2011 Vuelta a España
| 2011 UCI World Tour, race 21 of 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Race details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dates | 20 August – 11 September | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 3,300 km (2,051 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 84h 59' 31" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Winner |
 Juan José Cobo (ESP)
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(Geox–TMC) |
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| Second |
 Chris Froome (GBR)
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(Team Sky) | |
| Third |
Bradley Wiggins (GBR)
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(Team Sky) | |
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Points |
 Bauke Mollema (NED)
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(Rabobank) |
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Mountains |
 David Moncoutié (FRA)
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(Cofidis) |
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Combination |
Juan José Cobo (ESP)
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(Geox–TMC) |
| Team | Geox–TMC | ||
The 2011 Vuelta a España was held from 20 August to 11 September. The race began in Benidorm with a team time trial and ended, as is traditional, in Madrid. The 2011 Vuelta was the 66th edition of the race and was the first Vuelta in 33 years that visited the Basque Country. The 33-year absence of the region was due to fear of political protests.
Critics claim that it was a race well suited for the climbers due to the minimum time trial kilometers and lots of climbing kilometers. 9 of the 21 stages are ranked as Mountain Stages. 6 of them have mountain top finish (including the very steep uphill finish on the Alto de L'Angliru). Two other stages had steep uphill finishes, both of which were won by Katusha leader Joaquim Rodríguez.
This year's Vuelta saw the introduction of a combativity award in much the same way as the Tour de France. The most combative rider each stage is awarded a red backnumber which he wears for the next stage.
The race was won by a surprisingly strong Juan José Cobo with a small margin over Briton Chris Froome. Neither riders was marked as a pre-race favourite, and both went to the Vuelta as domestiques for their team leaders Denis Menchov and Bradley Wiggins, who finished 5th and 3rd respectively. Cobo also went home with the Combination Classification. The King of the Mountain competition was won for the fourth consecutive time by Frenchman David Moncoutié. The points classification was won by Dutch rider Bauke Mollema, who also finished fifth overall.
All 18 teams in the UCI's Proteam category are entitled, and obliged, to enter the race. Four UCI Professional Continental teams are also invited.
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