2016 Vuelta a España

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2016 Vuelta a España
2016 UCI World Tour, race 21 of 28
Race details
Dates20 August – 11 September 2016
Stages21
Distance3,315.4 km (2,060 mi)
Results
Winner  Nairo Quintana (COL) (Movistar Team)
  Second  Chris Froome (GBR) (Team Sky)
  Third  Esteban Chaves (COL) (Orica–BikeExchange)

Points  Fabio Felline (ITA) (Trek–Segafredo)
Mountains  Omar Fraile (ESP) (Team Dimension Data)
Combination  Nairo Quintana (COL) (Movistar Team)
  Combativity  Alberto Contador (ESP) (Tinkoff)
  Team United States BMC Racing Team
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The 2016 Vuelta a España was a three-week Grand Tour cycling stage race that took place in Spain between 20 August and 11 September 2016. The race was the 71st edition of the Vuelta a España and the final Grand Tour of the 2016 cycling season.

The race included 21 stages, beginning with a team time trial that started in Ourense. The subsequent stages included 10 summit finishes. The race ended in Madrid.

The overall winner was Nairo Quintana of team Movistar, with Chris Froome (Team Sky) second and Esteban Chaves (Orica–BikeExchange) third.

Teams[edit]

The eighteen UCI WorldTeams were automatically invited and obliged to attend the race. The organiser of the Vuelta, Unipublic, was also able to invite four UCI Professional Continental teams – the second tier of professional cycling teams – as wildcards.[1]

The teams entering the race were:

World Tour teams

Professional Continental teams

Route[edit]

The route of the 2016 Vuelta was announced on 9 January 2016. In contrast to the two previous editions of the Vuelta, which had begun in Andalusia, this edition spent its first week in Galicia in the north-west of Spain. The first stage was a team time trial to Castrelo de Miño. The first significant climb of the race was at the end of the third stage, which was the first of ten summit finishes in the race. The route travelled through Asturias before coming to the Basque Country; the fourteenth stage, described by Cyclingnews.com as the hardest of the race, took place mainly just across the border in France. The route continued down the eastern coast of Spain over the next few days, with several mountainous stages, with the race's only individual time trial coming on stage 19. One more mountainous stage followed, finishing on the Alto de Aitana, before the riders travelled to Madrid for the closing stage on a circuit in the city centre.[2]

List of stages[3]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1 20 August LaiasParque Náutico Castrelo de Miño 27.8 km (17 mi) Team time trial United Kingdom Team Sky
2 21 August OurenseBaiona 160.8 km (100 mi) Flat stage  Gianni Meersman (BEL)
3 22 August MarínMirador de Ézaro (Dumbría) 176.4 km (110 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Alexandre Geniez (FRA)
4 23 August BetanzosSan Andrés de Teixido 163.5 km (102 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Lilian Calmejane (FRA)
5 24 August ViveiroLugo 171.3 km (106 mi) Flat stage  Gianni Meersman (BEL)
6 25 August Monforte de Lemos – Ribeira Sacra, Luintra 163.2 km (101 mi) Hilly stage  Simon Yates (GBR)
7 26 August MacedaPuebla de Sanabria 158.5 km (98 mi) Hilly stage  Jonas van Genechten (BEL)
8 27 August VillalpandoLa Camperona, Valle de Sabero 181.5 km (113 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Sergey Lagutin (RUS)
9 28 August CistiernaAlto del Naranco, Oviedo 164.5 km (102 mi) Medium-mountain stage  David de la Cruz (ESP)
10 29 August LugonesLagos de Covadonga 188.7 km (117 mi) Mountain stage  Nairo Quintana (COL)
30 August Oviedo Rest day
11 31 August Jurassic Museum of Asturias, ColungaPeña Cabarga 168.6 km (105 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Chris Froome (GBR)
12 1 September Los Corrales de BuelnaBilbao 193.2 km (120 mi) Hilly stage  Jens Keukeleire (BEL)
13 2 September BilbaoUrdax-Dantxarinea 213.4 km (133 mi) Hilly stage  Valerio Conti (ITA)
14 3 September Urdax-DantxarineaCol d'Aubisque (Gourette) 196 km (122 mi) Mountain stage  Robert Gesink (NED)
15 4 September SabiñánigoAramon Formigal, Sallent de Gállego 118.5 km (74 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Gianluca Brambilla (ITA)
16 5 September AlcañizPeñíscola 156.4 km (97 mi) Flat stage  Jempy Drucker (LUX)
6 September Castellón de la Plana Rest day
17 7 September Castellón de la Plana – Camins del Penyagolosa, Llucena 177.5 km (110 mi) Medium-mountain stage  Mathias Frank (SUI)
18 8 September RequenaGandia 200.6 km (125 mi) Flat stage  Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN)
19 9 September XàbiaCalp 37 km (23 mi) Individual time trial  Chris Froome (GBR)
20 10 September BenidormAlto de Aitana 193.2 km (120 mi) Mountain stage  Pierre Latour (FRA)
21 11 September Las RozasMadrid 104.8 km (65 mi) Flat stage  Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN)
Total 3,315.4 km (2,060 mi)

Classification leadership[edit]

The race included four principal classifications. The first of these was the general classification, which was calculated by adding up each rider's times on each stage and applying the relevant time bonuses. These were 10 seconds for the stage winner, 6 seconds for the rider in second, and 4 seconds for the rider in third, and 3, 2 and 1 seconds for the first three riders at each intermediate sprint; no bonuses were awarded on the time trial stages. The rider with the lowest cumulative time was the winner of the general classification and was considered the overall winner of the Vuelta. The rider leading the classification wore a red jersey.

