Spaniard Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) won stage six of the Vuelta a España in Ares del Maestart today as Belgium’s Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Merida) took second place and the red jersey.
The 198.8km stage came down to a tussle for the laurels between Herrada and Teuns over the last few hundred metres. Herrada made the telling attack, with Teuns unable to respond.
Teuns crossed the line seven seconds adrift, with Frenchman Dorian Godon (A2R La Mondiale) third.
“With 4km to go I knew a three-minute climb is my speciality, like the Ardennes, and from there I just went full gas, with the hope nobody would stay in the wheel, but there was one guy who could follow,” said Teuns.
“He didn’t want to do a turn, and then I didn’t have the punch anymore. I gave everything for the jersey today. Also for the victory, but in the end one guy was smarter or stronger.”
The first two men home were part of today’s major break comprising 11 riders.
Tsgabu Grmay (Mitchelton-Scott) attacked from the break as the penultimate climb began and opened up a small lead, which was reduced as he reached the top of the Puerto de Culla.
Breakaway companion Nelson Oliveira (Movistar Team) linked up with Grmay as they tackled the second part of the descent.
This leading duo reached Puerto de Ares, the final climb of the day, with a lead of 30 seconds.
Teuns attacked shortly afterwards, with Herrada joining him.
With 3km to the line Teuns and Herrada caught up with Oliveira as Grmay fell away. Oliveira, too, could not keep up with the pace, leaving Teuns and Herrada to fight it out for the stage win.
A big crash in the peloton, which occurred with about 90km left, saw Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First), teammate Hugh Carthy, Victor de la Parte (CCC Team) and Nicolas Roche forced to quit.
De la Parte was 13th overall at the start of the day, while former leader and teammate Roche was fifth after having lost the red jersey to Miguel Ángel López (Astana) yesterday.
Jesus Herrada won stage six of the Vuelta a España in Ares del Maestart today. Photo: Luis Angel Gomez/Photogomezsport
View the results below.
Stage six results
1. José Herrada Lopez (Spa) Cofidis Solutions Credits 4:43:55
2. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida +0:00:07
3. Dorian Godon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale +0:00:21
4. Robert Gesink (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma
5. Bruno Armirail (Fra) Groupama-FDJ +0:00:37
6. Pawel Poljanski (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe +0:00:39
7. Nelson Oliveira (Por) Movistar Team +0:00:45
8. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Trek-Segafredo +0:00:47
9. David de la Cruz (Spa) Team Sky +0:00:50
10. Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) Mitchelton-Scott +0:02:35
*Selected
37. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Dimension Data +0:06:00
55. Willie Smit (RSA) Katusha-Alpecin +0:08:45
86. Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) Dimension Data +0:12:15
103. Jaco Venter (RSA) Dimension Data +0:12:48
General classification
1. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Bahrain-Merida 23:44:00
2. David de la Cruz (Spa) Team Sky +0:00:38
3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team +0:01:00
4. Primoz Roglic (Slo) Team Jumbo-Visma +0:01:14
5. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team +0:01:23
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Team Jumbo-Visma
7. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team +0:01:28
8. Esteban Chaves (Col) Mitchelton-Scott +0:02:17
9. Rafal Majka (Pol) Bora-Hansgrohe +0:02:18
10. Tadej Pogacar (Slo) UAE Team Emirates +0:02:47
*Selected
33. Louis Meintjes (RSA) Dimension Data +0:09:47
52. Nicholas Dlamini (RSA) Dimension Data +0:17:20
99. Willie Smit (RSA) Katusha-Alpecin +0:33:07
134. Jaco Venter (RSA) Dimension Data +0:44:23
