Vuelta a España (2016) Photos August 20 - September 11

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Tinkoff takes over the front of hotel, even though Astana and Katusha also there		Alberto Contador press conference
Alberto with his trusted aides
		Like a scene from reservoir dogs, the riders come out to the cars and go to the ttt start and ride the route
Tinkoff Stage 1 TTT recon	All across the road at 3k to go
Alberto centre of shot
Galicia ttt backdrop	Alberto takes his turn at the front as Tinkoff test the TTT route before vuelta stage 1

Stage 1:  Balneario Laias → Castrelo de Miño, 29.4 km  Full Results and Report

Bora-Argon 18 was first down the ramp and across the finish. They ended up 10th + 57s	Team Sky in tight formation with 3 km to go; Peter Kennaugh the focus of this photo	Team Sky won the Ourense 29.4 km TTT in 30:37 by a split second
Team Sky nearing the finish		Movistar and Valvarde with 3 km to go...
2nd, last year's TTT winners, Movistar by less than a second this year	Esteban CHAVES leading Orica-BikeExchange with 3 km to go...	3rd Orica-BikeExchange + 6s
4th BMC Racing Team + 7s	BMC	5th Etixx-QuickStep + 22s
Steven KRUIJSWIJK and his LottoNL-Jumbo team were a respectable 6th + 27s	8th Cannondale + 52s	Alberto Contador grimacing at the front of Tinkoff with 3 km to go...
Last team on the course. Is the sun setting on Alberto Contador? 9th Tinkoff + 52s	Not exactly in tight formation, 15th Dimension Data + 1:17	Hugh McCarty was dropped. His Caja Rural team was 18th + 1:36 while he finished several minutes back of his team
Last place, 22nd Lampre-Merida + 2:09	Chris Froome on his way to the podium after Sky's stage 1 TTT win	Brimming Brailsford
Team Sky on the way to the podium	Winner's of the opening TTT by less than a second, Team Sky
	Some brutal late day light conditions
Peter Kennaugh remained on stage...	The race leader of this year's Vuelta after Stage 1, Peter Kennaugh (GBr/Team Sky)	Interview with the race leader, Peter Kennaugh

Stage 2:  Ourense → Baiona, 159 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 3:  Marín → Mirador Ézaro, 176 km  Full Results and Report

The view from the top of the steep uphill finish at Mirador Ézaro	Maximum 30%	One break survivor remains
Digging deep with 100m to go...		Alexandre GENIEZ (FDJ) hangs on to win Stage 3
		Ruben FERNANDEZ (MOVISTAR) separated himself from the GC contenders thinking their was no one left up the road
	Chris Froome and Esteban CHAVES	Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) was 6th + 32s
The gap from Quintana to Valvarde, Froome and Chaves	This was actually the victory salute for the race lead...	But, it was also a fine runner's up salute, 2nd Ruben FERNANDEZ (MOVISTAR) + 21
	3rd Alejandro VALVERDE (MOVISTAR) + 26s	4th Christopher FROOME (SKY) obscuring and 5th Esteban CHAVES (ORICA-BikeExchange)
7th Igor ANTON (DIMENSION DATA) + 32s	Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) lost more time today	8th Samuel SANCHEZ (BMC RACING) + 54s and 9th Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF)
Tejay VAN GARDEREN was dropped before the climbing even started and finished over 10 minutes back	Your stage 3 winner, Alexandre GENIEZ (FDJ)
	Gruppetto shot of the steep 25-30% section
New race leader, Ruben FERNANDEZ (MOVISTAR) by 7s

Stage 4:  Betanzos → San André de Teixidó, 161 km  Full Results and Report

Solo, winning attacking from the break by Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie) on the finish climb at San André de Teixidó
Frenchman Lilian CALMEJANE (DIRECT ENERGIE) wins Stage 4	2nd Darwin ATAPUMA (BMC RACING) + 15s and 3rd Ben KING (CANNONDALE) followed by 4th Andrey ZEITS (ASTANA) + 19s	Another strong performance by Alejandro VALVERDE (MOVISTAR) to lead the GC across for 20th + 2:06
Albrerto Contador behind Chris Froome and ahead of Nairo Quintana	Grupetto
Your Stage 4 winner, Lilian CALMEJANE (DIRECT ENERGIE)
New race leader, Darwin ATAPUMA (BMC RACING) by 29s

