While stage 16 saw a second stage victory for Warren Barguil, the GC battle got tasty as Nibali lost time to Horner and Valverde as Rodriguez  carries on attacking
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Argos-Shimano rider Warren Barguil has won stage 16 of the Vuelta a España in a thrilling side by side sprint with Team Sky’s Uran on top of the mountain finish to Formigal. Barguil attacked around 10km to go and built up a solo lead of 30 seconds before being joined by Rigoberto Uran (Sky Pro Cycling) with just over a kilometre to go.
Barguil celebrates another Grand Tour win. Photo: www.lavuelta.com
From then on he kept his cool and waited for the final 150m before launching his sprint, pulling up alongside, and then pipping Uran to the finish line to take his second stage win of the race.
“What a day again,†said a shocked Warren. “This morning we decided to take it easy as I did not feel very good yesterday, but my legs started feeling really good during the race and I moved into a position to go with the break. Then on the final climb, I decided to give it a try alone.”
“Actually, I was not sure that the break was going to make it to the finish as I thought that Valverde wanted to give it a try. So I attacked and on the way, with less than one kilometre to go, Uran joined me. He tried to attack me but I was still strong enough for the sprint and I knew I could have a chance to beat him in the sprint. It is great to beat such a strong rider, I am surprised and again over the moon with my second victory.â€
Barguil was part of a break that didn’t form for a long time after an opening hour or so where rider after rider, group after group, tried to establish a move. Whilst the team of race leader Nibali – Astana), tried to keep some sense of control, that didn’t stop a big group escaping. In the move were ‘names’ such as Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM), and Rigoberto Uran (Sky) and they were joined by others such as Barguil.
It was from this group that the Argos rider launched his winning move but it was the GC battle that was even more tasty to watch.
Netapp-Endura rider Bartosz Huzarski clawed his way onto the podium at the Vuelta (report here). Photo: www.lavuelta.com
The GC Battle
So far in the race, Nibali has looked rock solid in the leaders jersey but that all changed on stage 16. In a thrilling finale, Chris Horner (Radioshack-Leopard-Trek )and the other GC contenders attacked race leader Vincenzo Nibali over the final kilometers and the veteran American cut his deficit to Nibali in half and Valverde too closed in on the Italian.
Chris Horner was pleased with how the race had panned out for him: “When one guy misses just a little bit, that makes the difference. I’m a little closer now. Maybe on one of the big stages, if Nibali is missing something again, I can try to win the Vuelta.â€
First Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) had a dig but Nibali responded in a timely manner with his Astana team closing the gap. Then Joaquim Rodriguez of Katusha took off on one of his trademark late-race attacks. But this time there was a difference – Nibali didn’t raise his game to go after the Spanish rider. Seeing him falter, Chris Horner went after ‘Purito’, sensing that there were seconds to gain on the race leader.
Horner presses on to gain as much as he can on Nibali. Â Photo:Â www.lavuelta.com
In the end Horner gained 22 seconds to move him within twenty-eight seconds of Nibali. Valverde moved to 1:14 for third place and Rodriguez went under three minutes at 2:29. Horner explained more saying “Attacks came from everyone. Astana did a good job controlling the race, then Movistar took over to keep the break close. But on the last climb it was all fireworks. When Rodriguez went, I hestitated for a moment, but then KiÅ¡erlovski (Horner’s teammate) gave a big effort.”
“I heard on the radio some were in trouble so I did what I could. Valverde came up to me and we just went. It was a perfect climb for ‘Purito’ and he had the most to gain on GC so he had a little bit of room. He’s been ranked number 1 in the world, so when he got a gap and we hesitated, he was gone.â€
Horner concluded: “Tomorrow I will sleep and eat, plus train a little on the trainer. It’s a big four days still to come.â€
Valverde gets closer to Nibabli
Movistar’s Alejandro Valverde said of the finale on stage 16 “I already defended myself well yesterday, but the good weather today was even better for me. Our intention was not letting the break go too far and contesting the stage win myself, but once we got three riders into the escape and saw Herrada doing very well, we let him take his chance.”
“In the end, his rivals were stronger and sadly he couldn’t win it. I tried to move at the start of the final part of the climb to see what happened, but there was a strong headwind and I realized it was impossible. Purito (Rodriguez) jumped and I waited for Nibali to respond, but he sat tight.”
“I chose to go full steam to reach Horner and get as far as possible. We didn’t get the bonus seconds, but those 28 seconds are still good. Today’s stage brought some more gaps because the two stages prior to today were really hard, with cold, rain, long distances and such hard climbs. I was feeling good after sticking to the main guys yesterday, but today’s feeling is even better.”
Joaquim Rodriguez Photo: www.lavuelta.com
Joaquim Rodriguez Satisfied
Joaquim Rodriguez was the rider among the favorites, who took advantage of the tired legs in the peloton and attacked with two km to go and gap his rivals. “I will fight until the end for my goals” he said taking time on his rivals. Today the weather was much better than the last days. So I felt in a good shape and with the team we tried to do something during the stage. The team was perfect today. In the final I attacked to gain some time over my rivals, of course mostly over Valverde, who is the closest to my in GC. The third week is about to start, we will have some hard stages aheadâ€.
