As it happened: Stalemate among the GC favourites as win goes to the breakaway on stage 19 of the Vuelta a España

Hello and welcome to stage 19 of the Vuelta a España!

There was a sense after yesterday’s time trial that Enric Mas had passed the all-important test at yesterday’s time trial, holding off the challenge by Primož Roglič in a discipline he excels less at with a healthy lead at the top of the classification still intact

However, this race is far from over - and today’s parcours is prime territory for an ambush. As one of the few to exceed 200km , and with plenty of climbing along the way, including a summit finish, both he and his Movistar team must be alert, and again need to rise to the occasion.

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The riders are in the neutralised zone, but one rider not among them is yesterday’s winner Stefan Küng. That victory made it mission accomplished at this Vuelta for the Swiss time trialist specialist, as well as delivering his Tudor team a second victory following Marco Brenner’s success - a fantastic return for one of the race’s smaller teams.

The morning after winning the time trial, Stefan Küng pulls out of the Vuelta a España

OFFICIAL START

And they're off! The first third of this flat stage is flat, so it could take a while for a break to form. The riders best brace themselves for a long battle.

The attacks are, as expected, coming thick and fast! For the time being we have a group of eight up the road by a few seconds but the situation is very much in flux.

Here were the riders at the start, before hostilities began.

Hannes Wilksch and Mats Wenzel were the latest to try a move, but, along with a flurry of poursuivants, have all be swept up back into the peloton.

The latter's Equipo Kern Pharma is especially eager for some success today, given the doubt surrounding their future as they continue to seek a new sponsor.

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There have been plenty of attacks, but still nothing sticking, an 8-man group the latest to try to no avail. This looks set to go on for a while longer yet.

DNF - PAUL DOUBLE

Paul Double has abandoned the race. There's been no crash we're aware of, but the Brit has been struggling at this Vuelta, and was second-to-last at the bottom of the GC. Hard-going for a man whois primarily a climber.

Jasha Sütterlin, stage winner Andreas Leknessund and soon-to-retire Steven Kruijswijk are the latest to try an attack. It's great to see the latter on the move and having some fun for himself, having done so much tireless work at the front of this Vuelta controlling the race for his Visma teammates Wout van Aert and Matthew Brennan. What a story it would be if he could take a stage win on the last Grand Tour of his career.

170KM TO GO

After 40km of attacking, this trio of Leknessund, Kruijswijk and Sütterlin is the first to manage to stay out for some time and build a promising lead. They've got 25 seconds as things stand.

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Leknessund, Kruijswijk and Sütterlin are still leading, now 45 seconds up on the peloton. In between, some chasers are trying to join them. The fight is still on an the intensity remains high.

There is plenty of firepower in the chase group trying to join Leknessund, Kruijswijk and Sütterlin. Oliveira, Johannessen, Tronchon and Weiss have formed a quartet, and are now just 10 seconds behind, and 30 seconds ahead of the peloton, where things still haven't settled down.

Oliveira, Tronchon, and Johannessen (but not Weiess - he's dropped back) have now bridged up to Leknessund, Kruijswijk and Sütterlin, but the new front group are only a mere 20 seconds ahead of the peloton. It seems like there is enough in the peloton unhappy with the situation to not allow them to form the day's break.

The irrepressible Kevin Vermaerke is on the attack again. Aware that he's a superior climber, his UAE teammate Oliveira dropped back to pace him, and the duo have just joined the five leaders. Together, they're now 35 seconds ahead of the peloton.

140KM TO GO

This leading group of seven is working well together, and have built a lead of 47 - which must be the biggest gap any group has managed all day so far.

The action is still very on in the peloton, where the attacks keep coming, and promises to continue to do so when they reach the day's first climb in just a few kilometres.

The riders are on the Puerto de las Abejas, the first of the day's three climbs. It's not the hardest of the day, averaging just 4.3%, but its length of 14.6km will ensure that climbers who want to get into the break have a chance.

One such rider is Santiago Buitrago, who Pello Bilbao attempted to launch up the road, but he has managed to go clear of the peloton yet. As it stands, there are 30 seconds between them in the peloton and the seven leaders up the road.

