A week packed with some spicy stage finishes, three riders slipping the red jerset around their shoulders and some unexpected and joyful stage victories. All characteristics that make a great Vuelta – we LOVE it. Here’s a quick rundown from stages one to nine.
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It’s been noted that the final few kilometres looked as though the organisers didn’t think this would be a bunch sprint. But as is usual in this Vuelta, there’s always a surprise somewhere. Because it was a bunch sprint. And that plucky young sprinter Alejandro Valverde let the world champion Peter Sagan lead him out to victory by a bike length. Although there was no movement in the GC placements, Valverde has decreased his deficit to the red jersey of Rudy Molard by 10 bonus seconds.
Another stage at La Vuelta, another frantic finale and another French rider on the top step of the podium. Tony Gallopin (AG2R La Mondiale) picked the perfect moment to attack in the closing kilometres, holding the chasing pack at bay to solo over the line in jubilation. BORA-hansgrohe’s Peter Sagan popped up to grab second from the teeth of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). A spate of crashes and mechanicals on the narrow, twisty, rough roads to Pozo Alcón left Sky’s Michal Kwiatkowski, amongst others, on the tarmac. The Polish national champion chased hard but had to concede forty seconds, slipping from second to sixth on GC and losing the points jersey to Valverde.