Stage 19 of the Vuelta a España brings the peloton from Asturias into Galicia on the road from Tapia to Monforte de Lemos. The terrain is hilly in the opening part of the stage, which should offer a springboard for a break to forge clear.
Primož Roglič wears the red jersey and holds a commanding lead atop the overall standings after he won atop Lagos de Covadonga and then managed his rivals adroitly on the new climb of the Gamoniteiru on Thursday.
(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
General classification after stage 18
1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 73:24:25
2 Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team 0:02:30
3 Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno (Col) Movistar Team 0:02:53
Our man in Spain Alasdair Fotheringham has analysed the lay of the land in the general classification ahead of the final three days in Galicia. Roglič's hefty lead and the final time trial mean that he looks, by some distance, the most likely winner in Santiago de Compostela on Sunday night, but the Vuelta's history is puncuated by late surprises on seemingly manageable terrain. "The last two road stages are hard enough, though, that their potential risks for Roglič and the rest of the GC favourites can’t be ruled out," writes Alasdair. "Friday’s finale is not too tricky and the stage’s second half is far flatter than its opening segment, but Saturday has been deliberately designed to create surprises, and it may yet do so." Read his full analysis here.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
The roll out today is at 12.11 CET, with the peloton due to hit kilometre zero at 12.29.
Michael Storer (DSM) wears the king of the mountains jersey today after his stint in the break yesterday. "I’m happy to keep the jersey in the team today,” said Storer, who inherited the jersey from teammate Romain Bardet. “Seeing as I was in the break it was worth picking up the points; it doesn’t matter who it’s with in the end, just as a team we want to win the jersey so it’s better if two of us have plenty of points going into the next stages.” Read more here.
(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
The peloton is in the 9km-long neutralised zone, with the stage proper scheduled to start at 12.29 CET.
-191km
The peloton has reached kilometre zero and stage 19 of the Vuelta a España is formally underway.
There are three classified climbs early in the stage, the category 3 Alto de Sela de Entorcisa, the category 2 Alto de Garganta and the category 2 Alto de Barbeitos, but the attacking has started even before the road begins to rise.
Mikael Cheral (AG2R-Citroen) and Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious) are part of a seven-man move that opens a small gap over the peloton in the opening kilometres.
-185km
Seven riders have a slender lead over the peloton: Mikael Cherel (AG2R-Citroën Team), Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH), Aritz Bagües (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious) and Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team). Lawson Craddock (EF-Nippo) is attempting to forge across.
The front group swells to 24 riders, with Craddock, Fabio Aru, Quinn Simmons and Magnus Cort among those to make it across.
-177km
The break is sizeable and unwieldy, but it's got such a spread of teams aboard that it looks set to be granted its freedom. The 24 escapees have minute in hand on the peloton as they approach the first climb, the category 3 Alto de Sela de Entorcisa (9.9km at 3.9%).
-175km
Break:
Mikael Cherel (AG2R-Citroën Team), Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH), Aritz Bagües (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), Patrick Gamper (Bora-Hansgrohe), Pelayo Sanchez (Burgos-BH), Julen Amezqueta, Oier Lazkano (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Eddy Finé (Cofidis), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF Education Nippo), Arnaud Démare, Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Robert Stannard (Team BikeEchange), Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates)
Peloton at 1:20
Meanwhile, Carlos Canal (Burgos-BH), Xabier Mikel Azparren (Euskaltel Euskadi), Andrey Zeits (Team BikeExchange), Martijn Tusveld (Team DSM), Mikel Bizkarra (Euskaltel Euskadi) and Guy Niv (Israel Start-Up Nation) are in the no man’s land between the break and the bunch.
Jan Tratnik (Bahrain Victorious), Jesus Herrada (Cofidis), Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) and Romain Bardet (Team DSM) are now among the chasers. The peloton's interest in controlling affairs has increased and the gaps are tightening accordingly.
