Welcome to Cyclingnews' live race centre for full coverage of stage 16 of the 2016 Vuelta a España.
Vuelta a España race hub on Cyclingnews
Hola and welcome to live coverage of stage 16 as the rider head to Peniscola on the coast.
After some intense and aggressive days in the Pyrenees, today's stage is one for the sprinters or a breakaway, before the peloton gets to enjoy the second rest day of this year's Vuelta.
The riders are about to line up for the start of the stage in Alcaniz, in the Aragon region for the start of the 156.4km stage.
There are tired legs in the peloton but many of the riders are happy to still be in the race after the race judges decision to allow them to stay despite not finishing within the time cut.
A brief communiqué issued by the Vuelta a Espana's UCI commissaires confirmed late on Sunday evening that 93 riders who had missed the time limit by over 20 minutes would be re-admitted to the race.
90 riders crossed the line more than 22 minutes outside of the time cut, including most of Froome’s teammates and the whole Direct Energie squad.
Back to today's stage, the ribbon has been cut at the start and the riders are in the neutralised section of the stage.
The riders get to enjoy 5km of neutralised racing but then the flag will drop and the racing begin.
Today's stage includes one categorised climb: Alto Castillo de Morella, that comes mid-way through the stage after a gradual climb to 800.
It will be fascinating to see if a break is allowed to get away and fight for victory or if the sprinters' teams will work for their fast finishers.
Yesterday's attacks came right from the start and caused a dramatic shift in the overall classification.
From the Cyclingnews blimp we can see that the flag has dropped and that the racing has begun.
If you want to enjoy Sunday's stage, click here to watch the highlights of the action.
So much for a quiet ride to the coast.... We immediately have the first attack of the day.
Silvan Dillier (BMC), Sven Erik Bystrom (Katusha), Luis Angel Mate (Cofidis) and Julien Morice (Direct Energie) immediately jump away. They're being chased by Davide Villella (Cannondale) and Mario Costa (Lampre - Merida).
Mate asked his fans via Twitter if he should go in the break today.
The six riders have come together and already have a lead of 1:20 on the peloton. It could be their day.
They're gone!
After 8km the gap is already 2:00.
After the fireworks and attacks of the last few days, the overall contenders and their teammates seem happy to enjoy a steady day in the peloton on the road to Pensicola.
The sun is out in Spain, with the riders enjoying temperatures of 26C and a slight tailwind of 10km/h.
142km remaining from 156km
The Astana team is down to seven riders and does not have a sprinter, so it curious to see why they're chasing.
Giant-Alpecin is also helping with the chase. They have Nikias Arndt who could fight for victory in the sprint finish.
The roads are rolling as the race heads south. It's an easier day for the riders but they are still racing hard.
The game of cat and mouse is underway, with the break pushing its gap out to 3:00.
As some riders fight on at the Vuelta, others are winding down their season and even their career.
Despite Giant-Alpecin's efforts, the break has pushed its lead out to 3:30.
The Vuelta is known for it's heat and today is no exception. The temperatures have risen to a sweat inducing 35 degrees Celsius.
With several teams interested in the bunch sprint today, in particular Etixx-QuickStep, the breakaway is unlikely to succeed. Should they make it though Sven Erik Bystrom would be a clear favourite to take the win in a small sprint. Bystrom is riding his first Grand Tour but he has pedigree with his victory in the under 23 World Road Championships in Ponferrada in 2014.
Yesterday, Jan Bakelants expressed some strong opinions regarding the decision not to throw a large group of riders out of the race for missing the time cut. The Belgian said on Twitter that it felt like 'fraud'. He reiterated his stance to Eurosport television, saying that all the riders should be expelled from the race. Had they made an effort and only missed it by five minutes then he would have been happier with their inclusion in the race.
104km remaining from 156km
Simon Yates looks like he's been on the deck, although there were no images of a crash. He's shaking his wrist and he has a few fresh scrapes but he's making his way to the peloton.
Yates is getting attention from the medical car but it doesn't look like anything serious. A replay shows that he came down in the middle of the bunch with his teammate Sam Bewley, who is also getting some medical attention.
Yates is now 40 seconds back on the peloton as he and Bewley set off in chase.
Yates drops back to the medical car again to get a small wound on his knee cleaned up. Yves Lampaert is back with them too, although he has no obvious signs of injury.
94km remaining from 156km
The approach to the finish today will take the riders along the coast where they are likely to be subjected to some wind. IAM Cycling's Jonas van Genechten says that the wind will be a key factor in the finish.
88km remaining from 156km
Qiuntana opens his jersey a little bit more. Even the Colombian is feeling the heat today. Movistar is sitting as the third full team in line, with IAM Cycling and Etixx-QuickStep taking the strain. Dimension Data and Giant Alpecin also have riders up front. After yesterday's massive effort, the Movistar riders are probably very happy to let others do the work on the front.
Gianni Meersman already has two wins to his name in what has been a very successful Vuelta a Espana for Etixx-QuickStep. He will be one of the favourites and his team are working hard to set him up.
The riders in the break are starting the only categorised climb of the day. It will be interesting to see how this affects their lead on the peloton.