Final word from Nibali
“It was a very difficult finish” said the race leader. “With wind over the last 2k, I thought I would do better, but it was just really difficult,” Nibali explained. “The last three days have been hard, and the whole team has been working every stage to control the race.”
“We spent a lot of energy when we had to and tomorrow is a rest day, so we will see – the climbs in the next week are just as hard, but more to my style of riding, and the weight of wearing the red jersey is on my shoulders,” Nibali said.
Result
1 BARGUIL Warren Team Argos – Shimano 03:43:31
2 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling @ st
3 HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp – Endura 00:03
4 NERZ Dominik BMC Racing Team 00:08
5 HERRADA LOPEZ Jose Movistar Team 00:20
6 CHEREL Mikael AG2R La Mondiale 00:37
7 PATERSKI Maciej Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
8 CARDOSO André Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 00:40
9 TXURRUKA Amets Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 00:42
10 SORENSEN Chris Anker Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:45
11 FLECHA Juan Antonio Vacansoleil – DCM 01:06
12 GASTAUER Ben AG2R La Mondiale 01:08
13 MATE MARDONES Luis Angel Cofidis Solutions Crédits 01:09
14 MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:13
15 MEIER Christian Orica GreenEDGE 01:29
16 GARATE Juan Manuel Belkin Pro Cycling Team 01:36
17 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team 01:41
18 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro Movistar Team 01:44
19 PINOT Thibaut Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 01:47
20 HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard @ st
21 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:56
22 ROCHE Nicolas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 02:03
23 ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor Euskaltel – Euskadi 02:04
24 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale @ st
25 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura 02:08
26 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 02:09
27 SCARPONI Michele Lampre – Merida 02:14
28 ARROYO DURAN David Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
29 MORENO FERNáNDEZ Daniel Katusha Team 02:19
30 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team @ st
31 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack – Leopard @ st
32 COPPEL Jérome Cofidis Solutions Crédits 02:53
33 BAGOT Yoann Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
34 GUSEV Vladimir Katusha Team 02:55
35 NIEVE ITURALDE Mikel Euskaltel – Euskadi 03:09
36 PREIDLER Georg Team Argos – Shimano @ st
37 HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol Team 03:36
38 SARMIENTO TUNARROSA Jose Cayetano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 03:42
39 URTASUN PEREZ Pablo Euskaltel – Euskadi 04:00
40 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
41 ELISSONDE Kenny Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 04:08
42 ROUX Anthony Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
43 SZMYD Sylwester Movistar Team @ st
44 DE GREEF Francis Lotto Belisol Team 04:20
45 OROZ UGALDE Juan José Euskaltel – Euskadi 04:53
46 LANDA MEANA Mikel Euskaltel – Euskadi 05:24
47 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team 05:29
48 MEERSMAN Gianni Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
49 NOCENTINI Rinaldo AG2R La Mondiale 05:45
50 CARUSO Giampaolo Katusha Team @ st
51 SANTAROMITA Ivan BMC Racing Team @ st
52 CAMANO ORTUZAR Iker Team NetApp – Endura @ st
53 CATALDO Dario Sky Procycling @ st
54 ZAUGG Oliver Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
55 FUGLSANG Jakob Astana Pro Team @ st
56 KOHLER Martin BMC Racing Team @ st
57 PIMENTA COSTA MENDES José João Team NetApp – Endura 06:10
58 PAUWELS Serge Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
59 VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI Gorka Euskaltel – Euskadi 06:14
60 FAIRLY Caleb Garmin – Sharp 06:29
61 HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling 06:47
62 ZANDIO ECHAIDE Xabier Sky Procycling @ st
63 VALLS FERRI Rafael Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
64 FROHLINGER Johannes Team Argos – Shimano 06:51
65 PETERSON Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ st
66 SIJMENS Nico Cofidis Solutions Crédits 07:07
67 IRIZAR ARANBURU Markel RadioShack – Leopard 07:43
68 BUSCHE Matthew RadioShack – Leopard @ st
69 KOZONTCHUK Dmitry Katusha Team 08:11
70 WYSS Danilo BMC Racing Team 08:26
71 BRAJKOVIÄ Janez Astana Pro Team @ st
72 CLARKE Simon Orica GreenEDGE @ st
73 EDET Nicolas Cofidis Solutions Crédits 11:19
74 VOSS Paul Team NetApp – Endura @ st
75 GENIEZ Alexandre Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
76 TIRALONGO Paolo Astana Pro Team @ st
77 INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team 11:42