130KM TO GO

The constant action at the front of the peloton as more riders try to escape to join the break on the climb is keeping the lead group (picture below, although it's now made up of seven riders, since Sütterlin was dropped) well within sight. They're just a few seconds ahead, and the battle to form the break is far from over.

Vimsa-Lease a Bike are hatching a plan for Sepp Kuss. Kruijswijk dropped back from the front group to help pace him up after attacking from the peloton. So far, though, he hasn't been able to join up to the leaders; nor has anyone else in the peloton, which remains 10 seconds behind the leaders as they climb the final 5km to the summit.

A few riders have managed to join the leaders - Zana, Van Bekkum and Faura. Plus Eddie Dunbar, who bridged up earlier. While the break and the peloton remain so close on the road, the race is very much in flux.

KOM - PUERTO DE LAS ABEJAS

Leknessund led the lead group over the top of the climb, and since then they have been joined by a group of chasers. Briefly it looked as though Oscar Onley might be join, too, as he tried a cheeky attack, but the Brit (who is 5th on GC) did not manage to slip clear.

As they descend, the leaders are 20 seconds ahead of the peloton).

This has been a truly relentless start to the stage, but there are signs, at last, that things might be about to calm down. For the first time all day, the peloton bunched up at the front, an indication that many are wanting to let the break go clear.

But there are still some unhappy and wanting to join the leaders up the road, and another flurry of attacks begins.

110KM TO GO

We're almost halfway into the stage, and the race has just all come back together! Numerous riders had joined the lead group, to swell it to about 20 riders, but Netcompany Ineos paced at the front of the peloton to bring it back. The peloton is much smaller now as a result of how high the pace has been, but as things stand, there is no breakaway group.

So the action has re-set, and a new wave of attacks have come as riders try to form a new break. This has gone on for over 100km now - surely the longest battle to form a break at this Vuelta, and possible of the whole season.

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The riders have been climbing the category two Puerto del Viento (the penultimate climb of the day; officially, at least), and Eddie Dunbar had managed to build a bit of a lead. He's being chased down by another group of hopefuls, among whom include the King of the Mountains Santiago Buitrago.

KOM - PUERTO DEL VIENTO

Dunbar continues to lead the race over the top of the climb, and so takes the KOM points. Behind follows a chase group of about 20 riders, about 15 seconds behind, including Buitrago.

It's looking more promising for that group to join up to Dunbar and (finally) form the break of the day, as the peloton is about a minute adrift. But things still haven't settled, and more attacks come out of it as they near the summit.

ATTACK - CARAPAZ

Richard Carapaz is at it again! The man in fourth-place on GC has used the descent of the climb to try and catch his rivals napping, and is part of small group that has a gap of a few seconds over the peloton. He's 5:17 down on Mas, but not the kind of man he can afford to give too much leeway to.

You sense EF have been hatching a plan all day, having been active at the front, and as one of the teams especially keen not to let the early breaks go clear.

They've now succeeded in getting Carapaz up the road, but will be frustrated that their GC rivals are on the defensive - at the front of the peloton, Movistar are receiving help from Decathlon and Netcompany.

Decathlon are doing the bulk of the chasing at the front of the peloton, rather than Mas’ Movistar, and have sent Sander De Pestel from the lead group to help the pace-setting.

This is in defence of their leader Gall’s third place on GC, and it’s an undeniably defensive tactic - if they were being bolder, and intended to try to put Mas under pressure, they could have forced him to use up his Movistar teammates to bring Carapaz back, and then try to put the isolated red jersey under pressure with attacks.

Carapaz's venture is over, as the peloton bring him back. His group managed to get a lead of about 30 seconds, but his GC rivals were not happy to let him build upon that.

That means there's only one group now ahead of the peloton - a lead group of about 15 riders, about 1:30 ahead, and featuring Buitrago, and G Martin (who, in 13th, i the highest placed man on GC in it).

80KM TO GO

Things have, at long last, settled down. Ever since bringing back the Carapaz chase group, the peloton has slowed down, allowing the lead group of 16 riders to build a lead of 2:30. We at last have a clear break of the day.

