A relatively mild mountain stage today, however there is a couple of kilometres of steep gradient on the summit finish climb. Evenepoel will need to be on his guard.
The highest summit finish in Grand Tour history is in store today, in what could be the decisive climb of this year’s Vuelta. The mighty Sierra Nevada is an enormous 2,500m above sea level, and, having featured in the Vuelta at least once every decade since the 1970s, is one of the race’s most iconic, and feared, landmarks.
This time, it’s climbed via the Alto de Hazallanas, which is itself an absolute monster of an ascent, with slopes of almost 10% sustained for over 7km. Upon reaching that summit, there’s a whole additional 12km to climb (at a testing 7%) before they at last get to the top of Sierra Nevada.
This high attitude here is alone enough to exhaust the riders, and in addition to being the second mountain of the day following the category one Alto del Purche, and as the third summit finish in four days, could wreak havoc on the race.
I have enjoyed the past two days of racing with Richard Carapaz getting another win yesterday and then falling back and helping his teammate up the last climb today. Also with both Primoz Roglic and Enric Mas taking back time from the race leader Remoc hopefully makes the last week more exciting for the fans following the race.
I agree it’s enjoyable, less crashes than usual, good racing, spectacular Spanish scenery, and with one week to go with an unpredictable winner. It’s also good that for the past couple of days the covid + test has not forced out any more, it’s taken out over a score of riders so far and changed the results outcome for the record.
If Remco wins this tour he will well deserve every accolade with a very determined Primož in the frame.
Today Enric Mas did well to arrive 2nd, gain time on GC, and thus helping to secure that podium position, the other podium challengers lost time, Carlos Rodríguez disappointment finishing 3:29 down, while 19 year old Juan Ayuso (the youngest competitor in this tour) limited his loses to gain a place over Carlos.
This tour won’t be settled until after next Saturday, a long way to go yet, anything can happen and it usually does.
Monday: rest day
Tue - Stage 16 Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Tomares (188.9km) flat
Wed - Stage 17 Aracena to Monasterio de Tentudía (160km) hilly
Thu - Stage 18 Trujillo to Alto de Piorna (191.7km) mountains
Fri - Stage 19 Talavera de la Reina to Talavera de la Reina (132.7km) hilly
Sat - Stage 20 Moralzarzal to Puerto de Navacerrada (175.5km) mountains
Sun - Stage 21 Las Rozas to Madrid (100.5km) flat
With the next flat stage being the final-stage in Madrid on Sunday, today looks like a good idea for those not so good at climbing to get into a breakaway, and make it stick.
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Two non-starters this morning:
Maxim van Gils (Bel) Lotto Soudal (Tested + Covid) Esteban Chaves (Col) EF Education-EasyPost
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142 riders on today’s Stage 16 start line
Jersey wearers:
Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo Jay Vine (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck Juan Ayuso (Esp) UAE Team Emirates (on loan from Evenepoel)
The loss of Roglič has changed the dynamic of this tour, Evenepoel may now be the favourite with Enric Mas 2nd, however there is now a close fight for the available 3rd podium position between Ayuso, Rodríguez, and Ángel López; who sit on GC within half a minute of each other.
Meanwhile, with the sudden lose of their leader, Team Jumbo-Visma will need to recalibrate their tactics, they have five classy members remaining in the team and with no spare GC contender. They can only turn their tactics to winning stages,
Remaining Jumbo-Visma on GC time (after stage 16) Chris Harper = 57:42 Sam Oomen = 1:05:56 Robert Gesink = 1:37:56 Rohan Dennis = 1:54:51 Mike Teunissen = 3:15:32
Rigoberto Uran’s well deserved stage win also propelled him up the GC to 9th place.
It will be interesting to see if the Columbian can recover and retain his top ten GC status during the tough mountain stage in store tomorrow.
Really tough to lose Primož Roglič and the last week of the race will loose some of its shine without his presence in the peloton.
I enjoyed today’s stage and was hoping that Lawson Craddock could pull out the stage win but it was great to see Rigoberto Uran take the victory. A great finish and nice to see Rigoberto get a stage victory now in all three of the major tours. Remoc looked strong today and I am looking forward to the last four stages. Thanks @Debs for keeping the updates coming!
Today’s difficult mountain stage could bring about changes in the top ten GC.
A breakaway of non-threat GC group is also expected to stick so we should see two races in one.
Two non-starters today:
Samuele Battistella (Ita) Astana Qazaqstan Team (has bronchitis) Bruno Armirail (Fra) Groupama - FDJ (has a fever)
Remco Evenepoel asserts his authority on the leadership with a terrific stage win.
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It would seem the polkadot jersey maybe jinxed, Jay Vine is the second very unlucky KOM leader in this tour to crash out while wearing it, the first being Victor Langellotti (Burgos-BH) who crashed-out on Stage 7.
The polkadot jersey is now passed to Richard Carapaz who after winning 15 KOM points during today’s breakaway holds an impressive lead, he will probably want to hang on to that too.
Today’s Stage 19 is the shortage Road Race stage of the tour with two laps of the same coarse and to go twice over the 2nd category climb of Puerto de Piélago.
An unpredictable outcome so will be exciting to see what happens, a hard mountain stage awaits tomorrow so the GC contesters may choose to keep their powder dry.
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE THIRTEEN
POINTS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE THIRTEEN
MOUNTAINS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE THIRTEEN
YOUTH CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE THIRTEEN
TEAMS CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE THIRTEEN
