
Team NetApp
Team NetApp
Team NetApp is a cycling team established in 2010 with a German UCI Professional Continental license that hopes to obtain a ProTour licence in 3 years time.The teams main sponsor is NetApp and in 2010 the team is sponsored by Focus Bikes.-Major results:...

UCI Continental Teams

KTM-Murcia
Orbea Continental
Orbea (cycling team)
Orbea is a Spanish cycling team based in Basque Country. It is one of the European teams in UCI Continental Tour.The team functions as the development team of Euskaltel-Euskadi, the unofficial national squad of Basque Country. Orbea - Oreka's team manager Alvaro González de Galdeano is the older...

Prologue

20 February 2011, Benahavís

Benahavís

Benahavis is a Spanish mountain village situated between Marbella, Estepona, and Ronda, where it is located seven kilometers from the coast. Renowned for its restaurants, it is often called the dining room of the Costa del Sol....

(Prologue) 6.8 km (4.2 mi)

b>Prologue results and General Classification after Prologue

	Cyclist	Team	Time
1			9' 28"
2			s.t.
3			+ 1"
4			+ 2"
5			+ 3"
6			+ 7"
7			+ 8"
8			+ 8"
9			+ 9"
10			+ 10"

Stage 1

21 February 2011 – Almuñécar

Almuñécar

Almuñécar is a municipality in the Spanish Autonomous Region of Andalusia on the Costa Tropical between Nerja and Motril . It has a subtropical climate...

to Adra

Adra, Spain

-Culture in Adra:Adra Museum, Visitors can spend their free time in the three exhibition halls of the museum, which show the cultural legacy of the Phoenician, Punic and Roman civilizations, and which educate and entertain at the same time. Important exhibitions of national prestige are...

, 161.8 km (100.5 mi)

b>Stage 1 results

	Cyclist	Team	Time
1			4h 20' 25"
2			s.t.
3			s.t.
4			s.t.
5			s.t.
6			s.t.
7			s.t.
8			s.t.
9			s.t.
10			s.t.

b>General Classification after Stage 1

	Cyclist	Team	Time
1			4h 29' 53"
2			+ 1"
3			+ 2"
4			+ 3"
5			+ 8"
6			+ 8"
7			+ 9"
8			+ 10"
9			+ 10"
10			+ 12"

Stage 2

22 February 2011 – Otura

Otura, Granada

Otura is a municipality in the province of Granada, Spain. As of 2010, it has a population of 6598 inhabitants.- External links :...

to Jaén

Jaén, Spain

Jaén is a city in south-central Spain, the name is derived from the Arabic word Jayyan, . It is the capital of the province of Jaén. It is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia....

, 175.3 km (108.9 mi)

b>Stage 2 results

	Team	Time
1		4h 21' 53"
2		s.t.
3		s.t.
4		s.t.
5		s.t.
6	Orbea Continental Orbea (cycling team) Orbea is a Spanish cycling team based in Basque Country. It is one of the European teams in UCI Continental Tour.The team functions as the development team of Euskaltel-Euskadi, the unofficial national squad of Basque Country. Orbea - Oreka's team manager Alvaro González de Galdeano is the older...	s.t.
7		s.t.
8	Orbea Continental Orbea (cycling team) Orbea is a Spanish cycling team based in Basque Country. It is one of the European teams in UCI Continental Tour.The team functions as the development team of Euskaltel-Euskadi, the unofficial national squad of Basque Country. Orbea - Oreka's team manager Alvaro González de Galdeano is the older...	s.t.
9		s.t.
10		s.t.

b>General Classification after Stage 2

	Cyclist	Team	Time
1			8h 51' 46"
2			+ 1"
3			+ 2"
4			+ 3"
5			+ 8"
6			+ 8"
7			+ 9"
8			+ 10"
9			+ 10"
10			+ 12"

Stage 3

23 February 2011 – La Guardia de Jaén

La Guardia de Jaén

La Guardia de Jaén or Guardia de Jaén, La , and the old Mentesa Bastia at Iberic and Roman era, is a small city located in the province of Jaén at western end of Sierra Mágina, on the Cerro de San Marcos, near the promontory of Cerro de San Cristóbal, from where it dominates the valley of the...

to Córdoba

Córdoba, Spain

-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...