The problem is, they don't have very long to build enough of a lead to hold off the chase from the peloton later on, with just 60km left to ride until arriving at the foot of the final climb. The break will have to work well to give themselves a chance of making it to the finish to contest for the stage win.

If this breakaway is to succeed, it will be the first stage since last Thursday will be won from a rider not representing either Visma-Lease a Bike or Tudor Pro Cycling, who have enjoyed a sweep of wins lately with their respective men Wout van Aert and Matthew Brennan, and Marco Brenner and Stefan Küng. Both teams failed to get anyone in the break today.

Both Pinarello and Groupama-FDJ (save for Tronchon’s stage win) have been quiet for most of this Vuelta, but are doing a great job today, having each got three riders into the breakaway. Also with multiple riders in it are Equipo Kern Pharma and Bahrain-Victorious with two each.

Movistar have implemented the same plan that has served them so well since Enric Mas took the red jersey, putting Pablo Castrillo up the road as a satellite rider for later on. The remainder of their roster are setting the pace at the front of the peloton, with assistance from Onley’s Netompany Ineos team.

Mas and Movistar again look firmly in control, after a very successful time trial yesterday. Mas is clearly feeling very confident, and not holding back talking about what great shape he’s in.

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60KM TO GO

Not fussed about the stage win, and instead focussed on defending the red jersey, Movistar are happy to set a light tempo and allow the break a big lead approaching five minutes.

What will Felix Gall do today? He lost his 2nd place on GC to Primož Roglič on yesterday’s time trial, and was put on the defensive again earlier in the stage when the man directly behind him on GC, Richard Carapaz, went on the attack.

We’re approaching his territory again, with a big summit finish at the end of this stage. With 1:24 to make up to take second place back from Roglič again ,we can expect him to make an attack.

Yesterday felt like Primož Roglič’s big chance to make a move on to challenge Enric Mas, but though he didn’t make the kind of inroads many expected of him, that does not mean his bid for the red jersey is over.

Roglič has revealed that time trialling has not been a focus of his lately; which would imply that we shouldn’t read too much into his climbing form based on his time trialling form. He’s still got the ability, know-how and desire to put Mas under pressure on today’s final climb.

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40KM TO GO

The riders have reached the bottom of the downhill they've been descending, and now must ride about 20km of valley road before arriving at the foot of the final climb of Peñas Blancas.

The break's lead has been held at 4:45, which is a healthy one, but not enough to guarantee that the stage winner will come from one of them.

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30KM TO GO

The break have done a great job on this valley section, and increased their lead to over 6 and a half minutes. It does now look as though they will survive to fight for the stage win.

So who from the break looks the most likely to win the stage?

Guillaume Martin is the best-placed on GC, but could find himself prioritising making as many gains as possible rather than engaging in the tactical battle to win the stage - a situation he regularly finds himself in, having not taken a stage win yet in any of his many Grand Tour appearances.

Leknessund certainly has the know-how, having taken a stage already earlier in the Vuelta; as does Eddie Dunbar, who claimed a couple at the Vuelta two years ago. The difficulty of the climb could suit him more than it does Leknessund.

And as King of the Mountains, Buitrago is a prominent presence who ought to do well on such a finish, and is seeking a first Vuelta stage win having previously won twice at the Giro.

PENAS BLANCAS

The riders are onto the final climb of the day! It officially climbs at 6.5% for 18.8km, but that average gradient takes into account some much gentler segments - there actual climb is far harder than those stats make it sound. It's long and enough and has sections that are steep enough to cause big time losses for anyone dropped early.

This is set to be a thrilling fight for the stage win, and a dramatic one in the race for GC.

There's an early attack on the climb in the breakaway group, as Molard tries to get up the road; possibly as a satellite rider for Martin. He's dangling a few seconds ahead of the rest.

In the peloton, it's Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe who are leading on the lower slopes. They must have something planned for Primož Roglič.

Molard has been brought back after his attack, and the break remains all together. That won't last, once the gradient kicks up and the climb starts to get serious.

Meanwhile in the peloton, it's still Red Bull leading, showing impressive strength in numbers.

