Vuelta a España 2019

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Sepp Kuss took his 1st Grand Tour stage win on stage 15 of la Vuelta for Jumbo-Visma, as his team leader Primož Roglič survived another big mountain stage keeping his grip strong on the red jersey.

Results of stage 15: Tineo to Santuario del Acebo (154.4km)

  1. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma, in 4-19-04
  2. Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Katusha-Alpecin, at 39 seconds
  3. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Ineos, at 40s
  4. Óscar Rodríguez (Esp) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias, at 53s
  5. Mark Padun (Ukr) Bahrain-Merida, at 1-49
  6. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Dimension Data, at 2-05
  7. Lawson Craddock (USA) EF Education First, at 2-11
  8. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, at 2-14
  9. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at same time
  10. Armée Sander (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 2-48

Others:

  1. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 2-55
  2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at same time
  3. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 3-50

General classification after stage 15

  1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 58-10-32
  2. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 2-25
  3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 3-42
  4. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 3-59
  5. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 5-09
  6. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 7-14
  7. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, at 9-08
  8. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Sunweb, at 9-15
  9. Carl Frederik Hagen (Nor) Lotto-Soudal, at 9-44
  10. Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain-Merida, at 11-39

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Monday 9th September / Stage 16: Pravia to Alto de La Cubilla. Lena (144.4km)

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Yesterdays difficult mountains stage is followed up by another difficult one today.
Two leg stinging 1st category climbs lead to a summit finish on the Alto de la Cubilla Lena which isn’t very steep averaging 6.2% but it does go up for 18 km!
The GC and stage contenders will give it all in today knowing tomorrow (Tuesday) is a ‘rest day’.

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The breakaway didn’t get caught today, lots of attacking action within a big break.
Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) is rewarded with a fantastic summit finish stage victory.

The ongoing changes to GC suggest Quintana is going out of contention, maybe he will change tactics and ride for another stage victory?
Primož Roglič is looking strong holding on to the red jersey, looks like the battle is between who else will end up on the podium in Madrid, Valverde, Pogačar, and ‘superman’ López mark each other closely, albeit Valverde letting slip 23 seconds to the other two.

Results of stage 16: Pravia to Alto de La Cubilla Lena

  1. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana, in 4-01-22
  2. Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Ineos, at 22 seconds
  3. Luis León Sánchez (Esp) Astana, at 40s
  4. James Knox (GBr) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 42s
  5. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Trek-Segafredo, at 1-12
  6. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 2-09
  7. Mikel Bizkarra (Esp) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias, at 2-15
  8. Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Eri) Dimension Data, at 2-21
  9. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 2-32
  10. Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale, at same time

General classification after stage 16

  1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 62-17-52
  2. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 2-48
  3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 3-42
  4. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 3-59
  5. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 7-40
  6. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 7-43
  7. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, at 10-27
  8. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Sunweb, at 10-34
  9. Carl Frederik Hagen (Nor) Lotto-Soudal, at 10-40
  10. Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain-Merida, at 12-05
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It’s a ‘Rest Day’ today.

Five stages to go, a look ahead to the final week of la Vuelta 19 that ends in Madrid next Sunday : )

17 Flat Wednesday, september 11, 2019 Aranda de Duero > Guadalajara 219.6 km STAGE 17
18 Mountain Thursday, september 12, 2019 Comunidad de Madrid. Colmenar Viejo > Becerril de la Sierra 177.5 km STAGE 18
19 Flat Friday, september 13, 2019 Ávila > Toledo 165.2 km STAGE 19
20 Mountain Saturday, september 14, 2019 Arenas de San Pedro > Plataforma de Gredos 190.4 km STAGE 20
21 Flat Sunday, september 15, 2019 Fuenlabrada > Madrid 106.6 km STAGE 21
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Wednesday 11th / Stage 17: Aranda de Duero to Guadalajara (219.6km)

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After a rest day, the race continues with a long 219.6 km stage, the first one of three sprinter friendly days in the final week in the centre of Spain.

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The burning question on everyones lips, “will Quintana be too tired to keep up in tomorrow’s mountain stage - will he suffer and get shot out the back again”?

Must of been very hard for most being a 220km long fast stage with limited shelter in crosswinds!