, 174 km (108.1 mi)

b>Stage 3 results

	Team	Time
1		3h 49' 32"
2		s.t.
3	Caja Rural Caja Rural Caja Rural is a professional continental cycling team based in Spain that participates in UCI Europe Tour races and UCI World Tour events when given a wildcard invitation. The team was founded in 2010.- Major results :2010...	s.t.
4		s.t.
5		s.t.
6		s.t.
7		s.t.
8	Caja Rural Caja Rural Caja Rural is a professional continental cycling team based in Spain that participates in UCI Europe Tour races and UCI World Tour events when given a wildcard invitation. The team was founded in 2010.- Major results :2010...	s.t.
9		s.t.
10		s.t.

b>General Classification after Stage 3

	Cyclist	Team	Time
1			12h 41' 09"
2			+ 1"
3			+ 2"
4			+ 3"
5			+ 8"
6			+ 8"
7			+ 9"
8			+ 10"
9			+ 10"
10			+ 12"

Stage 4

24 February 2011 – Córdoba

Córdoba, Spain

to Antequera

Antequera

Antequera is a city and municipality in the province of Málaga, part of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia. It is known as "the heart of Andalusia" because of its central location among Málaga, Granada, Córdoba, and Seville...

, 162.7 km (101.1 mi)

b>Stage 3 results

	Cyclist	Team	Time
1			3h 46' 12"
2			s.t.
3			s.t.
4			s.t.
5			s.t.
6			s.t.
7			s.t.
8			s.t.
9			s.t.
10			s.t.

b>General Classification after Stage 3

	Cyclist	Team	Time
1			16h 27' 21"
2			+ 1"
3			+ 2"
4			+ 3"
5			+ 8"
6			+ 8"
7			+ 9"
8			+ 12"
9			+ 16"
10			+ 18"

Classification leadership

In the 2011 Vuelta a Andalucía, four different jerseys were awarded. For the general classification

General Classification

The general classification in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races...

, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on each stage and in intermediate sprints, the leader received a red jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the Vuelta a Andalucía, and the winner is considered the winner of the Vuelta.

Additionally, there was a sprints classification, which awarded a white jersey. In the sprints classification, cyclists got points for finishing in the top three in an intermediate sprint. The first across the sprint points got 3 points, the second got 2, and the third got a single point.

There was also a mountains classification, which awarded a black and white jersey. In the mountains classification, points were won by reaching the top of a mountain before other cyclists. Each climb was categorized, with the more difficult climbs awarding more points.

The points classification

Points classification

The points classification is a secondary award category in road bicycle racing. Points are given for high finishes and, in some cases, for winning intermediate sprints. The points classification is the top prize for many cycling sprinters and therefore is often known as the Sprint Classification;...

awarded a blue jersey. In the points classification, cyclists got points based on the order at the finish line of each stage. The stage win afforded 25 points, second on the stage was worth 20, third 16, fourth 13, fifth 10, sixth 8, seventh 6, eighth 4, ninth 2, and tenth was worth a single point. The points awarded in the sprints classification counted equivalently for this classification.

There was also the combination classification. This was calculated by adding the rankings in the general, points and mountains classifications; the cyclist with the lowest combined ranking was the leader in the combination classification.

There were also two classifications to this race for the best Spanish and Andalucian rider, based on their time in the general classification. However, no jerseys were awarded to the last three classifications, since the UCI limits the amount of rewarded jerseys to four per race.

The race also awarded a teams classification, which, too, was not represented by a jersey. The teams classification was calculated by adding the times of each team's best three riders per stage per day.

