2016 Vuelta a España Stage 16 Results & Recap
Stage 16 of the 2016 Vuelta a España is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
What a dramatic day in the mountains as the peloton tackled one of the most demanding stages of this year's Vuelta a España. Stage 16 delivered everything fans could have hoped for, with attacks, suffering, and a gripping battle for the overall classification on the brutal slopes of the Lagos de Covadonga finish.
The breakaway went clear early in the stage, with a sizable group of riders getting away from the peloton in the opening kilometers. The escapees worked well together, building up a healthy advantage over the chasing peloton, which was controlled by the teams of the general classification contenders for much of the day.
As the race hit the final climb up to the iconic Lagos de Covadonga, one of the most celebrated ascents in Spanish cycling, the real action began. The peloton was whittled down to just the strongest climbers as the gradient kicked up and the pace became ferocious.
Chris Froome, who had been looking to put time into his rivals, launched an attack on the climb that caused significant damage in the group of favorites. Nairo Quintana, however, showed he was not about to let this Vuelta slip away, responding powerfully and ultimately crossing the line first to take the stage victory. The Colombian climber demonstrated exactly why he is such a threat on this race, dancing up the climb with an elegance that left his rivals gasping.
The result has further tightened the overall classification and set up a fascinating final week of racing.
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