Stage 5:  Viveiro → Lugo, 172 km  Full Results and Report

Yesterday's uphill winner, Lilian Calmejane (Direct Energie)	Alberto Contador is 1:53 back before Stage 5	Tejay van Garderen
Race leader before Stage 5, Darwin ATAPUMA (BMC RACING)	Steven Kruijswijk collided with an unmarked bollard in the final kms	Depleted Stage 5 sprint finish after a controversial late crash
After a Etixx-Quick Step leadout, Gianni MEERSMAN finished it off for his second win of this year's Vuelta. 2nd Laurent DIDIER (TREK - SEGAFREDO) and 3rd Kévin REZA (FDJ)
Chris Froome avoided the crash	Roberto Kiserlovski was involved in the crash and was helped across by Alberto Contador	Your Stage 5 winner, Gianni MEERSMAN (Etixx-Quick Step)
	After some delay, Darwin ATAPUMA (BMC RACING), who was caught behind the crash, was determined to retain the race lead

Stage 6:  Monforte de Lemos → Luintra, 163 km  Full Results and Report

Darwin Atapuma (Bmc Racing) arriving at the stage 6 start in Monforte De Lemos	Alberto Contador	Alberto Contador
Nairo Quintana	Chris Froome	Alejandro Valverde
Remember the Italian earthquake at the start of Stage 6	Simon Yates (Orica - Bikeexchange) successfully attacked on the final unclassified climb
	First Grand Tour win for Simon Yates	2nd Luis Leon SANCHEZ (ASTANA) + 20s
3rd Fabio FELLINE (TREK - SEGAFREDO) + 22s	4th Ben HERMANS (BMC RACING)	Once again, Alejandro VALVERDE (MOVISTAR) 8th + 29s, lead the GC contenders across the line
Alberto Contador was in the GC group		Your Stage 6 winner, Simon YATES (ORICA-BikeExchange)
		Darwin ATAPUMA (BMC RACING) continues to lead

Stage 7:  Maceda → Puebla de Sanabria, 158 km  Full Results and Report

Race leader, Darwin ATAPUMA (BMC RACING) prior to Stage 7 in Maceda	Alberto Contador	2nd overall Alejandro VALVERDE (MOVISTAR) has looked good on every stage so far
5th overall Esteban CHAVES (ORICA-BikeExchange)	Yesterday's Stage 6 winner, Simon YATES (ORICA-BikeExchange)	The forming of today's early break
Movistar	Team Sky	Jonas VANGENECHTEN, (IAM CYCLING) wins today's slightly uphill sprint finish ahead of Daniele BENNATI (TINKOFF) and 3rd Alejandro VALVERDE (MOVISTAR)
	Unlucky Alberto Contador was cut off in one of the final corners and crashed before the mountain stages
Replay of the crash. As ‏@mwkeenan said: Bagdonas up the inside, bumps Van Der Sande, who clips Contador. Contador down without touching his brake.	Your Stage 7 winner, Jonas VANGENECHTEN, (IAM CYCLING)	IAM CYCLING has now won a stage in all three Grand Tours this year, not bad for a team that is about to disband
Darwin ATAPUMA (BMC RACING) will take a 24s lead into the upcoming mountain stages

Stage 8:  Villalpando → La Camperona, 177 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 9:  Cistierna → Alto de Naranco, 165 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 10:  Lugones → Lagos de Covadonga, 187 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 11:  Colunga → Peña Cabarga, 169 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 12:  Los Corrales de Buelna → Bilbao, 193 km  Full Results and Report