Sprint points
Category 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th
Finish sprint 25 20 16 14 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Intermediate sprint 4 2 1

The second classification was the points classification. Riders were awarded points for finishing in the top fifteen places on each stage and in the top three at each intermediate sprint. The first rider at each stage finish was awarded 25 points, the second 20 points, the third 16 points, the fourth 14 points, the fifth 12 points, the sixth 10 points, down to 1 point for the rider in fifteenth. At the intermediate sprints, the first three riders won 4, 2 and 1 points respectively. The rider with the most points won the classification and wore a green jersey.

Mountain points
Category 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
Cima Alberto Fernández 20 15 10 6 4 2
Special category 15 10 6 4 2
First category 10 6 4 2 1
Second category 5 3 1
Third category 3 2 1

The third classification was the mountains classification. Most stages of the race included one or more categorised climbs. Stages were categorised as third-, second-, first- and special-category, with the more difficult climbs rated higher. The most difficult climb of the race was given its own category as the Cima Alberto Fernández. Points were awarded for the first riders across the summit of each climb; the rider with the most accumulated points won the classification and wore a white jersey with blue polka dots.

The fourth individual classification was the combination classification. This was calculated by adding up each rider's position on the other three individual classifications. The rider with the lowest cumulative score was the winner of the classification and wore a white jersey.

The final classification was a team classification. This was calculated by adding together the times of each team's best three riders on each stage. The team with the lowest cumulative time was the winner of the classification. There was also a combativeness prize awarded on each stage; three riders were chosen on each stage by a race jury to recognise the rider "who displayed the most courageous effort". There was then a public vote to decide which rider would be awarded the prize; the rider wore a red dossard (race number) the following day. An identical procedure took place on the final stage to decide the most combative rider of the whole Vuelta.

Classification leadership by stage
Stage Winner General classification
A red jersey
Points classification
A green jersey
Mountains classification
A white jersey with blue polka dots
Combination classification
A white jersey
Team classification Combativity award
1 Team Sky Peter Kennaugh not awarded not awarded not awarded Team Sky not awarded
2 Gianni Meersman Michał Kwiatkowski Gianni Meersman Laurent Pichon Laurent Pichon
3 Alexandre Geniez Rubén Fernández Alexandre Geniez Alexandre Geniez Rubén Fernández Movistar Team Simon Pellaud
4 Lilian Calmejane Darwin Atapuma Darwin Atapuma Thomas De Gendt
5 Gianni Meersman Gianni Meersman Tiago Machado
6 Simon Yates Omar Fraile
7 Jonas van Genechten Luis Ángel Maté
8 Sergey Lagutin Nairo Quintana Sergey Lagutin Alejandro Valverde Etixx–Quick-Step Jhonatan Restrepo
9 David de la Cruz David de la Cruz Thomas De Gendt David de la Cruz Luis León Sánchez
10 Nairo Quintana Nairo Quintana Alejandro Valverde Omar Fraile Nairo Quintana Movistar Team Luis Ángel Maté
11 Chris Froome Nairo Quintana Tiago Machado
12 Jens Keukeleire David López
13 Valerio Conti Sergey Lagutin BMC Racing Team Gatis Smukulis
14 Robert Gesink Kenny Elissonde Simon Gerrans
15 Gianluca Brambilla Alberto Contador
16 Jempy Drucker Luis Ángel Maté
17 Mathias Frank Jaime Rosón
18 Magnus Cort Fumiyuki Beppu
19 Chris Froome Chris Froome
20 Pierre Latour Fabio Felline Omar Fraile Luis León Sánchez
21 Magnus Cort not awarded
Final Nairo Quintana Fabio Felline Omar Fraile Nairo Quintana BMC Racing Team Alberto Contador
  • In stage three, Bryan Nauleau, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Laurent Pichon wore the polka-dot jersey as leader of the mountains classification.
  • In stage four, Simon Pellaud, who was second in the mountains classification, wore the polka-dot jersey, because first-placed Alexandre Geniez wore the green jersey as leader of the points classification. Alejandro Valverde, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Rubén Fernández wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
  • In stage five, Thomas De Gendt, who was second in the mountains classification, wore the polka-dot jersey, because first-placed Alexandre Geniez wore the green jersey as leader of the points classification. Lilian Calmejane, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Darwin Atapuma wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
  • In stages 6–8, Alejandro Valverde, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Darwin Atapuma wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
  • In stage ten, Alejandro Valverde, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed David de la Cruz wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
  • In stages 11–21, Chris Froome, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Nairo Quintana wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
  • In stages twelve and thirteen, Omar Fraile, who was second in the mountains classification, wore the polka-dot jersey, because first-placed Nairo Quintana wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.

