cycling: Vuelta a Espana Stage #20: Latour celebrates huge success - Chaves races to the podium

Cycling: The young Frenchman Pierre Latour (Ag2r) won the penultimate stage of the Vuelta a Espana. The huge talent celebrated the biggest success of his young career so far. Meanwhile, Nairo Quintana (Movistar) looks set to win tomorrow's Vuelta a Espana 2016 ahead of Chris Froome (Sky), who has tried everything but just couldn't shake off his competitor. The second best Colombian in the overall standings also had reason to celebrate, as Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange) attacked with around 40 kilometers to go and even knocked Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) off the podium.

The fight for the mountain jersey

Today on the penultimate stage from Benidorm to Escuadrón Ejército del Aire over 193,2 kilometers, the decision in the mountain classification and the overall classification of the Vuelta a Espana should fall. On the way there were four mountain classifications of the second category to conquer. At the end we went up the Alto de Aitan, which, with a length of 21 kilometers and an average gradient of 5,9 percent, belongs to the so-called Especial category. So it's clear that the contenders for the mountain jersey wanted to be in the leading group today. While Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) missed the postal departure, but had previously scored points in a mountain classification, the current leader Kenny Elissonde (FDJ) got on the train and was among the front runners. Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo), who was 22 points behind in third place, crept back into the breakaway group. In the end, however, both drivers lacked the strength to overtake Fraile. At the end of the tour, the Spaniard wins the classification with a one-point lead over Elissonde.

Esteban Chaves attacks Alberto Contador

Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) and Rudy Molard (Cofidis) rode in front as a duo for most of the stage. A 16-strong chasing group formed up behind them. In addition to the drivers already mentioned, it included Yuri Trofimov (Tinkoff), David Lopez (Sky), Darwin Atapuma (BMC), Pierre Latour (Ag2r), Bart De Clercq (Lotto Soudal), and Mathias Frank (IAM) represented in it. The leading duo's lead over the chasing group was more than two minutes at times, but rapidly decreased as both pursuers got on well together. The main field also came closer, although the gap of more than 13 minutes was very large and only the Orica-BikeExchange team seemed interested in catching the escapees after all. When it went up the Puerto de Tudons about 50 kilometers before the finish, the lead was only a little more than eight minutes and Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange) attacked somewhat surprisingly.

Orica-BikeExchange again with a tactical masterpiece

Of course, Esteban Chaves' attack was mainly aimed at the podium and with it Alberto Contador (Tinkoff). The Spaniard reacted accordingly and followed up a little later. However, he was not allowed to go. In the descent, Chaves was around 20 seconds ahead of the favorite group, which was now led by Team Sky. Like a few days ago, the Orica-BikeExchange team built a relay station. With Damian Howson they had a rider in the chasing group who was now waiting for Esteban Chaves and was then supposed to pilot him up to the final climb. This went better than expected, because the two were able to extend the lead to just over two minutes. The two leaders Sanchez and Molard were just over a minute ahead of their pursuers and the peloton was about eight minutes behind them. And now there were still 21 kilometers uphill on the program.

Sanchez breaks away – Conti follows him

While Valerio Conti (Lampre) was able to break away from the pursuers and Sanchez broke away from Molard, the Tinkoff team worked in the field of favorites for captain Contador. So the distance to Chaves, who was now driving alone, was reduced again, but Contador's men were quickly exhausted. First and foremost Trofimov, who was already in the top group of the day and certainly used up a lot of energy. The attacks by Simon Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) initially fizzled out, as did Contador's. Chaves was able to keep his lead of almost two minutes over Contador to some extent. That would put the Colombian on the podium at the 2016 Vuelta a Espana. Luis Leon Sanchez even extended his lead over his pursuer Valerio Conti. The Italian, on the other hand, was overtaken by several drivers with six kilometers to go. Atapuma, Frank and Latour left the Italian behind and went after Sanchez.

Froome tries everything but Quintana hangs on

In the meantime, Contador seemed to be a little panic-stricken, because the lead of two minutes was still there. In the group of favourites, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) controlled the pace without seriously nibbling on Chaves' lead. The race only got really fast when Quintana himself attacked five kilometers from the finish. Froome and Contador were able to keep up with them, but when the Brit fell out of the saddle, only Quintana stayed with him again. So the spectators got to see several races in one, because there was fighting on all fronts. In the end, Contador was to lose the battle for third place, because the spectators quickly realized that it wasn't tactics, but simply the lack of strength today. Chaves rewarded himself with third place in the overall standings. Just like Quintana's overall victory, this success was only made possible by excellent teamwork. Froome rode as much standing today as he had the entire Tour before, but Quintana stayed with him to the end.

Sanchez goes in - Pierre Latour takes the stage win

Sanchez then literally burst in front. The Spaniard is still denied a stage win at the Vuelta a Espana. The trio Atapuma, Latour and Frank now formed the new top trio and should decide the stage win among themselves. First Atapuma went away, but then the young Frenchman Pierre Latour showed his great class. The two distanced Frank and also didn't let Felline come closer. On the last kilometer they carried out a real battle. Atapuma seemed to have already distanced Latour, but the huge talent couldn't even catch up and sprinted to the greatest success of his young career.

Vuelta a Espana Stage #20 – The daily standings:

Vuelta a Espana Stage #20 – Overall standings: