Vinokourov, Contador, and all serious overall contenders finished together on the same time.

Astana entered the Vuelta without a serious overall contender.

No rider on the squad was highlighted as an overall contender.

Martin drew mention as a pre-race overall contender.

Stage 13, which ended at the storied Alto de El Angliru, revealed the race's overall contenders.

Sastre crashed multiple times, and crossed the finish line covered in mud over five minutes behind the other overall contenders.

The overall contenders took back some of the time from the leaders' biggest advantage, but still ceded nearly 13 minutes to them.

He finished safely in the bunch in a flat but difficult stage 1, one where several overall contenders lost time.

Sastre lost 37 seconds on the flat first stage, but Menchov made all the selections and finished with the overall contenders at the front of the race.

Of the five, only Menchov and Nibali were considered realistic overall contenders.