-170km
The presence of Pidcock, Tratnik and Bardet has doomed the chasing group, which has been swept up by the peloton. Meanwhile, the gap to the break has dropped to 50 seconds.
-169km
Break:
Mikael Cherel (AG2R-Citroën Team), Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH), Aritz Bagües (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), Patrick Gamper (Bora-Hansgrohe), Pelayo Sanchez (Burgos-BH), Julen Amezqueta, Oier Lazkano (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Eddy Finé (Cofidis), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort Nielsen (EF Education Nippo), Arnaud Démare, Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Robert Stannard (Team BikeEchange), Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates)
Peloton at 0:50
Magnus Cort led the break over the top of the Alto de Sela de Entorcisa. After a short descent, the race faces immediately into the category 2 Alto de Garganta, which climbs for 10.3km at 5.6%.
Pavel Sivakov (Ineos) is part of a three-man move making another attempting to bridge across to the break, but it doesn't look as though the bunch will grant them the latitude to do so.
This stage is nowhere close to settling down just yet. Out in front, the breakaway group is shedding riders on this category 2 climb. Further back, Ion Izagirre (Astana) is among the men trying to bridge across. The peloton containing the red jersey Roglič and his closest rivals is at 1:20.
Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ), Eddy Finéc (Cofidis), Aritz Bagues (Caja Rural) and Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH) are among the riders dropped from the front group on the Alto da Garganta.
-158km
The brisk pace on the Alto da Garganta continues to whittle the break down in size, while the peloton remains barely a minute behind the escapees.
-157km
Break:
Mikael Cherel (AG2R-Citroën Team), Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), Pelayo Sanchez (Burgos-BH), Julen Amezqueta, Oier Lazkano (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Robert Stannard (Team BikeEchange), Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates)
Peloton at 0:58
Fabio Aru led Andrea Bagiolio and Jay Vine over the top of the Alto da Garganta. The bunch, led by BikeExchange, follows at a little over a minute.
-150km
The 18 leaders descend towards Ferreria, which is the starting point of the day's next ascent, the category 2 Alto de Barbeitos (11.8km at 3.8%).
Despite the rugged terrain, the break covered 36.2km in the first hour and the pace is taking its toll further back. Sacha Modolo (Alpecin-Fenix) and Sergio Henao (Team Qhubeka NextHash) have both abandoned the Vuelta today.
-143km
Break:
Mikael Cherel (AG2R-Citroën Team), Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), Pelayo Sanchez (Burgos-BH), Julen Amezqueta, Oier Lazkano (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Robert Stannard (Team BikeEchange), Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates)
Peloton at 1:20
-139km
The break is on the Alto de Barbeitos and their advantage is edging out towards the two-minute mark.
The pace has abated slightly - slightly - in the peloton, and the break's lead extends accordingly. 1:58 the gap.
Team BikeExchange have been setting the tempo in the peloton, and with good reason. Green jersey Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-QuickStep) is in a group that was distanced on the second climb, and they sense an opportunity to tee up a reduced bunch sprint for Michael Matthews.
-133km
Break:
Mikael Cherel (AG2R-Citroën Team), Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), Pelayo Sanchez (Burgos-BH), Julen Amezqueta, Oier Lazkano (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Robert Stannard (Team BikeEchange), Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates)
Peloton at 1:54
Fabio Jakobsen group at 5:04
-128km
Mikaël Cherel leads Quinn Simmons and Antonio Jesus Soto over the top of the Alto de Barbeitos. The peloton trails at 1:50 and the Jakobsen group is at 5:10.
-120km
The categorised ascents are finished for the day, though there is still plenty of climbing to come on the rolling roads from here to the finish. Even so, with the break just 1:30 clear, BikeExchange will be optimistic about their chances of teeing up a sprint for Matthews.
DSM have also joined the chase effort at the head of the peloton with a view to setting up a sprint for Alberto Dainese.
