to VeloNews.com's Live Coverage of the sixth stage of the 2008 Vuelta a Espana, a 150.1-kilometer race from Ciudad Real to Toledo.

After yesterday's time trial, today's stage represents something of a break. It's just 150.1 kilometers and features just one rated climb, the Category 3 Puerto de Marjaliza, a short, sharp 2.5 kilometer climb that takes riders from 860 meters in altitude to 1040. That climb summits at the 102.5km mark, so there will be plenty of time for anyone dropped to fight back.

Of more concern, though, might be the small climbs near the finish. Although unrated, the two climbs could disrupt the plans of sprinters hoping for a mass gallop to the line today. If American Levi Leipheimer intends to fight to keep the leader's jersey, he and the Astana team will have to remain especially watchful of an attack from Sylvain Chavanel. Indeed, only two seconds out of first place, the French rider may try to score time bonuses at the day's two intermediate sprints at 115.7km and 132.8km.

Riders are arriving at the start of today's stage. Action will not get underway for another hour, though. Today's is an especially short stage and the official start is slated for 2:06 p.m.

is the Vuelta's first rest day, with riders making a long trip from Toledo to Lleida. Fortunately for riders, the trip will be covered in the relative comfort of the Spanish National Rail System's (RENFE) new high-speed train. While team staff will be driving trucks, buses and team cars over the 530-kilometer trip, riders will be leaving Toledo at 6:45 this evening and traveling at 300kph on Spain's newest rail line.

They get the day off tomorrow and the race resumes on Saturday with a tough, mountainous 223.2-kilometer race from Barbastro to Andorra for a mountain-top finish atop La Rabassa. Andorra has hosted 16 Vuelta stage finishes since Esteban Martín won in 1965. The last finish in the Pyrenean principality was last year, when eventual overall winner Denis Menchov won at Arcalís.

And a Tinkoff rider is on the attack already.

There are four riders off the front, battling a wind from the left.

Looks to be Jose Martinez Perez (Andalucia-Cajasur), Emanuele Bindi (Lampre), Ivan Rovny (Tinkoff) and Gustavo Dominguez Lemo (Espana). They have a tenuous lead over the Astana-led pack.

The Astana boys have brought back the four. We are just 6k into the race.

Iban Mayoz (ESP), Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff) and Volodymyr Diudia (Milram) have about 12 seconds over the pack.

At the 11th kilometer, the trio has more than a minute's lead.

And who are these fellas? Or, more importantly, where are they in the standings?

Well, Mayoz is the best placed, in 94th at 8:24 seconds behind our race leader, Mr. Leipheimer. Ignnatiev is in 150th place, 24:43 back and Diuda is just behind him, in 152nd place, 25:27 back.

So Astana may allow this group to get a bit of a lead established, although they will keep Mayoz' lead to a reasonable margin.

And indeed Astana seems to want this to be the Break du Jour. They can gobble up time bonuses and help keep the pace in the pack nice and steady.

The threesome have 2.02 minutes as they reach kilometer 16.

We'll have to see if Sylvain Chavanel's Cofidis team wants to play along with this plan, however. Of course the day's two intermediate sprints don't come until 115.7km and 132.8km.

at Km 19, they now have more than three minutes' lead.

The Russian Ignatiev is a former U23 and Junior world time trial champ, and won the points race at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. He is still just 23.

Cofidis is joining Astana at the front of the pack. The gap remains about 3:30.

VeloNews.com is posting daily video highlights at the Vuelta. You can see them at www.velonews.tv

And in other news.

With all the bike sponsor switcharoos in recent days, it's hard to keep track. But word is that Felt Bicycles has signed a deal with Garmin-Chipotle to supply bikes to the U.S -based team through the 2011 season.

Astana is near the front, but Cofidis is doing the work. At kilometer 29, the lead is still at 3:30.

They've got the break's lead down to about 3:10.

The win is still gusting from the side, making life a bit difficult out here.

Cofidis is pulling, but these guys aren't giving up. The gap was under three minutes, but has now gone back up over three three minutes mark at about the 50k mark

The latest, at the 65k mark, was 2:20.

the gap is really coming down now as the pack picks up the pace and the wind increases. It's under 1:30

We see riders down from Silence-Lotto, Quick Step, Xacobeo-Galicia and Bouygues Telecom. The breakaway is under 1:30 ahead.

We gotta think these crosswinds contributed to the crash. That always makes for some nervous riding. No word on injuries ...

Valverde was one who went down, but he popped right back up and he's in the pack again. The break is approaching the feedzone.

The riders are going up more than down, right now. After the feedzone they will start climbing toward the day's only categorized climb, at Puerto de Marjaliza, a third category ascent.

After the crash the gap has gone back up to 1:35. We are at km75

Approaching the feedzone, the gap is 1:40. The peloton seems to have settled in and decided to reel in the break on the climbs following lunch.