Another fine win for Gilbert but he was lucky to have almost his entire Quick-Step team for help.
Again strange tactics from team Movistar on front of the chase peloton but i bet Quintana was niggled when he found out about that! : /

Results of stage 17: Aranda de Duero to Guadalajara (219.6km)

1 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, in 40-20-15
2 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 2s
3 Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck – Quick-Step
4 Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida
5 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Subweb
6 Jonas Koch (Ger) CCC Team
7 Lawson Craddock (USA) EF Education First
8 Tim Declercq (Bel) Deceuninck – Quick-Step
9 Silvan Dillier (Sui) AG2R La Mondiale, all at same time
10 James Knox (GBr) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 6s

  1. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 2-24 + combative award

General classification after stage 17

1 Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 66-43-36
2 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 2-24
3 Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 2-48
4 Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 3-42
5 Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 3-59
6 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Sunweb, at 5-05
7 Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 7-40
8 James Knox (GBr) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 8-03
9 Carl Hagen (Nor) Lotto-Soudal, at 10-43
10 Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida, at 12-21

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Thursday 12th / Stage 18: Comunidad de Madrid. Colmenar Viejo to Becerril de la Sierra (177.5km)

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A quartet of 1st category climbs await the remaining 156 competitors today : )

Plus a coupe of jersey wearer changes:

Leader / Red Jersey - Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma
Points / Green Jersey - (1st Primož Roglič) pass to 2nd placed Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
Climber / Polkadot Jersey - Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) AG2R
Youth / White Jersey - Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates

Team = Movistar with 32:14 over 2nd place Astana Pro Team

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Roglič continues to stamp his authority on the red jersey, and a fabulous win from Columbian Sergio Higuita. I’m very pleased to see team EF Education First walk away with a stage win, down to just 5 men in the first week they deserved to get lucky more than anyone.

And another multi-reshuffle in the top ten GC.
A shame young Tadej suffered the effects of tired legs from yesterday, let’s hope he recovers tomorrow in time for the final mountain stage blowout on Saturday : )

Results of stage 18: Colmenar Viejo to Becerril de la Sierra (177.5km)

  1. Sergio Higuita (Col) EF Education First, in 4-33-09 + combative award
  2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, at 15 seconds
  3. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar
  4. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, all same time
  5. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 17 seconds
  6. Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Loto-Soudal, at 1-16
  7. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Dimension Data
  8. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar
  9. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, all same time
  10. Óscar Rodríguez (Esp) Euskadi-Murias, at 3-47

General classification after stage 18

  1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 71-16-54
  2. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 2-50
  3. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 3-31
  4. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, 4-17
  5. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 4-49
  6. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 7-46
  7. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Sunweb, at 9-46
  8. Carl Fredrik Hagen (Nor) Loto-Soudal, at 11-50
  9. James Knox (GBr) Deceuninck-Quick-Step, at 12-44
  10. Marc Soler (Esp) Movistar, at 21-09

Superman López takes white jersey from Tadej Pogačar,
But Tadej takes the green jersey from Sam Bennett :grin:

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Friday 13th unlucky for some! : / Stage 19: Ávila to Toledo (165.2km)

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After an uphill start, the course is fairly straightforward to the finish in Toledo, where an uphill sprint to the line will take place that could see a rouleur get the better of the sprinters.

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A multi-rider crash in rainswept conditions with 66 km remaining, that included race leader Primož Roglič and fourth place overall Miguel Ángel López (Astana), and then some confusion with team Movistar simultaneously driving the peloton hard at the front causing some unfair distance from the fallen red jersey. Movistar and the peloton did eventually ease up to allow the held-up riders to catch up, but this kerfuffle allowed an 11 man breakaway even further up ahead to remain away for longer, only one rider from the break, Rémi Cavagna attacked solo from 25 km out to secure a 4th Vuelta.19 stage victory for Quick-Step.

The biggest casualty of the crash was Jumbo-Visma’s Tony Martin, who was forced to abandon the race.

Results of stage 19: Ávila to Toledo (165.2km)

  1. Rémi Cavagna (Fra) Deceuninck-Quick-Step, in 3-43-34 + combative award
  2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 5 seconds
  3. Zdeněk Štybar (Cze) Deceuninck-Quick-Step
  4. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Deceuninck-Quick-Step
  5. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, all same time
  6. Tosh Van Der Sande (Bel) Lotto-Soudal, at 8 seconds
  7. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida
  8. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates
  9. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana
  10. Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), all same time

GC remains the same except for Valverde gaining 3 seconds on race leader Roglič

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Saturday 14th / Stage 20: Arenas de San Pedro to Plataforma de Gredos (189km)

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This penultimate mountain stage is the last chance they’ll get to topple Roglič.
I get the impression today’s race will start very fast, and then get very aggressive : )

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< SPOILER ALERT! >

Lot’s of action today [ and some inaction too ] but a fantastic performance from young Pogačar who took a clear and decisive victory of todays stage, and gaining enough time to knock Quintana off the 3rd podium spot!, and to win overall lead of the white jersey for best young rider :sunglasses:

A must to see on Channel 24 in just a little while later tonight: ITV4 19:00 - 20:00