ATTACK - BUITRAGO

After a long turn from his teammate Miguel, Buitrago has attacked from the breakaway group. So far only two riders have gone with him - Gloag, and, a few bike-lengths behind, Dunbar.

Red Bull are trying to put him under pressure, but for now Mas remains comfortable in the peloton.

Up ahead in the break, Berrade has joined the leading trio, while Castrillo is also trying to bridge up to them - he's clearly been given some freedom to ride for himself today. Movistar must be feeling confidant.

10KM TO GO

Red Bull still lead the peloton with numerous riders, but the pace isn't especially high as reflected by the large number of riders still in the peloton.

The break is also managing to hold a big lead over them, with an advantage now over seven minutes. If it wasn't already beyond doubt that they would contest the stage, it now surely is.

A change in the peloton, as Movistar take over from Red Bull. They still have two teammates (Garcia Pierna and Romeo) to work for Mas, with Castrillo also up the road in reserve.

Castrillo is also now losing ground to the leaders, and has been caught and passed by both Leknessund and Camprubí. His hopes of winning a stage are disappearing, so he may be called back by his team.

Still no attacks from the peloton, but there is no a change at the front as EF take over. That suggests Carapaz is going to try something, having failed with an attack earlier.

There are still about 20 riders in the peloton, but not among them is Skjelmose, who has just been dropped. He's set to fall further down the GC, having dropped to eighth yesterday.

2KM TO GO

At the front, it's still the same four riders together - Buitrago, Gloag, Berrade and Dunbar. None of them have attacked each other yet, but will have to soon as the summit nears.

ATTACK - BUITRAGO

Moments after that post, Buitrago attacked - and it's a deadly one! He's got a gap of ten seconds already, and looks very strong. Could this be the stage-winning move?

1KM TO GO

Dunbar is trying to chase Buitrago by himself, but still has ten seconds to make up as he goes under the flamme rouge.

In the peloton, EF's Rodriguez has finished his long turn, but no attack has come yet from his teammate Carapaz.

Dunbar has closed in on Buitrago and caught him with less than 500m to ride...and now he goes straight past him! It looks like Dunbar is riding to victory.

EDDIE DUNBAR WINS

The Irishman has done it, soloing the final few hundred metres to take the stage win. Buitrago comes home about 15 seconds later, with the consolation prize of a second-place finish and some more points in his KOM defence.

ATTACK - ROGLIC

And now Roglič makes his move! It's not an especially explosive one, though, and Mas, Onley, Gall and Carapaz can all follow him.

Omrzel managed to claw his way back to the group, and the pace is slow enough for him to attack out of it. There's a stalemate in the group of favourites as they enter the final kilometre.

Mas takes control for the final metres of the climb to bring Omrzel back, and then Carapaz leads them over the finish line in the final sprint. Nothing separates the top GC favourites at the line, so it's as you were going into tomorrow's final mountain stage.

The winner today, Eddie Dunbar!

He was in defensive mode rather than aggressive today, but that was another day successfully navigated for Enric Mas. He didn't look under any pressure all day, and despite a lot of threats to attack in the GC group on the final climb, a move only came inside the final 2km from Primož Roglič, which he was able to answer.

At the end of a long, epic stage of the Vuelta, which witnessed the longest battle to get into the break we've seen so far at the race, it was Eddie Dunbar who ultimately came out on top.

The GC race didn't see much movement, with the top five coming home together, and just the one change in the GC as Skjelmose and Rodríguez swapped places. Have a read of our full report here.

Vuelta a España: Eddie Dunbar denies Santiago Buitrago with late pass on Peñas Blancas as Irishman claims stage 19 victory

Thanks for joining us today! Enric Mas managed to make it through today unscathed, but tomorrow could be another matter. It's the queen stage of the race, featuring a whopping 5,000m elevation gain across five mountains, including a huge summit finish to Collado del Alguacil.

As brilliant as Mas has been so far throughout this Vuelta, this stage is potentially hard to break anyone. It's set to be a thriller, and could throw some real twists in the GC action; and, once again, we'll bring you all the action from start to finish on Cyclingnews.

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