Spanish cyclist Marc Soler from the SAE Team Emirates won Tuesday’s 16th stage of the Vuelta a España. In the 181.3 km long race from Luanco to Lagos de Covadonga, he triumphed over the Italian Filippo Zano (Jayco – Alula) and the British Max Poole (DSM).
Photo: Profimedia
Doráňaný Wout van Aert.
Australian Ben O’Connor (Decathlon – AG2R – La Mondiale) is still at the top of the ranking, but Slovenian Primož Roglič (Red Bull – Bora-hansgrohe) is only five seconds behind him. After an unpleasant fall, the leader of the points and hillclimb competition, Wout van Aert from the Visma – Lease a Bike team, had to withdraw from the race.
After a free day, the cyclists had a mountain stage with the finish on the demanding Lagos de Covadonga hill. Van Aert, the winner of the 3rd, 7th and 10th stage, fell at the beginning of Tuesday’s race. However, at first he recovered and was catching up with the minute loss to the peloton.
Several groups gradually tried to break away, but a group of fifteen riders after about 30 kilometers was more successful. It featured Van Aert and colleagues from SAE Team Emirates Isaac Del Toro, Jay Vine and Soler.
The breakaway lead grew and van Aert scored 10 points on the climbing bonus at Mirador el Fito. One hundred kilometers before the finish line, things were going well for the Belgian, after the descent he was 38 seconds ahead of the rest of the group.
She caught up with him even before the climb to Collado Llomena, where he enjoyed his triumph again.
A key moment for van Aert came during the downhill when he mishandled a turn and ended up on the ground for the second time. He first jumped on a spare bike and tried to continue, but had to withdraw from the race early due to a swollen knee.
Van Aert was the main character of this year’s Vuelta. He won three stages, finished second three times. Moreover, he once again showed how versatile a cyclist he is. In addition to the green jersey, thanks to frequent escapes, he also owned the dotted one for the best climber. A unique combination.
However, the Belgian star finally stopped at the team car and left the Vuelta in pain and with tears in her eyes.
The Dutch stable has only provided some information so far. “I only know that Wout went to the hospital in an ambulance, which does not bode well,” sporting director Grischa Niermann told Belgian website Nieuwsblad.
Twelve riders were in front before the final climb to Lagos de Covadonga. About 7 km before the finish, Soler attacked with Poole close behind, but the Briton could not keep up with the Spaniard’s pace.
Meanwhile, Mikel Landa (Soudal Quick-Step) attacked in the group of favorites. He was gradually caught up by the group with Roglič and O’Connor in red, who could not keep up with the attacking racers, began to lose his lead at the head of the overall order.
Soler took the victory alone and claimed his third stage triumph from the Vuelta. “I was really active and today I finally managed to finish first. Max Poole was really strong but I tried again and again and it worked.
There were a lot of quality racers in the breakaway and I knew I had to be aggressive and it worked out in the final. I dedicate the victory to my wife and family. I’m not a driver who wins a lot, so of course this victory is special,” said the Spaniard at the finish line.
Back to Spain – stage 16 (Luanco – Lakes of Covadonga, 181.3 km):
1. Marc Soler (Šp./SAE Team Emirates) 4:44:46 h, 2. Filippo Zana (Tal./Jayco – Alula) +18 s, 3. Max Poole (V.Brit./Team dsm-firmenich PostNL). ) +23, 4. Jay Vine (Austr./SAE Team Emirates) +57, 5. Ion Izagirre (Sp./Cofidis) +1:02 min, 6. Isaac Del Toro (Mex./SAE Team Emirates) +1 :29, 7. Marco Frigo (Tal./Israel – Premier Tech) +1:35, 8. Matthew Riccitello (USA/Israel – Premier Tech) +1:47, 9. Enric Mas (Sp./Movistar Team) + 3:54, 10. Richard Carapaz (Ex./EF Education – EasyPost)
Overall ranking after the 16th stage:
1. Ben O’Connor (Austr./Decathlon – AG2R – La Mondiale) 65:09:00 h, 2. Primož Roglič (Slovin./Red Bull – Bora-hansgrohe) +5 s, 3. Mas +1:25 min, 4. Carapaz +1:46, 5. Mikel Landa (Šp./Soudal – Quick-Step) +2:18, 6. David Gaudu (Fr./Groupama – FDJ) +3:48, 7. Carlos Rodriguez (Sp./Ineos Grenadiers) +3:53, 8. Mattias Skjelmose (Dan./Lidl – Trek) +4:00, 9. Florian Lipowitz (Germany/Red Bull – Bora-hansgrohe) +4:27, 10 . Pavel Sivakov (Fr./SAE Team Emirates) +5:19 .
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