KOM Leader Omar Fraile (Dimension Data)	José Joaquín Rojas, Spanish National RR Champ, was 5th today	Philippe Gilbert
Past and Present Race Leaders, Colombians Atapuma and Quintana	Stage 12 start scene in Los Corrales De Buelna	Pello BILBAO (CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA) finished 6th in his namesake home town
The break on the finishing circuit in Bilbao	Movistar at the front of the chase	Racing through Bilbao
		Sprint finish without pure sprinters in Bilbao
	Jens KEUKELEIRE (ORICA-BikeExchange) easily beats Maxime BOUET (ETIXX - QUICK STEP) and Fabio FELLINE (TREK - SEGAFREDO) after jumping from a long way out
Your Stage 12 winner, Jens KEUKELEIRE (ORICA-BikeExchange)		Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) retains the race lead

Stage 13:  Bilbao → Urdax-Dantxarinea, 213 km  Full Results and Report

Tour de France director Christain Prudhomme was on hand today	Yesterday's winner, Jens KEUKELEIRE (ORICA-BikeExchange)	Basque supporter Stephane Rossetto feeding the Bilbao audience
Chris Froome	Chris Froome signing	Nairo Quintana
1st and 2nd on GC enjoying a laugh		Rollout from Bilbao
The peloton took their time and enjoyed the Basque scenery today	With a break well up the road, Movistar set an easy pace which helped the break get over a 25+ minute advantage
		Valerio CONTI (LAMPRE - MERIDA) successfully attacked the break with 17 km to go
	Valerio CONTI (LAMPRE - MERIDA) wins Stage 13
2nd Danilo WYSS (BMC RACING) + 55s followed by 3rd Sergey LAGUTIN (KATUSHA)		Meanwhile the peloton was over 30+ minutes back
The peloton taking their time	13th Alejandro VALVERDE (MOVISTAR) + 33:54
Your Stage 13 winner, Valerio CONTI (LAMPRE - MERIDA)
	Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) will take a 54s race lead into the queen stage on Saturday

Stage 14:  Urdax → Col d'Aubisque, 196 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 15:  Sabiñanigo → Formigal, 120 km  Full Results and Report

Stage winner and race leader from earlier in the week, David de la Cruz. He was part of the key break today and finished 5th.		Pensive Chris Froome was expecting something
Contador and Froome during the sign-in interviews	Alberto Contador in good spirits	Valvarde and Contador going over the Movistar and Tinkoff plan one more time
All quiet, everyone knows their role		Tinkoff jumped on the attack right from the start of this short 118 km stage
A second attack led by Alberto Contador cemented the winning break and left Chris Froome adrift for the rest of the race	Nairo Quintana's Movistar joined forces in the attack with Tinkoff	Contador and Quintana extending their lead in the break over Chris Froome who was dropped
Radioing for help; Chris Froome in trouble with no teammates left to chase		The final climb to Formigal
	Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) dropped everyone except Gianluca BRAMBILLA (ETIXX - QUICK STEP) on the final climb
	Behind feline, contador and elissonde with 1 km to go
	Brambilla jumps Quintana in the final 100m
	Gianluca BRAMBILLA (ETIXX - QUICK STEP) wins a thrilling stage
	But, Nairo Quintana was the real winner putting 2:40 into Chris Froome	A great effort to solidify his race lead
3rd Fabio FELLINE (TREK - SEGAFREDO) + 25s, 4th Kenny ELISSONDE (FDJ) + 28s, 5th David DE LA CRUZ (ETIXX - QUICK STEP) + 31s		Further down the hill, Chaves and Scarponi dropped Froome
	6th Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) + 34s and is now just 5s out of third
	9th Esteban CHAVES (ORICA-BikeExchange) + 1:53	Chris Froome and Simon Yates in the final km
18th Christopher FROOME (SKY) + 2:40 and 19th Jean-Christophe PERAUD (AG2R LA MONDIALE)	A horrible day for isolated Chris Froome	Omar Fraile post race
Valvarde was in shock too	Simon Yates	Your Stage 15 winner, Gianluca BRAMBILLA (ETIXX - QUICK STEP)
	Most combative rider Alberto Contador lit up the first half of the stage and is now just 5s out of third place
Other than winning the stage, today could not have gone any better for race leader Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) who now leads Chris Froome by 3:37	Alberto Contador post stage
	The gruppetto finshed well outside the allowed time but they were not disqualified
Leo Konig reflects on a bad day for Team Sky and his personal performance. He lost over an hour on GC after starting the day in 5th!

