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Vuelta a España stage 16 – Live coverage

Stage 16 profile 2020 Vuelta a Espana

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Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 16 of the Vuelta a España.

We're around 30 minutes from the riders starting their day with a roll-out in the neutralised zone in Salamanca – just three days of racing left in the 2020 season.

We have one non-starter confirmed today. Astana rider and Spanish champion Luis León Sánchez will not make it to the end of his 11th Vuelta. He's heading home for personal reasons.

It's hard to say exactly what could happen on today's stage. There's a chance that crosswinds affect the race, and it looks like a good day for a breakaway.

"I wouldn't be at all surprised if somebody tried to make a move on Friday's stage 16. The last first category ascent is a fair way from the finish, but it's got some very steep sections, and there are some draggy unclassified climbs straight afterwards. Maybe not a full attack, but one to test the water a bit and see how the other GC rivals are going."

Race leader Primož Roglič and his Jumbo-Visma team look ready for the stage, in any case.

The Vuelta's NTT predictor puts Roglič, Pascal Ackermann and yesterday's winner Jasper Philipsenas the favourites today. It is possible that the sprinters might prevail if the climbs aren't raced hard...

The riders will take the neutralised start in just over five minutes.

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There's around 20km to go at the opening stage of the Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta. We'll get you the results as soon as we know them.

Back to the men's race and the riders have set off in the neutralised zone now.

Heading into today's stage, Roglič holds the red and green jersey, 35 seconds and 65 point up on Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers).

162km to go

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Deceuninck-QuickStep report that the wind isn't that strong out on the road of the early kilometres of the stage.

Riders are attacking from the off, as usual. No moves have stuck at this early stage.

Here's what Roglič had to say before the start...

Stage 1 of the Madrid Challenge has just finished. Click here to find out who won.

148km to go

Angel Madrazo (Burgos-BH) is among the men to attack the peloton early on.

143km to go

The two Burgos-BH men have a gap of a minute at the moment.

Rémi Cavagna (Deceuninck-QuickStep) has attacked from the peloton now. They're 1:55 down on the leaders as the Frenchman goes 20 seconds clear.

Now more riders try to get away behind Cavagna.

137km to go

2:40 from the two leaders back to the peloton with the chase group 1:40 down.

131km to go

Amezqueta and Smit chase a minute down on the leaders, who are now five minutes up on the peloton.

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Bora-Hansgrohe and UAE Team Emirates lead the peloton.

The riders have covered 40kph in the first hour of racing.

Amezqueta and Smit are caught by the peloton. The gap to the break is currently 5:30.

Here's what Pascal Ackermann had to say about today's stage...

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Bora-Hansgrohe and UAE Team Emirates control the break's advantage as they approach the first climb of the day – El Portillo (13.8km at 4.4 per cent). The gap is 4:30 at the moment.

88km to go

UAE Team Emirates continue to control the front of the peloton. They're confident that Philipsen will survive over the climbs today.

A number of riders are tailing off the rear of the peloton on the climb.

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80km to go

The gap has actually gone back up, though. UAE and Bora don't want to go too hard on the climbs but also don't want the break to take too much time. A balancing act.

72km to go

Chris Froome takes to the front of the peloton for Ineos Grenadiers towards the top of the climb. Along with EF Pro Cycling and Jumbo-Visma, the peloton brings the gap from 4:40 to 3:45 at the top.

Amador now takes it up for Carapaz as the riders reach the valley. The gap is 2:30 now.

55km to go

Ezquerra is dropped from the break. Cavagna, Stannard, Goossens and Madrazo remain, now under two minutes up on the peloton.

46km to go

Spots of rain as the riders tackle the climb.

The riders have already tackled the easier first section and are now on the short descent. A minute back to the peloton now.

The peloton has really thinned down here as Ineos push the pace.

39km to go

Stannard is up with Cavagna now. UAE move back to the front with Rui Costa.

The remains of the break are caught, leaving just Cavagna and Stannard up front.

Attack from Cofidis rider Luis Angel Maté towards the top of the climb. 20 seconds to the break.

35km to go

Movistar move to the front of the peloton as the riders head down the descent. Two small climbs left to come, with the first coming in under 10km.

30km to go

25km to go

Up and over the first of the two unclassified hills. Movistar continue to lead.

Stannard and Cavagna are still hanging on to a slim advantage up front.

They're almost caught but then Cavagna pushes on once again.

17km to go

Cavagna won a stage from the break at last year's Vuelta after going solo late on, remember.

13km to go

He's motoring along this downhill section at speeds nearing 80kph.

9km to go

7km to go

6km to go

4.5km to go

Mitchelton-Scott lead the peloton.

2.5km to go

1.5km to go

750m to go

Valverde launches the sprint with Rui Costa and Roglič on his wheel while Cort also goes.

Magnus Cort (EF Pro Cycling) wins stage 16! It looked like Roglič took second to extend his GC lead.

Rui Costa was third ahead of Dion Smith and Carapaz.

Roglič extends his overall lead by six seconds ahead of tomorrow's penultimate stage to La Covatilla.

Cort celebrates his win.

Here's what Cort had to say after the stage:

And here's what Roglič had to say.

Here's our short report on the stage, which will soon be updated with full report and results.

Meanwhile, Rui Costa has reportedly been relegated from third place for dangerous sprinting.

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Roglič in red for another day.

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