2019 Vuelta a España Stage 16 Results & Recap
Stage 16 of the 2019 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
Fuglsang wins stage 16
Jakob Fuglsang (Astana Pro Team) won stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana after attacking on the final climb of the day. The Danish took victory solo ahead of Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Ineos) at 22 seconds and Luis Leon Sanchez was third at 40 seconds.
“It feels great,” Fuglsang said after the stage. “To win a stage was one of my goals coming here as well as helping the team and building my shape for the last part of the season. But one thing is to have a goal, another thing is to achieve it. I’m super happy with this win. From the morning the plan was to have me and Luis [Leon Sanchez] at the front, to go in the hunt for the stage victory. With two guys in the breakaway, we could try to win the stage and if it didn’t work out, we had people up the road to help Miguel [Angel Lopez] in the final climb. And the plan worked out. It’s been my best season ever. I am super happy that I can continue to show it was not a good spring; that I had consistency to come back after a setback in the Tour de France. To win my first Grand Tour stage is really special.”
Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) withstood multiple attacks from Miguel Angel Lopez to retain his lead in the red jersey, putting a further 21 seconds into Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) who cracked under the tempo.
“It was a hard day with a long last climb,” Roglic said. “And a good day for us in the end. [Miguel Angel Lopez] attacked really really strong. I was looking at Valverde and when there was a gap I didn’t jump. When I saw Valverde was having a bit of difficulty I went and I bridged the gap. I don’t fear the last week. When I did the Tour de France I felt very good in the last week. So I don’t fear the last stages, I’m looking forward to them. I’m really happy to be here but I’m tired after the stages. I’m enjoying the race and so far it’s going really god for me and the team. Now I want to enjoy the rest day and stay focus until Madrid. Are we the new Team Sky with the way race? Hopefully, we can be like them with our wins since they won so many stage races.”\nThe day started with a large breakaway forming after 50km of racing.
Mark Padun (Bahrain-Merida), Rémi Cavagna, James Knox (Deceuninck-Quick Step) and Romain Seigle (Groupama-FDJ) were the first to break off, and they were eventually joined by Imanol Erviti (Movistar Team), Geoffrey Bouchard (Ag2r La Mondiale), Jakob Fuglsang, Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana Pro Team), Max Richeze, Philippe Gilbert (Deceuninck-Quick-Step), Thomas de Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Damien Howson (Mitchelton-Scott), Amanuel Ghebreizhabier (Team Dimension Data), Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Ineos), Nikias Arndt (Team Sunweb), Gianluca Brambilla, Niklas Eg (Trek-Segafredo), Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates), Angel Madrazo (Burgos BH), Fernando Barcelo, Mikel Bizkarra (Euskadi-Murias).
With Jumbo Visma under control of the peloton, the 21 riders set off over the series of category 1 climbs. In the process, Geoffrey Bouchard unseated Madrazo for the king of the mountains jersey in a hard-fought battle.
By the final climb, the Alto de la Cubilla, the breakaway had a lead of more than nine minutes and Fuglsang began to shake off all his breakaway companions with Tao Geoghegan Hart in pursuit.
In the GC group, Astana picked up the tempo which cracked Quintana almost straight away. Lopez tried to shake Pogacar but was unsuccessful despite repeated attacks.
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