Stage 16:  Alcañiz → Peníscola, 158 km  Full Results and Report

The stage 16 sign in at Alcaniz	Alberto Contador acknowledging the crowd	Chris Froome congratulates Alberto Contador on his successful plan yesterday
Chris Froome	Race leader, Nairo Quintana	Moreno Moser wasn't happy that 90 or so riders got a free rest day yesterday while others including himself busted their ass to beat the time cut
Remember Stage 7 winner Jonas VANGENECHTEN (IAM CYCLING)	Start scene for Stage 16 in Alcaniz
Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde		Today's early break
Jean-Pierre DRUCKER (BMC RACING) wins the Stage 16 sprint ahead of Rudiger SELIG (BORA-ARGON 18) and Nikias ARNDT (GIANT - ALPECIN)
Your Stage 17 winner, Jean-Pierre DRUCKER (BMC RACING)
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) will take a healthy 3:37 lead into the final rest day

Stage 17:  Castellón → Mas de la Costa, 173 km  Full Results and Report

Stage 17 start in Castellon
Chris Froome staying attentive	Movistar's Alejandro VALVERDE and Nairo QUINTANA
The top of the steep 4 km @ 12.5 max 21 % finishing climb at Mas de la Costa	Two men break on the final climb, Mathias FRANK (IAM CYCLING) and Dario CATALDO (ASTANA) who finished 5th + 16s	Alberto Contador attacked the GC group
300m to go and Mathias FRANK (IAM CYCLING) soloing up the final steep section	3rd Robert GESINK (LOTTO NL - JUMBO) + 11s and 2nd Leopold KONIG (SKY) + 6s	Nairo Quintana
Pello BILBAO (CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA) finished 4th + 14s, only non WorldTour rider in the top 10	Mathias FRANK (IAM CYCLING) finishes off his solo effort with a Stage 17 mountaintop win ahead of Leopold KONIG (SKY) + 6s, coming into view
	Jhoan CHAVES (ORICA-BikeExchange) leading Nairo Quintana and Alberto Contador. The GC group finished 3:27 back of the winner.
Chris Froome would claw himself back to the GC riders before the finish	Alberto Contador leading the GC group across for 24th + 3:27
It's a little dejecting to see riders coming down the hill for riders like Kiel Reijnen (Trek) still on the way up	Your Stage 17 winner, Mathias FRANK (IAM CYCLING)
	Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) maintained his 3:37 race lead

Stage 18:  Requena → Gandía, 191 km  Full Results and Report

Magnus Cort NIELSEN (ORICA-BikeExchange) wins Stage 18 ahead of Nikias ARNDT (GIANT - ALPECIN) and Jean-Pierre DRUCKER (BMC RACING)		Third ORICA-BikeExchange rider to win a stage at this year's Vuelta and they have two riders in the top 5 on GC
		Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) will take a 3:37 advantage into the Stage 19 TT

