Rodriguez takes stage and overall lead in Vuelta

 　　MADRID, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Joaquin Rodriguez won his second stage of this season's Vuelta de Espana (Tour of Spain) cycle race, which finished in the town of el Escorial on Saturday.

　　Rodriguez was the strongest finisher on the steep ramp¹ at the end of the 177 kilometer stage, between Talavera and El Escorial, which saw the riders return to the mountains after Friday's sprint² stage.

　　Sprinter³ Tyler Farrar, who was injured in the mass crash that he caused when he fell on the final straight on Friday's stage, withdrew from the race as a result of his injuries, while Spanish veteran Oscar Freire also withdrew, to prepare for the World Championships, which will be held in Denmark in September.

　　The finish was once again perfect for Rodriguez and the Katusha team rider was able to blow away his rivals on the steep finishing straight in El Escorial.

　　He finished nine seconds ahead of the Italian Michele Scarponi, Dutchman, Bauke Mollema and the Belgian climber, Jurgen Van den⁴ Broeck.

　　The win saw Rodriguez replace Sylvian Chavanel as the overall race leader while his team-mate Daniel Moreno is in second place overall.

　　Sunday's ninth stage is another mountains 183 kilometers between Vilacastin and Sierra de Bejar.

1 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

2 sprint   

n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过

参考例句：

• He put on a sprint to catch the bus.他全速奔跑以赶上公共汽车。
• The runner seemed to be rallied for a final sprint.这名赛跑者似乎在振作精神作最后的冲刺。

3 sprinter   

n.短跑运动员，短距离全速奔跑者

参考例句：

• He is more a sprinter than a swimmer. 他是短跑健将，而不是游泳选手。 来自辞典例句
• The sprinter himself thinks he can run the race at 9.4 seconds. 这位短跑运动员自认为可以用9.4秒跑完比赛。 来自互联网

4 den   

n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室

参考例句：

• There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
• The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。