Yates conquers stage 14 with well-timed effort on the final climb to re-claim overall lead
Vuelta: Yates back in Lead
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Three-time Giro d’Italia stage winner Simon Yates has added a Vuelta a Espana stage win to his successful 2018 season with a perfectly managed effort and attack on the final ascent of stage 14.
The Mitchelton-SCOTT rider remained calm on the steep final climb, despite being outnumbered and constantly attacked, before he attacked with 650m to go to claim the stage ahead of Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Pro Team) to take the overall lead once again.
Danger in the break:
At just five minutes down on general classification, Michal Kwiatkowski (Team Sky) gave the peloton something to chase when he initiated the breakaway of stage 14. Thankfully for the bunch, he had just five riders for company and Cofidis, with the help of Movistar, kept them on a tight leash for the entire day. At a maximum, the group has almost four minute’s advantage, but by 50km to go it was down to just two minutes.
… continued after advert
Unsurprisingly, Kwiatkowski was the strongest rider of the move and the last to survive before he was caught with five kilometres to go after Bahrain Merida put pressure on the bunch on the final descent to shrink the main group.
FDJ set the initial pace on the final climb before Steven Kruijswijk (LottoNL-Jumbo) attacked and Movistar Team set off in pursuit. Yates stayed calm and picked his moments to close any gaps that appeared, including a move by Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) and Lopez in the final two kilometres.
With half a dozen main contenders back together heading into the final kilometre Yates judged the time to attack perfectly. The 26-year-old hung on to win by two seconds to Lopez and Valverde and leads Valverde by 20seconds on the general classification.
… continued after advert
Simon Yates “I chose my moment really well there in the final. I didn’t look back until it flattened off a little bit and I had a bit of a gap so just gave it everything to the line. I feel a bit more like I deserve it (the red jersey) this time , I gave it everything I could today in the very end and I am very happy.
“I chose my own pace, I can’t respond to everything but I managed it well and chose my moment well. I didn’t know the climb, I didn’t know if it was going to get steeper or easier, so I was really managing and controlling my effort and went at my own tempo.
“Movistar had three guys at one point and I was alone, not to say the team did a bad job because they did a fantastic job, just I was alone at that moment and I can’t control everything so I just tried to stay calm and that’s what it was really.
“I remember tomorrow’s stage from 2016, that is the only time I have ridden the climb, it is a very difficult climb and I hope to have the same legs as today. I expect Movistar to be very active again.
La Vuelta – Stage 14 Results:
1 Simon Yates Mitchelton-Scott 4:19:27
2 Miguel López Astana Pro Team 0:02
3 Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team 35 ,,
4 Thibaut Pinot Groupama – FDJ 0:05
5 Nairo Quintana Movistar Team 0:07
6 Steven Kruijswijk Team LottoNL-Jumbo 0:11
7 Enric Mas Quick-Step Floors 0:19
8 Rigoberto Urán Team EF Education First-Drapac 0:27
9 Ion Izagirre Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team 0:37
10 Fabio Aru UAE-Team Emirates 0:39
General Classification after stage 14:
1 Simon Yates Mitchelton-Scott 59:11:18
2 Alejandro Valverde Movistar Team 0:20
3 Nairo Quintana Movistar Team 0:25
4 Miguel López Astana Pro Team 0:47
5 Steven Kruijswijk Team LottoNL-Jumbo 1:23
6 Rigoberto Urán Team EF Education First-Drapac 1:28
7 Ion Izagirre Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team 1:40
8 Enric Mas Quick-Step Floors 1:47
9 Tony Gallopin AG2R La Mondiale 1:55
10 Emanuel Buchmann BORA – hansgrohe 2:08
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Former Winners: Lincoln Grand Prix
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Youth Result: Milton Keynes Youth Development Races
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU Sporting 21
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10m TT
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- TT Result: Knockhill Mountain Time Trial
- Youth Result: Lawford Youth Series
- TT Result: Bristol South CC Hardriders
- TT Result: Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club TT
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- TT Result: Orwell Velo 15m TT
- TT Result: Hull Thursday RC Hard Riders 2Up
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- TT Result: Maldon & District CC Hilly 22m TT
- Youth Result: SCC Youth Races
- Youth Result: ERC Ben Forsyth CRY Youth Race Day
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Crit Result: Not the Portsmouth Easter Circuits
- Crit Result: March Hare Classic
- Crit Result: Haus RT – Darley Moor #3
- Crit Results: Spring MK Bowl Series #3
- Crit Result: No Nonsense Circuit Races 1
- Crit Result: Salt Ayre Spring Series #3
- RR Result: NCRA Handicap RR #3
- RR Result: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- RR Result: Primavera Pursuit Road Race
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- TT Result: VTTA Kent 8 mile TT
- TT Result: Kernow Racing Team TT
- TT Result: Banbury Star CC 21m TT
- TT Result: Velo Club St Raphael 16.5 TT
- TT Result: Port Talbot Whs 13m TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Whs Sporting 21.7m TT
- TT Result: Velotik RT 15m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs Hilly 20.2m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- Former Winners: Lincoln Grand Prix
- Chris Lawless Joins Saint Piran Team
- Paracycling Track Worlds Day 4
- Para CyclingWorlds Final Day
- Startlist: National Youth Circuit Series Rd 1
- Report/Result: Azets Spring Classic
- Startlists: RCR Fat Creations Road Races
- Startlist: Capernwray Road Race (March 31)
- Team Report: Fensham Howes MAS Design Junior Team
- Team Report: CiCLE Classic Junior Men
- RIDER REPORTS – Zoe Parker (Solihull CC)
- GB News: Two World Titles for GB at Para Worlds
- Team News: Alba Development Road Team
- News: British Road Champs Return to NE
- THIS WEEKEND: Peaks Two Day is Back!
- News: Laura Kenny Retires
- Team News: Lee Valley Youth Cycling Team
- 2024/25 CYCLO-CROSS CALENDAR
- Startlist: Cardiff Ajax CC 10 Mile TT
- Startlists: 16th Gifford Road Races (Scotland)
- News: Ellingworth is new Tour of Britain Director
- Startlist: Circuit of Ingleborough TT
- STARTLIST: Evesham Vale Road Race 2024
- Mammoth fields for Women’s/Junior Men’s CiCLE Classics
- Saturday: Fusion Media Women’s Series Rd 1
- Saint Piran’s Global Women’s Project
- Ribble Rebellion: The Riders
- Team News: Ribble Rebellion Team Launch
- British Classics – 64th Wally Gimber Trophy
- Startlist: 62nd Eddie Soens
- Startlist: 10th Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 8th Women’s CiCLE Classic (March 17)
- Startlist: 40th Jock Wadley Memorial RR
- Riders: Azets Spring Classic (March 24)
- Bike News: DJ Spoony’s Special & unique Ribble Ultra SL R
- GB Team News: Helen Scott now Men’s Sprint Podium Potential Coach
- Startlist: Royal Navy Cup 2024
- News: Halesowen Academy 2024
- Report: Day 3 British Track Championships
- New Women’s Series in the Midlands