Team Dimension Data’s Kristian Sbaragli managed to get another top 10 finish on stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday.
Jempy Drucker (BMC) crossed the line after 156km of racing from Alcañiz to Peñíscola ahead of Rüdiger Selig (Bora-Argon18) and Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin).
Team Dimension Data’s Kristian Sbaragli achieved a top 10 finish on stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday. Photo: Stiehl Photography
It took only a few kilometres for the day’s break to get a gap.
Silvan Dillier (BMC), Sven Erik Bystrom (Katusha), Julien Morice (Direct Energie), Davide Villella (Cannondale), Luis Angel Maté (Cofidis) and Mario Costa (Lampre-Merida) worked well together, but Etixx-QuickStep and IAM did not want them to get too far ahead.
They kept things under control, while Nic Dougall joined the pace-making from the pack and made it clear that Team DiData had ambitions with Sbaragli.
When the stage entered its final racing hour the gap began to steadily diminish.
With 12km to go it was all over for the break as the sprinter teams tried to form their trains.
Tinkoff, though, had something else in mind and sent Daniele Bennati off the front with 2km to go.
The Italian was able to open up a gap on the slightly tricky run-in but was caught again on the final stretch.
Then it was the turn of Gianni Meersman (Etixx-Quickstep), but the Belgian was too early in the wind and had to settle for fourth.
Drucker, who jumped from Meersman’s wheel, had the strongest punch in the end. Coming into the finishing straight Sbaragli was well placed. However, he became boxed in and finished seventh.
