2017 Vuelta a España Stage 7 Results & Recap
Stage 7 of the 2017 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
Mohoric claims victory in Cuenca
Matej Mohoric (UAE Team Emirates) took a hard-fought victory in Cuenca today after attacking on the final ascent. Pawel Poljanski (Bora-Hansgrohe), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar Team were the only riders capable of following Mohoric up the last climb of the day, but couldn’t hold his wheel on the descent into town.
“It's incredible. It's been a long time since my last big win,” Mohoric told reporters at the finish of the stage. “I've always worked hard and done my best. It feels great to get a victory again. I was already in the breakaway the other day when (Alexey) Lutsenko won (stage 5). I was feeling really good then. Even though the stage didn't really suit my characteristics, I managed to take a 4th place. I knew my shape was pretty good. Today the team wanted me to go in the breakaway. I tried to save as much energy as possible and then I gave it all in the final. It was a good final for me because I'm pretty good in the descent. I knew I had a chance to win with that last descent.”
Chris Froome remains in the red jersey after finishing safely in the bunch, 8 minutes and 47 seconds down from the winner. Froome is 11 seconds ahead of Colombian Esteban Chaves (Orica - Scott). Nicolas Roche (BMC Racing Team) is third, 13 seconds behind.
Play by play
After a fast and furious start to stage 7, a group of 14 riders were allowed up the road about 30 kilometres into the stage.
The group contained: Jetse Bol (Manzana Postobon), José Joaquín Rojas (Movistar Team), Luis Ángel Maté (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits), Matej Mohoric (UAE Team Emirates), Pawel Poljanski (Bora – Hansgrohe), Richard Carapaz (Movistar Team), Aldemar Reyes (Manzana Postobon), Floris De Tier (Team Lotto NL - Jumbo), Anthony Perez (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits), Alessandro De Marchi (BMC Racing Team), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale), Arnaud Courteille (FDJ), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal) and Rafael Reis (Caja Rural - Seguros).
The peloton, uninterested in bringing the escapees back, let the group have a maximum of almost 10 minutes by the time they entered the latter potion of the stage. On the final category three climb to Alto del Castillo, Mohoric made his move up the cobbled streets. Poljanski, Rojas and De Ghent clawed on to his wheel, but the 22-year-old from Slovenia proved to be too strong on the day and dropped the three rivals on the descent.
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