Final standings[edit]

Legend
A red jersey Denotes the leader of the general classification[4] A green jersey Denotes the leader of the points classification[4]
A white jersey with blue polka dots Denotes the leader of the mountains classification[4] A white jersey Denotes the leader of the combination rider classification[4]

General classification[edit]

Final general classification (1–10)[5]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Nairo Quintana (COL) A red jerseyA white jersey Movistar Team 83h 31' 28"
2  Chris Froome (GBR) Team Sky + 1' 23"
3  Esteban Chaves (COL) Orica–BikeExchange + 4' 08"
4  Alberto Contador (ESP) Tinkoff + 4' 21"
5  Andrew Talansky (USA) Cannondale–Drapac + 7' 43"
6  Simon Yates (GBR) Orica–BikeExchange + 8' 33"
7  David de la Cruz (ESP) Etixx–Quick-Step + 11' 18"
8  Daniel Moreno (ESP) Movistar Team + 13' 04"
9  Davide Formolo (ITA) Cannondale–Drapac + 13' 17"
10  George Bennett (NZL) LottoNL–Jumbo + 14' 07"

Points classification[edit]

Final points classification (1–10)[5]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Fabio Felline (ITA) A green jersey Trek–Segafredo 100
2  Nairo Quintana (COL) A red jerseyA white jersey Movistar Team 97
3  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team 93
4  Chris Froome (GBR) Team Sky 92
5  Luis León Sánchez (ESP) Astana 75
6  Gianni Meersman (BEL) Etixx–Quick-Step 73
7  Simon Yates (GBR) Orica–BikeExchange 56
8  Alberto Contador (ESP) Tinkoff 56
9  Esteban Chaves (COL) Orica–BikeExchange 54
10  Daniele Bennati (ITA) Tinkoff 54

Mountains classification[edit]

Final mountains classification (1–10)[5]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Omar Fraile (ESP) A white jersey with blue polka dots Team Dimension Data 58
2  Kenny Elissonde (FRA) FDJ 57
3  Robert Gesink (NED) LottoNL–Jumbo 37
4  Alexandre Geniez (FRA) FDJ 28
5  Nairo Quintana (COL) A red jerseyA white jersey Movistar Team 27
6  Egor Silin (RUS) Team Katusha 23
7  Sergey Lagutin (RUS) Team Katusha 22
8  Thomas De Gendt (BEL) Lotto–Soudal 19
9  Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) Etixx–Quick-Step 18
10  Luis Ángel Maté (ESP) Cofidis 18

Combination classification[edit]

Final combination classification (1–10)[5]
Rank Rider Team Points
1  Nairo Quintana (COL) A white jerseyA red jersey Movistar Team 8
2  Chris Froome (GBR) Team Sky 17
3  Kenny Elissonde (FRA) FDJ 34
4  David de la Cruz (ESP) Etixx–Quick-Step 39
5  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team 41
6  Fabio Felline (ITA) A green jersey Trek–Segafredo 43
7  Simon Yates (GBR) Orica–BikeExchange 46
8  Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) Etixx–Quick-Step 48
9  Robert Gesink (NED) LottoNL–Jumbo 48
10  Egor Silin (RUS) Team Katusha 49

Team classification[edit]

Final teams classification (1–10)[5]
Rank Team Time
1 United States BMC Racing Team 249h 48' 23"
2 Spain Movistar Team + 4' 43"
3 United States Cannondale–Drapac + 22' 44"
4 Russia Team Katusha + 35' 19"
5 France AG2R La Mondiale + 35' 30"
6 Kazakhstan Astana + 56' 22"
7 Belgium Etixx–Quick-Step + 1h 04' 57"
8 Switzerland IAM Cycling + 1h 08' 38"
9 Russia Tinkoff + 1h 23' 50"
10 Australia Orica–BikeExchange + 1h 33' 00"

Controversy[edit]

In stage 15, more than 90 riders were 10 km/h slower than the winner and finished far outside of the time cut. They were, nevertheless, allowed to stay in the race. Of the six remaining stages, five were won by riders from that grupetto (Drucker, Frank, 2x Cort Nielsen, Latour), Froome being the only exception after winning the time trial (stage 19).

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Vuelta a España 2016 start list - Cycling Weekly". 19 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Vuelta a Espana 2016 race route revealed". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  3. ^ "2016 Route". Vuelta a España. Unipublic. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d Race regulations 2015, p. 50.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Classifications - La Vuelta 2016". LaVuelta. Retrieved 9 September 2016.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]