VUELTA: Stage 9 – New Leader

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Etixx Quickstep rider David De La Cruz leads the Vuelta a España after maiden pro win on stage 9 in the mountains

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VUELTA: Stage 9 – New Leader

Team Press Release
Three days after renewing his contract with the team, David De La Cruz put in a masterful display on stage 9 of Vuelta a España (Cistierna – Alto del Naranco, 164.5 kilometers), soloing to the win and the red jersey, after being part of the 11-man escape which animated the day. Riding his home race for the third time, the Spaniard infiltrated himself in the big group that slipped away soon after the start and laid down an important workload on the front of the group, helping it take its lead north of five minutes, despite various skirmishes of other riders, who tried several moves.

De-La-Cruz-_Tim-De-Waele

Photo: Etixx Quickstep/Tim de Waele

At one point during the stage, with around 30 kilometers remaining, attacks flew from the front group and the advantage began to come down; David didn’t let himself get drawn into these games and patiently bided his time, deciding to go on the final descent together with Dries Devenyns (IAM Cycling). Together, they built a gap of 30 seconds on their former breakaway companions, which they extended on Alto del Naranco (5.7 kilometers, 6.1% average gradient).

Despite doing some long pulls at the front, David De La Cruz still had enough left in the legs to attack inside the last kilometer, speeding towards the finish and notching up his maiden pro victory. The 86th home rider to win a stage in the Vuelta a España since the inception of the race, the 27-year-old was over the moon after producing the most astonishing performance of his career, one which netted him a success he’ll never forget.

“After being injured and sidelined due to health problems many times in the past two years, this victory repays me for all the hard work and the team for the confidence showed. The key moment was when I was with Devenyns and found out that we have a consistent gap on the guys chasing us. Then I knew I can do it. It’s incredible to ride in a race against the best in the world – riders like Froome, Contador, Valverde or Quintana – and take this beautiful win. Alto del Naranco is a fantastic climb, which I know very well from the Vuelta a Asturias, and to be on top here gives me a great and unique feeling”, said David after the dust had settled and he celebrated the result with his teammates, who came behind the podium to congratulate him as soon as they completed the stage.

Following his triumph on one of Spain’s most iconic ascents, David De La Cruz garnered more than one trip to the podium. As he finished three minutes ahead of the peloton – from which Gianluca Brambilla attacked in the closing meters – the Spaniard moved to the top of the overall standings and will now start stage 10 to Lagos de Covadonga in the red jersey, thus becoming the fourth Etixx – Quick-Step rider to lead a Grand Tour this year, after Marcel Kittel, Gianluca Brambilla and Bob Jungels all topped the Giro d’Italia GC.

“I can’t believe I’m the leader of the Vuelta a España! At the start of the day, when I went in the break, I was thinking of taking the win. During the stage, I wasn’t aware I can seize the jersey, it was only in the final two kilometers that I got this info from the team car. To lead my home race is the icing on the cake and I’ll savor every moment. I want to thank to my all my teammates and to sport director Jan Schaffrath, who kept me informed on what was happening during the stage and motivated me. The confidence of the team and of the guys was crucial and says a lot about how united and determined this team is.”

Other Reactions

Nairo Quintana (Movistar): “By conceding this red jersey we’re giving a turn to others – we’re not worried at all. We remain strong, with confidence and a great group around us. It’s a lead change in the race that favours us and we must continue doing things right, starting with tomorrow’s important finish up the Lagos.”

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar): “It’s a perfect situation for us – conceding the leader’s jersey by such a short time gap is just what we wanted. Tomorrow’s stage will be a tough one; everyone looks tired after almost half the race at big pace, with difficult stages, so we will have to race calm. We spent quite some energy today, but who doesn’t do that on a week like this. Contador? I see him doing well – just like all of the other main rivals.”

Alberto Contador: “It was a race that started fast but was relatively calm in the group. The climb was probably a bit hard for me but in the end we finished without any trouble and I’m happy. Let’s see whether we improve tomorrow. For the moment we will stay focused and, obviously, if there is any opportunity for the GC we will take it. However, right now I have to give my body some time and don’t rush things.”