-111km
Break:
Mikael Cherel (AG2R-Citroën Team), Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), Pelayo Sanchez (Burgos-BH), Julen Amezqueta, Oier Lazkano (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Robert Stannard (Team BikeEchange), Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates)
Peloton at 1:42
Fabio Jakobsen group at 6:05
-102km
Out in front, meanwhile, the breakaway is beginning to fragment. Bagioli, Cort Nielsen, Roux, Stannard, Vine and Kron attack, opening a small gap over the rest.
The six-man move is snuffed out and there are again 18 riders at the front, but it remains to be seen how that will affect their collaboration in the final 100km of this stage.
-94km
For the time being, that attack has added a little urgency to the break's efforts. Their lead over the DSM-led peloton has extended to 2:43.
-87km
DSM set the pace at the head of the bunch, with Roglič's Jumbo-Visma guard lined up behind them.
-84km
Break:
Mikael Cherel (AG2R-Citroën Team), Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), Pelayo Sanchez (Burgos-BH), Julen Amezqueta, Oier Lazkano (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Robert Stannard (Team BikeEchange), Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates)
Peloton at 2:18
Fabio Jakobsen group at 6:05
DSM's pace-making on this long, shallow descent is opening some gaps in the peloton. They should close again quickly, but it's a reminder to the GC men of the need to stay attentive...
-77km
There is a lot of firepower on this break and none of the riders are any threat on GC. It has all the elements of the kind of move that should go the distance, but they haven't been afforded the leeway thanks to the efforts of first BikeExchange and now DSM. The gap is two minutes.
-72km
DSM's chasing continues to make inroads into the break's lead, which now stands at 1:38. The group of green jersey Fabio Jakobsen, meanwhile, is 10:30 back.
-67km
This has been a relentless stage thus far, with an average of 41.1kph thus far. Both the break and the peloton are stretched out in long lines, with gaps forming and closing in both groups...
-65km
The breakaway appears to be losing quite a bit of its unity on the road through Lugo, with Kron and Bagioli among those threatening to strike out on their own. The 18 men remain together for now, but one senses attacks are imminent.
-64km
Romain Bardet is among the DSM delegation riding at the head of the peloton, 1:30 down on the escapees.
-61km
DSM's pace-making has kept the peloton within sight of the break but it hasn't brought them much closer. The gap remains at 1:30 even though the 18 escapees aren't exactly singing from the same hymn sheet. DSM have the air of a team who could do with some help, but none is forthcoming for now.
-60km
Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo) attacks alone from the break in the hope, perhaps, of drawing a smaller and more cohesive group with him.
After Simmons is brought back, Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates) is the next to strike out alone... Who will respond?
-56km
Oliveira is alone at the head of the race but Robert Stannard leads the pursuit of the Portugues rider.
The break has fragmented thanks to Oliveira's attack. He is joined in front by a group of 7 or so riders, including Simmon and Bagioli, but the bunch has closed to 1:15.
-54km
Break:
Mikael Cherel (AG2R-Citroën Team), Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix), Pelayo Sanchez (Burgos-BH), Julen Amezqueta, Oier Lazkano (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Robert Stannard (Team BikeEchange), Fabio Aru (Team Qhubeka NextHash), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira and Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates)
Peloton at 1:11
-51km
Cherel, Vine, Sanchez, Amezqueta, Stannard, Aru and Polanc have been distanced, leaving 11 riders at the head of the race, 1:04 clear of the DSM-led bunch.
-48km
Break:
Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates)
Peloton at 1:05
Aru, Polanc, Stannard et al have been swept up by the peloton, leaving the eleven survivors from the break 1:07 clear at the head of the race.
Stannard's return to the peloton sparks BikeExchange back into the action. They send a man to the head of the bunch to help DSM's pursuit.
-45km
The newly streamlined break of 11 riders is working a little more smoothly for the time being and their gap has stabilised at 1:07 over the bunch, where DSM and BikeExchange holds the reins.