Behind the chase is well organised, with Dimension Data, Etixx and Giant-Alpecin all helping, knowing they have a chance in the sprint.
The break has passed over the 3 Cat KOM at the Alto Castillo de Morella, with the castle walls.
Joe Dombrowski (Cannondale-Drapac) has a flat but quickly gets a wheel change and is away.
The peloton is passing through the feed zone, grabbing their lunch.
At the head of the peloton the IAM and Dimension Data riders are still leading the chase, some with musettes over their shoulders.
The gap is falling now, it is down to 2:00.
66km remaining from 156km
Race leader Nairo Quintana is enjoying a quiet day in the peloton, protected and surrounded by his Movistar teammates.
The early part of the descent is spectacular with some high-speed hairpins.
The riders will be happy to enjoy the cooling air on the fast descent, it is still 36C out there.
55km remaining from 156km
The peloton is split under the speed but is coming back together.
The peloton is all together and has eased slightly.. It is a chance to grab some food and talk tactics.
Upfront the break is still working smoothly, doing turns on the front together.
The peloton is charging after the peloton at 58km/h.
46km remaining from 156km
Who is your tip for the sprint today?
Gianni Meerman (Etixx) has won two stages so far but don't forget Kristian Sbaragli (Dimension Data).
IAM cycling has several options.
The descent has eased now, with the peloton on a long straight road through olive groves.
38km remaining from 156km
The average speed is high today, meaning the race will finish ahead of schedule.
The gap is down to 1:05 but the peloton is likely to ease off the pace to ensure they don't catch the break too soon.
The breakaways are struggling into a cross-head wind. It is hurting the six riders but also affecting the peloton.
The peloton can see the breakaways up the long straight road but they re not within grasp just yet.
The peloton has avoided any echelons but the squads are forming on the front and riding in formation.
They know it is time to get organised to protect team leaders and sprinters.
All the teams and riders have no doubt studied the race book and race route and know that there are a series of roundabouts and pinch points in the final 5km. The roads are straight but are disturbed by the critical points.
21km remaining from 156km
The Cannondale team is central in the road but the other teams are spread across the road too.
Cannondale is working to protect team leader Talansky, who is now seventh overall after an aggressive weekend.
The race is heading to the coast but then turns right for a loop in land before hitting the sea front with the big left turn.
Attack! As they go for the late intermediate sprint, we have an attack in the break.
Dilier made a move but is chased by the others. However the peloton is about to sweep them up.
13km remaining from 156km
Gruppo compatto!
Team Sky is also near the front, protecting Chris Froome.
10km remaining from 156km
The riders turn left and enter a narrow section and move through a chicane in the road.
AS Team Sky sit on the front, here come the sprint teams. Giant and Lotto are both trying to take control for the sprint.
Behind some riders have been dropped as they ease up and roll home.
6km remaining from 156km
Giant is in control for now.
Riders throw their final bidons as they prepare for the fiat finish.
4km remaining from 156km
3km remaining from 156km
The peloton passes under the 3km banner. The GC guys are safe in case of a crash but the speed is high.
Etixx is on the right of the road, as Bora also gather, as does Tinkoff for Bennati.
Bennati gets a gap and dives into the roundabouts. He's got a gap!
Bennati is going for it. Who leads the chase?
Bennati leads round the final corners and into the 1.5km finishing straight.
The peloton is splitting under Bennati's effort.
They catch Bennati.
Etixx leads it out but it is Drucker who gets it!
It was a high-speed finish but Drucker tined his surge just right.
Drucker came off Meersman's wheel, who was forced to lead out a little early. He'll be disappointed but Drucker is overjoyed to have won.
It is the Luxembourg rider's third pro win and confirms the speed he showed to win the 2015 RideLondon Classic.
Meersman was only able to finish fourth at the line.
Drucker outsprinted Bora Argon’s Rudiger Selig and Giant-Alpecin’s Nikias Arndt on the Peñíscola seafront.
The photo finish confirms that Drucker won by more than a bike length.
Here is the provisional stage result.
With all the overall contenders in the peloton, the general classification remains unchanged.
There was a slight split in the peloton but riders lower than 11th only lost 2 seconds and the top ten was not affected.
The reply of the sprint confirms that Bennati was caught just 400m from the finish. The other sprinters and the Etixx team hesitated and widened at that point, allowing him some extra freedom.
Meersman was forced to pick up the chase and so lead out the sprint, trying to go with along range surge. However Drucker was on his wheel and came past him at the right time to win.
An interesting but perhaps irrelevant statistic posted on Twitter by @Irishpeloton points out that all the top 10 finishers today all finished in the gruppetto that finished well outside the time limit yesterday.
The riders left in the race - up at 164, all finished the stage and so get to enjoy the second rest day on Tuesday.
Stage 17 is over 177km and will be a nasty return to racing for the peloton. The includes several climbs -for a total of 3600m of climbing, and ends with the Alto Mas de la Costa climb -3.8km at an average of 12.5% and sections close to 20%.
Thanks for joining us for today's live coverage from the Vuelta.
We'll be back for full live coverage of Wednesday's stage.
As you may have seen and enjoyed today, we also have full live coverage of every stage of the Tour of Britain.
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