Stage	Winner	General Classification	Mountains Classification	Sprints Classification	Points Classification	Combination Classification	Best Andalusian Rider Classification	Best Spanish Rider Classification
P	Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent is a French road racing cyclist who rides for Saur-Sojasun.-Palmares:20112010-External links:**...	Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent is a French road racing cyclist who rides for Saur-Sojasun.-Palmares:20112010-External links:**...	not awarded	not awarded	Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent is a French road racing cyclist who rides for Saur-Sojasun.-Palmares:20112010-External links:**...	Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent is a French road racing cyclist who rides for Saur-Sojasun.-Palmares:20112010-External links:**...	Javier Moreno Javier Moreno (cyclist) Javier Moreno Bazán is a Spanish professional racing cyclist who rides for the continental team .-References:...	Markel Irizar Markel Irizar Markel Irizar Aranburu is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Like team founder Lance Armstrong, Irizar is a testicular cancer survivor.- Palmares :2002...
1	Jonathan Hivert Jonathan Hivert Jonathan Hivert is a French professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team .- Palmares :2008200920102011- External links :*...	Markel Irizar Markel Irizar Markel Irizar Aranburu is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Like team founder Lance Armstrong, Irizar is a testicular cancer survivor.- Palmares :2002...	Javier Ramirez Abeja	Fabio Duarte Fabio Duarte Fabio Andrés Duarte Arevalo is a male track and road cyclist from Colombia. He rides for UCI Professional Continental team and was the 2008 U23 World Road Champion.-Career:2003...	Jonathan Hivert Jonathan Hivert Jonathan Hivert is a French professional road bicycle racer for UCI Professional Continental team .- Palmares :2008200920102011- External links :*...	Jurgen Van Den Broeck Jurgen Van Den Broeck Jurgen Van Den Broeck is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He specializes in the time trial, having been Junior World Champion in time trialing...	Antonio Piedra
2	Francisco Ventoso Francisco Ventoso Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi is a Spanish road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam . Ventoso turned professional with in 2004 before moving to in 2008. He won the 2010 Paris-Bruxelles in a bunch sprint...				Francisco Ventoso Francisco Ventoso Francisco José Ventoso Alberdi is a Spanish road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam . Ventoso turned professional with in 2004 before moving to in 2008. He won the 2010 Paris-Bruxelles in a bunch sprint...
3	Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Gómez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, riding for the UCI ProTeam Rabobank. He is one of the top sprinters in road bicycle racing, having won the world championship a three times, equalling Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx...				Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent Jimmy Engoulvent is a French road racing cyclist who rides for Saur-Sojasun.-Palmares:20112010-External links:**...
4	Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Gómez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, riding for the UCI ProTeam Rabobank. He is one of the top sprinters in road bicycle racing, having won the world championship a three times, equalling Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx...			Jan Bakelants Jan Bakelants Jan Bakelants is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for the team. His major wins include the 2008 Tour de l'Avenir. He also rode the 2010 Giro d'Italia, in which he finished 36th.-References:...	Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Gómez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, riding for the UCI ProTeam Rabobank. He is one of the top sprinters in road bicycle racing, having won the world championship a three times, equalling Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx...		José Alberto Benitez José Alberto Benítez José Alberto Benítez Roman is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, currently with UCI Professional Continental team . He raced with the Spiuk continental team 2005, before turning professional with in 2006...
Final		Markel Irizar Markel Irizar Markel Irizar Aranburu is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Like team founder Lance Armstrong, Irizar is a testicular cancer survivor.- Palmares :2002...	Javier Ramirez Abeja	Jan Bakelants Jan Bakelants Jan Bakelants is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for the team. His major wins include the 2008 Tour de l'Avenir. He also rode the 2010 Giro d'Italia, in which he finished 36th.-References:...	Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Óscar Freire Gómez is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, riding for the UCI ProTeam Rabobank. He is one of the top sprinters in road bicycle racing, having won the world championship a three times, equalling Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx...	Jurgen Van Den Broeck Jurgen Van Den Broeck Jurgen Van Den Broeck is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He specializes in the time trial, having been Junior World Champion in time trialing...	José Alberto Benitez José Alberto Benítez José Alberto Benítez Roman is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer, currently with UCI Professional Continental team . He raced with the Spiuk continental team 2005, before turning professional with in 2006...	Markel Irizar Markel Irizar Markel Irizar Aranburu is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Like team founder Lance Armstrong, Irizar is a testicular cancer survivor.- Palmares :2002...

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