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Results of stage 20: Arenas de San Pedro to Plataforma de Gredos (190.4km)

  1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 5-16-40
  2. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 1-32
  3. Rafał Majka (Pol) Movistar
  4. Hermann Pernsteiner (Aut) Bahrain-Merida, all at same time
  5. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, at 1-41
  6. Sergio Higuita (Col) EF Education First, at 1-49
  7. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida, at same time
  8. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 1-56
  9. Mikel Nieve (Esp) Mitchelton-Scott, at 1-59
  10. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Sunweb, at same time

General classification after stage 20

  1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 80-18-54
  2. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 2-33
  3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 2-55
  4. Nairo Quintana (Esp) Movistar, at 3-46
  5. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 4-48
  6. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 7-33
  7. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Sunweb, at 10-04
  8. Carl Frederik Hagen (Nor) Lotto-Soudal, at 12-54
  9. Marc Soler (Esp) Movistar, at 22-27
  10. Mikel Nieve (Esp) Mitchelton-Scott, at 22-34

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Sunday 15th Sept / Stage 21: Fuenlabrada to Madrid (106.6km)

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The formality of the final processional stage, the flattest of the tour.
But who will win the sprint finish in Madrid?

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Results of stage 21: Fuenlabrada to Madrid (106.6km)

  1. Fabio Jakobsen (Ned) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, in 2-48-20
  2. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
  3. Szymon Sajnok (Pol) CCC
  4. Jon Aberasturi (Esp) Caja Rural – Seguros RGA
  5. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Dimension Data
  6. Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
  7. Tosh Van der Sande (Bel) Lotto-Soudal
  8. Clément Venturini (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale
  9. Marc Sarreau (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
  10. Dion Smith (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott, all at same time

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Final general classifications

  1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma, in 83-07-31
  2. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 2-16
  3. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, at 2-38
  4. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 3-29
  5. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 4-31 + wins Vuelta 19 combative award
  6. Rafał Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe, at 7-16
  7. Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Sunweb, at 9-47
  8. Carl Frederik Hagen (Nor) Lotto-Soudal, at 12-54
  9. Marc Soler (Esp) Movistar, at 22-10
  10. Mikel Nieve (Esp) Mitchelton-Scott, at 22-17

Final points classification

  1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo-Visma – 155 pts
  2. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates – 136 pts
  3. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe – 134 pts

Final king of the mountains classification

  1. Geoffrey Bouchard (Fra) Ag2r La Mondiale – 76 pts
  2. Ángel Madrazo (Esp) Burgos-BH- 44 pts
  3. Segio Samitier (Esp) Euskadi Basque Country – Murias – 42 pts

Final youth classification

  1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates, in 83-10-09
  2. Miguel Ángel López (Col) Astana, at 1-53
  3. James Knox (GBr) Deceuninck – Quick-Step, at 20-14

Final teams classification

  1. Movistar (Esp), in 248-26-24
  2. Astana (Kaz), in 51-38
  3. Jumbo-Visma, at 2-04-33
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Movistar got the team award, that make you happy Debs ? :grinning::grinning::grinning:

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I think all the awards worked out fine IMO, they deserved it, and Movistar definitely deserved to win the best Team Award, an experienced team that isn’t afraid to have a go even against each other! ; ) …a team of excellent climber specialists, and considering they are only average funded team they can often punch well above their weight.

However, being a Trek-Segafredo supporter myself i can’t admit to feeling happy, the Trekkies didn’t seen to get out in front much in la Vuelta.19, and they finished way down in 18th place in the Team Award, compare that to the 2nd place in la TdF which for quite a while of it were actually leading.

Goes to show that Movistar have consistency excellence, they must be doing somethings right, and something maybe helping them is the inclusion of more hilly stages, not mountainous but just very hilly and not over-long. I think this is a good thing, i remember the long flat boring stages that seem to be the norm on the first half of the TdF, and when they got to the Alps or Pyrenees scores of specialist sprinters would pack their bags and abandon.

If i were team manageress of Trek-Segafredo, which i hasten to add is less than average funded, i’d forget all about having a fancy pants team sprinter, and which usually requires a muscle-bound lead-out man or two, plus accepting the dangers of the high speed finish line broken bone pile-up, but go for a lean team of gravity defying specialist climbers who can help each other, get in the breaks and be on the razz for stage wins. However, if one does really turn out to shine then do go for GC, but i don’t think team Trek’ can afford to buy in the very best, although they have signed on the Nibali brothers for next season, so perhaps they’re going to have the aces high climber team, i hope so, and hope they do better than how they did with Richie Porte this year : /

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Totally agree, but was yanking your chain a bit with the Movistar team award, I have picked up on your trek allegiance!

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