Strong victory of Tadej Pogacar in Vuelta a España, Nairo Quintana tops GC
Sep 02 2019 12:06 am CET
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UAE Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar has claimed the victory of the ninth stage of the Vuelta a España. The General Classification riders had a big fight on the mountains and Nairo Quintana was the first of them to cross the finish line, climbing to the top of the General Classification.
The shortest regular stage of the 2019 edition of the Spanish race took the riders through a 94.4-kilometre course between Andorra la Vella and Cortals d'Encamp in Andorra, featuring one hors-category climb and two ascents of the first category, including the mountain finish.
The action started as soon as the stage took off and many attacks happened, which resulted in the escape of a group of around 28 riders that included names like Teo Geoghegan Hart, David de la Cruz (Ineos), Nielson Powless, Sepp Kuss, Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma), Geoffrey Bouchard (AG2R La Mondiale), Antonio Pedrero, Marc Soler (Movistar), Gorka Izagirre, Omar Fraile and Jakob Fuglsang (Astana).
Esteban Chaves (Mitchelton-Scott) suffered a mechanical problem at the first ramps of the HC climb and he lost around a minute to the peloton. Meanwhile, in front, Bouchard launched an attack and went on by himself.
With 19 kilometres to go, Miguel Ángel López (Astana) launched an attack that was initially responded to only by Nairo Quintana (Movistar) but soon they were joined by Primoz Roglic, George Bennett (Jumbo-Visma) and Alejandro Valverde. Soon after, López made a new change of pace and continued by himself. On the way he was helped by some of his teammates that were part of the escape group.
Meanwhile, Geoghegan Hart and Ben O'Connor (Dimension Data) joined Bouchard in front at the last climb. A lot of rain and hail fell on the last kilometres of the stage and left the public without images or sound from the race.
When the communication from the race returned, Valverde and Quintana were together with López and some of the escapees while Roglic was left behind, and Soler rode in the front by himself. Soon after, Quintana launched an attack and was joined by UAE-Team Emirates' Tadej Pogacar.
Roglic then got to the group of López while Valverde launched a new attack but he was soon re-joined by the group. Moments later, Movistar gave the order to Soler to stop to help Quintana and the Spaniard didn't look too happy to comply.
Pogacar launched an attack that Quintana couldn't follow and the Colombian was left struggling at Soler's wheel. In the favourites' group, Roglic caught and left Valverde behind while López seemed to be suffering the consequences of the earlier efforts and of a crash, considering some bloody spots he seemed to have on his arm.
The Slovenian rider of UAE Team Emirates crossed the finish line by himself, while Quintana did so 23 seconds behind. Roglic arrived to the finish 48 seconds behind the winner of the stage with Valverde and Soler came in nine seconds later. The Colombian of Movistar took the Red Jersey, while Roglic is six seconds behind him ahead of the rest day and the individual time trial.
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