Vuelta Stage Report: Stage 16 was all the time going to be a sprinter’s stage and an additional day for the GC males to get better and put together for the ultimate robust days to come back. That was the plan till Primoz Roglič attacked on a small climb within the final 3 kilometres as Remco Evenepoel punctured. The inexperienced jersey of Mads Pedersen crossed the road first as Roglič hit the deck. Issues for the highest two on GC.
The loopy closing kilometre
One other win for Mads Pedersen
The sixteenth stage of l. a. Vuelta a España, that completed in Tomares, was received by Mads Pedersen. The Danish inexperienced jersey wearer crossed the end line first after a loopy closing. Earlier than the end Primož Roglič attacked within the closing and taking time on the general chief, Remco Evenepoel who had a mechanical, however he crashed closely in the previous couple of hundred metres.
The beginning of stage 16 in Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Race director, Fernando Escartín: “After Sierra Nevada and a well-deserved relaxation day, the sprinters are going to want their power once more. Tomares, the place Matteo Trentin was victorious in 2017, will provide the final nice alternative for sprinters earlier than the ultimate stage in Madrid.”
Stage 16 profile
The sixteenth stage from Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Tomares was on pretty flat roads and never too difficult. There was nonetheless a satan within the tail with a really treacherous finalé, spiced up by a 1.5 kilometre climb at 6% within the final 10 kilometres. This might be a super springboard for an assault.
The beginning was on the sea in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, however the end in Tomares was effectively in-land
From the beginning there was little enthusiasm for an early break. Two Spaniards took full benefit and escaped from the peloton. Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH) and Luis Ángel Maté (Euskaltel-Euskadi) joined forces and shortly had a niche. The lead of Okamika and Maté rose to effectively over 4 minutes. Within the peloton, Trek-Segafredo and Cofidis took management after the main group lastly pulled away. These had been the groups of the highest favourites for the day: Mads Pedersen and Bryan Coquard.
Plenty of followers at first
With lower than 100 kilometres to the end in Tomares, Cofidis and Trek-Segafredo nonetheless managed the race. The lead of Okamika and Maté was slowly decreased, though the peloton saved the 2 leaders out entrance for a bit longer. The 2 Spaniards fought on and weren’t going to simply let themselves be caught by the sprinter’s groups. When the distinction was all the way down to 2 minutes, there was no drawback for the sprinters on this in any other case uninteresting stage.
Primoz Roglič had his personal fan membership
The early break of the day – Maté and Okamika
On the intermediate dash in Alcala del Río, slightly below 30 kilometres from the end and there was a giant battle between Okamika and Maté. They began the dash very early, however Maté was the quickest. A minute later, Pedersen took extra factors for his inexperienced jersey in third place. The top of the early break then slowly got here into view and with about 15 kilometres to go, the journey of Okamika and Maté got here to an finish.
It was going to be an extended scorching day for the break
This was the sign for Maté’s teammate, Ibai Azurmendi, to assault. No physique joined the little Basque climber and very quickly he was caught by the peloton. The groups of the GC riders got here ahead and the combat began for the appropriate positions. Little occurred on the primary climb, though stage winner, Australian Kaden Groves (BikeExchange-Jayco), noticed his probabilities for the stage victory disappear resulting from a flat tire.
An additional day to get better for the GC males
The dry fields had been practically the identical color because the Euskatel-Euskadi jerseys
Within the final kilometres the tempo went up and the peloton was pulled to a skinny line. Crimson jersey wearer Evenepoel was a bit far again within the peloton and Roglič had seen. The Slovenian noticed his alternative to seize time and went ‘full fuel’ on the final quick lump of 500 metres at 8%. On the identical time Evenepoel was coping with a mechanical, a rear puncture. Roglič was pushing on, figuring out that he might get beneficial time again on the general.
Not the toughest of days within the peloton
Cofidis had been comfortable to do many of the chase work
Roglič plan appeared to be working in Tomares, however had a nasty crash within the ending straight and was pushed over the end line with critical accidents and visibly shaken. Pedersen didn’t see any of this because it was all behind him. The Dane was far too good for the competitors and took his second stage on this Vuelta. Pascal Ackermann was second, Danny van Poppel third. Evenepoel held his lead within the basic classification.
Puncture for Evenepoel
And crash for Roglič
Evenepoel had a puncture within the final 3 kilometres and was positioned in the identical time because the riders within the first massive group behind the 4 leaders. Roglič is eight seconds nearer to Evenepoel within the standings, though the query is how has the crash affected him?
One other stage win and extra factors for Mads Pedersen
Stage winner, Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo): “Sure, I actually favored this victory. Everybody was working actually exhausting in the present day. I promised [Alex] Kirsch to win in the present day, he received a daughter yesterday and he wasn’t there for the start, so the entire workforce labored actually exhausting to offer him this second current in a couple of days. This win is for Alex, his spouse and his new child. No, [I didn’t expected Roglic to attack] probably not, really. It was a very good transfer, everybody was actually on the restrict. Ackermann was simply in his wheel, actually good job, and I had to make use of lots of power to shut him. It was a very good transfer. I didn’t hear [the crash], I wished to go to him and I noticed he was with destroyed clothes. It’s a pity that he crashed, he hasn’t been fortunate this yr. I hope he’s not too dangerous, so he can preserve contending for the victory of La Vuelta.”
How dangerous are the accidents?
General chief and Finest Younger Rider, Remco Evenepoel (Fast-Step Alpha Vinyl): “I had a puncture on my rear wheel. I wasn’t in the most effective place. We did a recon of the finale yesterday and we felt the roads had been actually slippery. I used to be slightly bit scared to be trustworthy within the final 4-5km. I misplaced some positions. After which I wished to maneuver up on the steep bump however my rear wheel simply went off. I felt I had a flat tyre. I’m comfortable that the 3km rule exists! In any other case I might have misplaced lots of time in the present day. After which I heard that Primoz [Roglic] crashed so I actually hope he’s okay and he can proceed the race. Really, I anticipated him to assault. Everyone knows that Primoz is actually explosive so a finale like that is actually made for him. That makes it much more a pity that he crashed. You by no means need anyone to crash. I felt recovered in the present day. I actually wanted the remaining day due to my crash as effectively. I felt significantly better in the present day than I did on Saturday and even on Sunday. It seems to be fairly good for the remainder of the week.”
Good luck for Evenepoel?
# Preserve it PEZ for the whole lot Vuelta a España. #
Vuelta a España Stage 16 Consequence:
1. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo in 4:45:29
2. Pascal Ackermann (Ger) UAE Group Emirates
3. Danny van Poppel (Ned) BORA-hansgrohe
4. Fred Wright (GB) Bahrain-Victorious
5. Quentin Pacher (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 0:08
6. Samuele Battistella (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan
7. Cedric Beullens (Bel) Lotto Soudal
8. Clément Russo (Fra) Arkéa Samsic
9. Jesús Ezquerra (Spa) Burgos-BH
10. Julius van den Berg (Ned) EF Training-EasyPost.
Vuelta a España General After Stage 16:
1. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Fast-Step Alpha Vinyl in 61:26:26
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma at 1:26
3. Enric Mas (Spa) Movistar at 2:01
4. Juan Ayuso (Spa) UAE Group Emirates at 4:49
5. Carlos Rodríguez (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 5:16
6. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana Qazaqstan at 5:24
7. João Almeida (Por) UAE Group Emirates at 7:00
8. Thymen Arensman (Ned) DSM at 7:05
9. Ben O’Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroën at 8:57
10. Jai Hindley (Aus) BORA-hansgrohe at 11:36.
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