78 MOLLEMA Bauke Belkin Pro Cycling Team 13:18
79 MORENO BAZAN Javier Movistar Team @ st
80 ULISSI Diego Lampre – Merida 13:53
81 TOSATTO Matteo Team Saxo-Tinkoff 16:12
82 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale @ st
83 CANCELLARA Fabian RadioShack – Leopard @ st
84 VICIOSO ARCOS Ãngel Katusha Team @ st
85 HERMANS Ben RadioShack – Leopard @ st
86 GRAZIATO Massimo Lampre – Merida @ st
87 RAST Gregory RadioShack – Leopard @ st
88 DALL’ANTONIA Tiziano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
89 PUCCIO Salvatore Sky Procycling @ st
90 HOWES Alex Garmin – Sharp @ st
91 AZANZA SOTO Jorge Euskaltel – Euskadi 17:53
92 BARTA Jan Team NetApp – Endura @ st
93 BERARD Julien AG2R La Mondiale @ st
94 ERVITI OLLO Imanol Movistar Team @ st
95 POPOVYCH Yaroslav RadioShack – Leopard @ st
96 GUTIERREZ PALACIOS Jose Iván Movistar Team @ st
97 KIRYIENKA Vasil Sky Procycling @ st
98 LODEWYCK Klaas BMC Racing Team @ st
99 POULHIES Stéphane Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
100 IGLINSKIY Maxim Astana Pro Team @ st
101 GRIVKO Andriy Astana Pro Team @ st
102 PINEAU Cédric Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
103 ZEITS Andrey Astana Pro Team @ st
104 STAMSNIJDER Tom Team Argos – Shimano @ st
105 FARRAR Tyler Garmin – Sharp @ st
106 ARAMENDIA LORENTE Javier Francisco Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
107 HOWARD Leigh Orica GreenEDGE @ st
108 VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
109 LONGO BORGHINI Paolo Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
110 RASMUSSEN Alex Garmin – Sharp @ st
111 WAGNER Robert Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
112 ISAYCHEV Vladimir Katusha Team @ st
113 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt Team Argos – Shimano @ st
114 KNEES Christian Sky Procycling @ st
115 RATTO Daniele Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
116 HAEDO Lucas Sebastian Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
117 PETIT Adrien Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
118 ZINGLE Romain Cofidis Solutions Crédits @ st
119 DEMPSTER Zakkari Team NetApp – Endura @ st
120 SERRY Pieter Omega Pharma – Quick-Step @ st
121 TANNER David Belkin Pro Cycling Team @ st
122 EIJSSEN Yannick BMC Racing Team @ st
123 WURF Cameron Cannondale Pro Cycling Team @ st
124 VEIKKANEN Jussi Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
125 HUPOND Thierry Team Argos – Shimano @ st
126 VANENDERT Dennis Lotto Belisol Team @ st
127 PAOLINI Luca Katusha Team @ st
128 VANSUMMEREN Johan Garmin – Sharp @ st
129 VAN DER SANDE Tosh Lotto Belisol Team @ st
130 HOOGERLAND Johnny Vacansoleil – DCM @ st
131 PETROV Evgeni Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
132 LASCA Francesco Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
133 FERRARI Fabricio Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
134 COURTEILLE Arnaud Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr @ st
135 ANACONA GOMEZ Winner Lampre – Merida @ st
136 BONO Matteo Lampre – Merida @ st
137 MøRKøV Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff @ st
138 MONDORY Lloyd AG2R La Mondiale @ st
139 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald Sky Procycling @ st
140 GARCIA FERNANDEZ Marcos Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
141 PIEDRA PEREZ Antonio Caja Rural-Seguros RGA @ st
142 RICHEZE Ariel Maximiliano Lampre – Merida 17:59
143 DOCKER Mitchell Orica GreenEDGE @ st
144 MATTHEWS Michael Orica GreenEDGE @ st
145 DODI Luca Lampre – Merida 18:00
146 BOLE Grega Vacansoleil – DCM 18:08
147 MORI Manuele Lampre – Merida @ st
148 VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team @ st
149 ARNDT Nikias Team Argos – Shimano 18:17
150 SøRENSEN Nicki Team Saxo-Tinkoff 20:38
OVERALL
1 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 64:06:01
2 HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard 00:28
3 VALVERDE BELMONTE Alejandro Movistar Team 01:14
4 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team 02:29
5 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale 03:38
6 ROCHE Nicolas Team Saxo-Tinkoff 03:43
7 PINOT Thibaut Equipe Cycliste FDJ.fr 04:37
8 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura 06:17
9 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel – Euskadi 07:33
10 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team 09:21
11 MORENO FERNáNDEZ Daniel Katusha Team 09:31
12 ARROYO DURAN David Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 11:22
13 HERRADA LOPEZ Jose Movistar Team 11:42
14 SCARPONI Michele Lampre – Merida 12:08
15 ANTON HERNANDEZ Igor Euskaltel – Euskadi 14:44
16 NERZ Dominik BMC Racing Team 15:33
17 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack – Leopard 18:13
18 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team 19:16
19 CARDOSO André Caja Rural-Seguros RGA 19:58
20 SORENSEN Chris Anker Team Saxo-Tinkoff 20:51
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