Home > News

2014 Vuelta a España Stage 20: Contador wins second stage, extends lead

September 13, 2014
Share on SMS

Alberto Contador took a big step towards winning his third Vuelta a España by attacking Chris Froome in the final kilometre of Saturday’s beyond category summit finish to pad his race lead. It was Contador’s second stage win of the 2014 edition and fifth Vuelta stage victory overall.

As with Friday’s stage, it took a while for the day’s breakaway to shrug off the leash. Four riders lit out on their own, with Stage 15 winner Przemyslaw Niemiec (Poland/Lampre), Europcar’s Maxime Méderel (France), serial fugitive Wout Poels (The Netherlands/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and a man from Cofidis, a team ubiquitous in the final week, in the escape.

It seemed that Niemiec was aboard to threaten LL Sanchez’s polka-dot jersey, but the Pole wasn’t in the first three going over the first climb of the day, the Cat. 2 Alto de Vilaesteva. However, Niemiec crested first over the next ascent, the Cat. 3 Alto de O Lago.

With Astana and then Sky leading the peloton, the quartet’s lead was down to 3:20 by the foot of the penultimate climb coming at 32-km to go, the Cat. 1 Alto de Folgueiras de Aigas, 9.7-km of 6.7%. On the 10% section right at its foot, the climb started to fragment the breakaway, Poels suffering the most. Méderel was the first to attack in the second half of the ascent, but his remaining breakmates were able to match him.

With the tension rising in the Sky-propelled peloton behind, the leading trio was doomed. However, the break summited the Folgueiras de Aigas – at the 21-km to go mark – with Niemiec in first spot and a gap of 43-seconds. On a little rise after the peak, Niemiec bolted on the others.

The final climb of the 2014 Vuelta was 12.7-km with an average grade of 8.7% and a maximum of 18% Cofidis’s man in the break, Jerome Coppel (France), did well to get back to the Pole on a little hill before the Ancares began, but once the road bit, Niemiec went on alone again.

The second intermediate sprint of the day was 2-km into the climb. Niemiec took the maximum bonus seconds, but Sky swarmed the front to give the second place to Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky). Niemiec finally surrendered with 9.7-km remaining, just after Ryder Hesjedal dropped off the back of the favourites group and waved goodbye to a motorcycle camera.

There were no attacks on the 18% section, just a further streamlining under Sky’s impetus. Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) surged up the road with 9-km to go in a bold move. Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) led the chase, with only Froome, Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) and Contador able to go with him. El Purito’s gap would yo-yo for 3-km before Froome attacked, sending first Aru and then Valverde off the back.

Another Froome acceleration with 5.7-km to go saw the Brit and the race leader reach Rodriguez within 300 metres. Valverde struggled to claw his way back. Froome removed his sunglasses to attack again.

Rodriguez was distanced with 4.2-km remaining and joined Valverde in pursuit, Aru still lagging behind the Spanish duo. Then Valverde blew by El Purito but could not inch back to the leaders on a flatter section. Rodriguez found company in Aru.

When would Froome attack Contador again? There they were, together again, the two best riders of the 69th Vuelta: the elbows-out, SRM-peeking, fast-spinning Froome and the mechanically bobbing Contador standing on the pedals.

Froome tried another dig at the red kite, his face a rictus of pain. But there was no shaking Contador. The two beat on through the frenzied crowd. Finally, with 600 metres remaining, Contador dispatched Froome. The Spaniard beat Froome by 16-seconds and took a few bonus seconds to boot. Valverde came in 56-seconds behind Contador.

Sunday concludes the Vuelta with a flat, 10-km time trial. Froome must pull back 1:37, a daunting task. Contador looks set to join Tony Rominger (Switzerland) with three Vuelta titles.

2014 Vuelta a España Stage 20
1) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) 5:11:43
2) Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) +0:16
3) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +0:57
31) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +11:04
131) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Cannondale) +30:23

2014 Vuelta a España GC
1) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) 81:12:13
2) Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) +1:37
3) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +2:35
24) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +1:04:53
149) Guillaume Boivin (Canada/Cannondale) +4:41:21

Categories: News |