Spain’s Enric Mas defended the red jersey of the overall leader without any trouble during the penultimate proper mountain stage of the Vuelta. On the 18.7-kilometre-long final climb of Stage 19, the 31-year-old professional cyclist fended off an attack by the Slovenian Primož Roglič and crossed the finish line alongside his rivals.
The stage victory in the 210.8-kilometre stage between Vélez-Málaga and Peñas Blancas (Estepona) went to breakaway rider Edward Dunbar. In the final kilometre, the Irishman surged past the Colombian Santiago Buitrago, who had previously launched an attack and finished second. Mas retains a 1 minute 37 seconds lead over Roglic in the general classification. The Austrian Felix Gall is third, 3 minutes 01 seconds behind.
Roglic didn’t launch his attack until late on
The riders set a fast pace right from the start. There were attacks time and again. For a long time, the peloton didn’t let any group get far ahead. It wasn’t until late in the race that 16 professionals managed to break away by several minutes. On the final climb, Santiago Buitrago launched an attack. Three of Dunbar’s rivals were initially able to keep up with the leader in the mountains classification. After another attack, the Colombian was on course for victory, but Dunbar fought his way back.
Among the favourites, Roglic’s team took the lead but did not set a fast pace and then dropped back. It was not until two kilometres from the finish that the Slovenian made his move, but he was unable to break away decisively.
The queen stage on Saturday
Saturday’s queen stage is likely to be Mas’s last chance to take the red jersey. The riders will have to climb a total of 4,850 metres in elevation between La Calahorra and the final climb to the Collado del Alguacil.
Three Category 1 climbs are on the programme. The Collado del Alguacil, at 8.3 kilometres with an average gradient of 9.8 per cent, is even tougher and is classified in the highest category. The Tour of Spain concludes in Granada on Sunday.
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