Fernando Alonso drives to rescue

THE Euskaltel cycling team has been saved after F1 star Fernando Alonso drove to the rescue. The cycling fan has bought the licence for the team, which last week announced it would fold at the end of the season after it lost its main sponsor.

He will move the team to Asturias, northern Spain, and honour the contracts of its riders for the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Lead rider, said Alonso on his website, will remain Samuel Sanchez.

By buying the licence the team will still be able to compete in the biggest road races internationally like the Tour de France and the Tour of Spain. In the current Tour of Spain (Vuelta de España) American Chris Horner retook the lead after winning stage 10.

He had taken the lead after winning stage three, to become, at 42 next month, the oldest rider ever to lead a Grand Tour event, but lost it soon after.

Horner (RadioShack-Leopard) lived up to his promise to re-take the lead in the mountains. In the first mountain stage he finished the 168 kilometre ride from Torredelcampo to Alto Hazallanas in four hours, 30 minutes and 22 seconds. 

Italian Nibali tried to close the gap, but finished 48 seconds behind in second. Today is a rest day.