The gap is still creeping down. The wind has come around to be more of a tailwind now and the riders are well ahead of schedule. That's good news for those who want to catch that train to Lleida and get started on their rest day.

The peloton has passed through the feedzone (km81) precisely 1:30 behind the breakaway.

and officials are pulling vehicles out of the gap to prepare for the catch

Who knows, maybe Sastre will finally announce his 2009 team during tomorrow's rest day?

This morning Sastre said he was more or less pleased with his TT performance.

"The feeling after the time trial is positive. It was a day that I had a lot of respect for, more than anything to test my physical condition. I knew I wouldn't be bad, but it was an important test, and even though it was pretty hard, the first part wasn't the best, but the second half I found my rhythm and the strength necessary not to lose too much time. Now I am a little bit more optimistic about the rest of the Vuelta after getting through these first days."

The gap is 45 seconds as the three leaders start up the third category climb. The are at about the 100k mark on this 150k stage. The fun is just beginning.

So, as we approach the first and only categorized climb today, we have three men off the front:

Iban Mayoz (ESP),

Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff) and

Volodymyr Diudia (Milram)

They had 45 seconds at last check. It's possible that someone seeking KOM points will drive the catch on the ascent?

1 Jesus Rosendo Prado (Andalucía - Cajasur) 16 pts

2 Manuel Ortega Ocana (Andalucía - Cajasur) 7

3 José Antonio Lopez Gil (Andalucía - Cajasur) 6

4 Walter Fernando Pedraza Morales (Tinkoff) 5

5 Paolo Bettini (QuickStep) 4

6 Francisco Jose Martinez Perez (Andalucía - Cajasur) 4

7 Cycril Lemoine (Crédit Agricole) 4

8 Egoi Martinez De Esteban (Euskaltel - Euskadi ) 2

9 Serafin Martinez ( Xacobeo Galicia) 2

10 Mikhail Ignatiev (Tinkoff) 2

Diudia has said adios to his breakaway amigos and faded back to the field on the climb. The other two continue on with less than 30 seconds gap at last check.

Meanwhile, Valverde and Tom Boonen have each asked for medical attention.

The leaders have topped off the climb and they have company.

Mayoz led over the top, followed by Ignatiev.

Fernando Pedraza Morales (Tinkoff) grabbed the third KOM points and has joined the pair on the front.

Our climbers competition leader, Jesus Rosendao Prado, was fourth over the top.

The three off the front have been absorbed. The first intermediate sprint is approaching, watch for fireworks as Cofidis tries to grab the time bonuses that could put him in the lead

Just about 7km from the first sprint and there is another crash. Riders from Bouygues Telecom, Silence-Lotto and Lampre went down.

Chavanel gets the sprint and becomes the race leader on the road. Astana did not contest it. There is still one more intermediate sprint and then the finish.

Cofidis' Leonardo Duque and Nic Nuyens were second and third at the sprint, by the way. There has been a series of counter attacks since the sprint.

At about KM130, the bunch is together. There is another intermediate sprint coming up in about 3k

Astana is at the front, but the pace has slowed.

Chavanel gets the second intermediate sprint. He now has a 10 second lead on GC, over Leipheimer.

15k to go and the pack is altogether. Cofidis is at the front. Today's run in is a bit hilly, with a little puncher climb at Los Palos, about 5k from the finish.

It could be a stage for Valverde, if he is feeling well after his tumble this morning. We'll see if Caisse d'Epargne heads to the front in the next few k to set that up.

looks like Leipheimer will give up the golden fleece without much of a fight. Yesterday he said it was an honor to wear it:

"I’ve been feeling very strong for the last couple of weeks, since the Olympics of course. We did a race in Madrid, which I won. The first days of the Vuelta I felt really good and I had a lot of confidence going into today. However, it was very difficult today. The first 20 kilometers had a headwind, but I conserved enough energy, allowing me to go faster in the end. This is another big highlight for me and this team. It’s always an honor to win a stage in a grand tour plus wear the leader’s jersey.”

Three or four riders, including KOM leader Prado, have flatted in the last several kilometers. Tough road.

Yannick Talabardon (Credit Agricole) has attacked and opened a slender lead. He has been trying to get away since just after the last sprint ... he looks to have about ten seconds.

The peloton is on a steep climb, and the pace is very fast. Talabordon has been absorbed, and Cunego is gassing it over the top

as we come into Toledo the bunch has regrouped

Tinkoff is attacking again, We see Boonen and Bettini near the front

The world champ comes out of no where.

Vbettini was on Philippe Gilbert of Francaise des Jeux in the final meters then came around on the right. Valverde got third.

If our math is right: With the time bonuses, Chavanel is in the lead, followed at ten seconds by Leipheimer and at 27 seconds by Valverde.