Stage 19:  Xàbia → Calp, 39 km  Full Results and Report

Chris Froome at the start line in Xabia
	Chris Froome (Sky) crushed the 39 km ITT in 46:33	Chris Froome crossing in a new best time
Jonathan CASTROVIEJO (MOVISTAR) best intermediate time stood until Chris Froome beat it	2nd Jonathan CASTROVIEJO (MOVISTAR) + 44s	3rd Tobias LUDVIGSSON (GIANT - ALPECIN) + 1:24
4th Yves LAMPAERT (ETIXX - QUICK STEP) + 1:26	5th Victor CAMPENAERTS (LOTTO NL - JUMBO) + 1:47	6th Leopold KONIG (SKY) + 1:51
7th Andrew TALANSKY (CANNONDALE) + 1:54	Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) down the start ramp
8th Alberto CONTADOR (TINKOFF) + 1:57 to move up to 3rd overall + 3:43	Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) in the start house
Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) lost time over the whole course finishing 11th + 2:16 which trimmed his overall lead from 3:37 to 1:21		24th Esteban CHAVES (ORICA-BikeExchange) + 3:13 which dropped him from 3rd to 4th overall
Your Stage 19 ITT winner, Chris Froome (Sky)
Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) will take a slashed lead of 1:21 into the final mountain stage

Stage 20:  Benidorm → Alto de Aitana, 193 km  Full Results and Report

Start scene for the final mountain stage, Stage 20 in Benidorm		Rudy MOLARD (COFIDIS) and Luis Leon SANCHEZ (ASTANA) getting the break started
	Break	Esteban CHAVES (ORICA-BikeExchange) attacked out of the GC group attempting to regain the final podium spot
The GC contenders	The final climb Alto Aitana	Pierre-Roger LATOUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE) clawing back to the front of the race
It was down to Darwin ATAPUMA (BMC RACING) and Pierre-Roger LATOUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE) in the final kms	Chris Froome attacked Nairo Quintana but was marked
Alberto Contador losing ground and his podium spot	Pierre-Roger LATOUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE) lead the way over the final km, lost it with 200m to go and then regained it
22-year old Pierre-Roger LATOUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE) wins the final mountain stage
Darwin ATAPUMA (BMC RACING) with the runner up reaction	3rd Fabio FELLINE (TREK - SEGAFREDO) + 17s	4th Mathias FRANK (IAM CYCLING) + 40s
Esteban CHAVES' (ORICA-BikeExchange) bold bid to reclaim the final podiu spot paid off 9th + 3:17 and 1:36 ahead of Alberto Contador	Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) put an exclamation on his overall win by sprinting ahead of Chris Froome for 10th + 4:03
Chris Froome applauds the winner		Alberto Contador lost the final spot to Chaves
	5th overall Andrew TALANSKY (CANNONDALE) + 7:43
He lead much of the final climb, but Luis Leon SANCHEZ (ASTANA) finished 28th over 7 minutes back	Your Stage 20 winner, 22-year old, Pierre-Roger LATOUR (AG2R LA MONDIALE), one of rising stars in the sport
	The Red Jersey is his to keep now...	Your overall winner, Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR)
		After Valvarde led the points competition for most of the race, Fabio FELLINE (TREK - SEGAFREDO) is now in Green
KOM winner, Omar FRAILE (Dimension Data)

Stage 21:  Las Rozas → Madrid, 103 km  Full Results and Report

Finishing circuits in Madrid	Madrid's City Hall
		Late attack
Stage 21 mass sprint without pure sprinters	Magnus Cort NIELSEN (ORICA-BikeExchange) wins his second stage at this year's Vuelta ahead of Daniele BENNATI (TINKOFF) and Gianni MEERSMAN (ETIXX - QUICK STEP)
	It's official, Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) is the overall winner
	Emotional win for a Spanish-speaking rider	Your Stage 21 winner, Magnus Cort NIELSEN (ORICA-BikeExchange)
		Alberto Contador was awarded super combative rider
Your overall winner, Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR)	3rd Esteban CHAVES (ORICA-BikeExchange) + 4:08 makes it two Colombian riders in the top 3	Tour de France winner, Chris Froome (Sky) was 2nd + 1:23
The winner and his prize	Your 2016 Vuelta a Espana podium...
		The jersey winners: Fabio FELLINE (TREK - SEGAFREDO) won the points competition, overall winner Nairo QUINTANA (MOVISTAR) and KOM winner, Omar FRAILE (Dimension Data)