Peter Kennaugh (Sky): “It was a pretty hard start, with a lot of guys wanting to go in the break as usual. I didn’t feel great at the start but throughout the stage I felt better and better and I felt really comfortable on the last climb, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to maybe take 30 seconds or so back on GC. Movistar weren’t willing to let that happen though, and they’ve got guys like [Dani] Moreno who chased. It was hard, but why not?”

“For the team it’s about not losing anymore time tomorrow. Afterwards we’ve got the rest day, then the second week is a massive week compared to what we’ve done. You never know, if the legs are good and we have the opportunity to put Movistar under pressure, we’ll take it, but we’ll decide that out on the road.”

“I’m really happy with how it’s going, especially with only having the Vuelta a Burgos and Tour of Poland in my legs coming in. I’m starting to feel a bit more tired now, but that’s always the way in these long races. You have one bad day, then one good day. Hopefully tomorrow can be another good day, then I can recover on the rest day. So far so good.”
… continued after advert

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STAGE 9
1 DE LA CRUZ David ETIXX – QUICK STEP 03h 47′ 56”
2 DEVENYNS Dries IAM CYCLING @ 00′ 27”
3 MOSER Moreno CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING TEAM @ 00′ 33”
4 SANCHEZ GIL Luis-Leon ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 00′ 51”
5 FRANK Mathias IAM CYCLING @ 00′ 51”
6 GENIEZ Alexandre FDJ @ 00′ 53”
7 HUZARSKI Bartosz BORA-ARGON 18 @ 00′ 58”
8 DE GENDT Thomas LOTTO SOUDAL @ 01′ 04”
9 BILBAO Pello CAJA RURAL – SEGUROS RGA @ 01′ 04”
10 TEUNS Dylan BMC RACING TEAM @ 01′ 10”
11 BAKELANTS Jan AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 01′ 26”
12 BRAMBILLA Gianluca ETIXX – QUICK STEP @ 02′ 55”
13 VALVERDE Alejandro MOVISTAR TEAM @ 02′ 56”
14 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel BMC RACING TEAM @ 02′ 56”
15 FROOME Christopher TEAM SKY @ 02′ 56”
16 QUINTANA Nairo MOVISTAR TEAM @ 02′ 56”
17 CHAVES Johan Esteban ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE @ 02′ 56”
18 CONTADOR Alberto TINKOFF @ 02′ 56”
19 SCARPONI Michele ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 02′ 56”
20 KONIG Leopold TEAM SKY @ 02′ 56”

21 YATES Simon ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE @ 02′ 56”
36 KENNAUGH Peter TEAM SKY @ 03′ 14”
39 CARTHY Hugh CAJA RURAL – SEGUROS RGA @ 03′ 17”
154 THWAITES Scott BORA-ARGON 18 @ 16′ 21”

OVERALL
1 DE LA CRUZ David ETIXX – QUICK STEP 33h 46′ 24”
2 QUINTANA Nairo MOVISTAR TEAM @ 00′ 22”
3 VALVERDE Alejandro MOVISTAR TEAM @ 00′ 41”
4 FROOME Christopher TEAM SKY @ 00′ 49”
5 CHAVES Johan Esteban ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE @ 01′ 19”
6 KONIG Leopold TEAM SKY @ 01′ 38”
7 CONTADOR Alberto TINKOFF @ 02′ 01”
8 ATAPUMA Darwin BMC RACING TEAM @ 02′ 06”
9 BRAMBILLA Gianluca ETIXX – QUICK STEP @ 02′ 07”
10 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel BMC RACING TEAM @ 02′ 08”
11 YATES Simon ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE @ 02′ 09”
12 MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel MOVISTAR TEAM @ 02′ 14”
13 TALANSKY Andrew CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING TEAM @ 02′ 46”
14 SCARPONI Michele ASTANA PRO TEAM @ 02′ 58”
15 KENNAUGH Peter TEAM SKY @ 03′ 09”
16 FORMOLO Davide CANNONDALE-DRAPAC PRO CYCLING TEAM @ 03′ 28”
17 PARDILLA Sergio CAJA RURAL – SEGUROS RGA @ 03′ 52”
18 ELISSONDE KENNY FDJ @ 03′ 57”
19 BENNETT George LOTTO NL -JUMBO @ 04′ 07”
20 LATOUR Pierre-Roger AG2R LA MONDIALE @ 04′ 10”

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