-43km
A crash in the peloton, and Louis Meintjes (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) is among the fallers. The South African is still lying on the tarmac and it's not immediately clear if he will be able to continue.
Louis Meintjes has abandoned the Vuelta a España after his crash. The South African was lying 10th overall ahead of today's stage.
Ion Izagirre (Astana Premier Tech) is a faller after crashing into what appears to be a BikeExchange soigneur who was standing in the road. The Basque remounts gingerly and continues in the race.
-38km
The BikeExchange riders, meanwhile, are now piling on the pressure in pursuit of the break and the gap is down to 50 seconds.
-35km
Break:
Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates)
Pelototn at 0:42
Fabio Jakobsen group at 10:30
-34km
Quinn Simmons attacks again from the break, mindful that the peloton is rapidly closing in upon them....
Rui Oliveira bridges across to Quinn Simmons, and this duo has established a lead over the rest of the break.
-33km
Break:
Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo) and Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates)
Chasers at 0:20:
Nico Denz (Team DSM), Antonio Jesus Soto (Euskaltel Euskadi), Mark Padun (Bahrain Victorious), Damien Touzé (AG2R-Citroën Team), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-Quick Step), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education Nippo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal)
Peloton at 0:40
Fabio Jakobsen group at 10:30
The break has completely splintered thanks to that Simmons and Oliveria move. Lawson Craddock and Andreas Kron are grimly inching across to the two leaders, while the remants of the break looks set to be swept up by the peloton.
-31km
On a long, long drag, Simmons manages to open a small gap over Oliveira, but the Portuguese rider comes back up to him. Craddock and Kron are 17 seconds down on the two leaders....
This has been a brutally tough day, with an average speed in excess of 40kph, and the race is well up on its fastest expected schedule. Remarkable so deep into the third week of a Grand Tour.
-30km
Break:
Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo) and Rui Oliveria (UAE Team Emirates)
Chasers at 0:20:
Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF-Nippo), Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ)
Peloton at 0:50
-27.5km
Simmons leads Oliveira through the intermediate sprint with a lead 16 seconds on Cort, Bagioli, Craddock, Roux and Kron and 40 seconds on the BikeExchange-led peloton.
-26km
Cort, Bagioli, Kron, Craddock and Roux are about to catch Simmons and Oliveira, but their lead over the bunch is just 30 seconds.
-25km
Break:
Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education-Nippo), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates) and Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal)
Peloton at 0:28
-21km
BikeExchange continue to lead the chase in the peloton, 29 seconds down on the seven remaining escapees.
-20km
Into the final 20km for Bagioli, Cort, Craddock, Simmons, Roux, Kron and Oliveira, who still have half a minute on the reduced peloton at the end of this blisteringly fast stage.
-18km
The seven leaders are swapping turns smoothly for the time being and maintaining their buffer over the bunch, where only BikeExchange are contributing to the chase. The Australian squad could do with an ally of circumstance to help close this gap as the strongmen in front aren't showing any sign of stalling just yet.
-16km
A delegation from DSM returns to the front of the peloton to help BikeExchange's pursuit. This could be the pivotal moment in this finale, but the gap remains at 31 seconds.
-15km
Romain Bardet puts in a long turn on the front. 27 seconds the gap to the break...
-14km
Break:
Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education-Nippo), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates) and Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal)
Peloton at 0:24
-12km
The odds look in the bunch's favour here, as the gap closes to 21 seconds with 12km remaining.
-10km
This has been a mammoth turn on the front from Bardet. The break's lead, however, stands firm at 22 seconds as the race enters the final 10km.
-8.5km
The break has maintained its unity admirably into this finale, and the seven leaders have stretched their advantage out once again to 28 seconds. Suddenly, they can sense the stage win is very much in their range...
-8km
Break:
Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education-Nippo), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates) and Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal)
Peloton at 0:30
-6km
The gap is still 30 seconds as the break hits the final 6km. If they maintain their unity a little longer, the leading septet should fight out the stage win. Craddock puts in another big, big turn in support of Cort.
