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2014 Vuelta a España Stage 16: Contador wins mountain stage, pads lead

September 8, 2014
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Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) and Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) blew up the 2014 Vuelta a España on Monday’s queen stage, with Contador conquering the La Farrapona climb to add to his lead and Froome consolidating third place while edging within three seconds of Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar). It was a memorable stage not just for the racing, but for a shocking, rolling fight between two riders in the day’s breakaway.

Monday’s 159-km route held four Cat. 1 ascents with La Farrapona as its concluding climb, along with a Cat. 2 challenge. A 13-rider breakaway bolted on the early Cat. 1 Alto de la Colladona and there was an extraordinary moment when Contador, Foome and Valverde tried to bridge to it, but the ambush failed.

In the breakaway was LL Sanchez (Spain/Caja Rural), out to take back the blue polka-dot King of the Mountains from Valverde. Sanchez was first over Colladona and the Cat. 2 Pola de Lena. On both mountains, it was clear that 6th place Rigoberto Uran (Colombia/Omega Pharma-QuickStep) had bronchitis weighing him down.

The break still had 5:00 on the peloton at the start of the second Cat. 1, the Alto de la Cobertoria. On its descent Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland/Trek) attempted to bridge to the escape but he was hauled back on the Cat. 1 Puerto de San Lorenzo.

It was on the opening slopes of the San Lorenzo that Ivan Rovny (Russia/Tinkoff-Saxo) and Gianluca Brambilla (Italy/Omega Pharma) threw a series of backhand blows at one another while rolling along at 20-kph. After the knucklework, Brambilla attacked with Dutch teammate Wout Poels and compatriot Alessandro Di Marchi (Cannondale), Stage 7’s winner. The trio was on its way up the San Lorenzo when race officials informed Brambilla that he and his Russian opponent were kicked out of the race.

Clearly, Froome was feeling frisky, as he had his Sky teammates romping up the San Lorenzo and continuing up La Farrapona, 16-km of 6.2%, leading a peloton of 25 riders. Di Marchi carried on solo with the favourites bunch closing fast.

Contador was the only rider who could follow Froome’s blistering attack with 4.5-km to go, leaving Valverde, fourth place Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) and fifth place Fabio Aru (Italy/Astana) to chase in vain.

Rodriguez, Valverde and Aru scramble to get back to leaders. Photo: ASO
Rodriguez, Valverde and Aru scramble to get back to leaders. Photo: ASO

Clambering up the Farrpona Froome and Contador were a contrast in styles. Froome sat and whirred his legs, elbows out and eyes jammed on his SRM. Contador stood and bobbed back and forth stiffly like a metronome. They caught Di Marchi at 3.1-km remaining and distanced him within 500 metres.

The Brit tried to unlatch Contador from his back tire, but it was the Spaniard’s attack inside the final kilometre that was the decisive thrust. Contador finished 14 seconds ahead of Froome to pull a lead of 1:36 and 1:39 over Valverde and Froome respectively. It was Contador’s fourth career Vuelta stage win and he looks well-position to take his third Vuelta title.

Ryder Hesjedal was 10th on the stage, his fourth top 10 placing of the 2014 Vuelta. He jumped up to 24th. Uran plummeted to 16th.

Tuesday is the last rest day before the final five stages.

2014 Vuelta a España Stage 16
1) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) 4:53:35
2) Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) +0:15
3) Alessandro Di Marchi (Italy/Cannondale) +0:50
10) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +1:48

2014 Vuelta a España GC
1) Alberto Contador (Spain/Tinkoff-Saxo) 63:25:00
2) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +1:36
3) Chris Froome (Great Britain/Sky) +1:39
24) Ryder Hesjedal (Canada/Garmin-Sharp) +40:22