-5km
Break:
Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo), Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ), Lawson Craddock, Magnus Cort (EF Education-Nippo), Andrea Bagioli (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates) and Andreas Kron (Lotto Soudal)
Peloton at 0:33
-3km
Still 30 seconds for the escapees, and their smooth collaboration in the final 20km has helped to ensure they stay clear of the bunch.
Cort drops to the back of the break, while his teammate Craddock sets a brisk tempo to help discourage any attacks...
-2km
26 seconds for the seven escapees as they enter the final 2km...
-1km
Into the final kilometre for the seven leaders, with Craddock leading below the flamme rouge...
Craddock continues to lead through the final kilometre. Bagioli, Simmons, Kron, Roux, Oliveira and Cort are poised for the sprint...
Craddock leads into the finishing straight. Simmons opens the sprint from distance...
Cort comes around him...
Magnus Cort (EF Education-Nippo) wins stage 19 of the Vuelta a España.
Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates) took second ahead of Quinn Simmons (Trek-Segafredo).
Alberto Dainese (DSM) won the sprint for 8th, 19 seconds back.
Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) retains the red jersey and maintains his overall lead ahead of the final weekend.
Result
1 Magnus Cort (Den) EF Education-Nippo 04:24:54
2 Rui Oliveira (Por) UAE Team Emirates
3 Quinn Simmons (USA) Trek-Segafredo
4 Andrea Bagioli (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5 Anthony Roux (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
6 Andreas Kron (Den) Lotto Soudal
7 Lawson Craddock (USA) EF Education-Nippo 00:00:05
8 Alberto Dainese (Ita) Team DSM 00:00:18
9 Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Team Emirates
10 Alexander Krieger (Ger) Alpecin-Fenix
General classification
1 Primoz Roglic (Slo) Jumbo-Visma 77:49:37
2 Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar Team 00:02:30
3 Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno (Col) Movistar Team 00:02:53
4 Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain Victorious 00:04:36
5 Egan Bernal Gomez (Col) Ineos Grenadiers 00:04:43
6 Adam Yates (GBr) Ineos Grenadiers 00:05:44
7 Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma 00:06:02
8 Gino Mäder (Swi) Bahrain Victorious 00:07:48
9 Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis 00:08:31
10 David de la Cruz (Spa) UAE Team Emirates 00:09:24
That’s Magnus Cort’s third stage win of this Vuelta after previous victories at Alto de Cullera and Cordoba. The Dane previously won a brace of stages in 2016 and another in 2020.
Magnus Cort: "It's amazing, it's a dream now, I really hope I don't wake up.It was not before the last five or six kilometres that I started believing. They always kept us close and it was a really hard day. We didn't always work perfect together in the front, we had a few attacks that reduced the size of the group. I think everybody had tired legs and it was hard to work together in this hilly terrain but somehow we managed to hang onto it.
"I have to thank my teammate Lawson Craddock for doing a very amazing job, I could not have this victory without having him with me in the breakaway today.Which was the best? I think the first was the most spectacular, it was amazing to win on top of a small - I'll call it a mountain, I come from Denmark and we don't have hills that big, it was almost a small mountain for me. That was a really special victory. Now having three in the same race - that's unbelievable."
(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Lawson Craddock celebrates his teammate Magnus Cort's win. (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
Primož Roglič, who received the 50th Grand Tour leader's jersey of his career this afternoon: "It’s beautiful to have my family here. They are my life and I’m very happy. It was a hard day from the start to the finish. A super strong break went away. For us, it was fine, and we could take it easy. But La Vuelta is coming to an end so there aren’t much opportunities left. The sprinters’ teams pulled with a super hard tempo. It’s crazy [that this is my 50th Grand Tour leader’s jersey]. Hopefully I can keep it. I’m never good with statistics, so I’m always positively surprised.”
(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
A full report, pictures and results from today's stage are available here.
(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
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