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Vuelta a Andalucía (2019) Photos February 20 - 24

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Stage 1:  Sanlúcar de Barramed → Alcalá de los Gazules, 164 km  Full Results and Report

Scenery from Stage 1, Sanlúcar de Barramed → Alcalá de los Gazules
Tomasz Marczynski (Polen / Team Lotto Soudal) and eventual winnner Tim Wellens (Belgium / Team Lotto Soudal) managing the break's gap
The climbing on this stage was back loaded

Tim WELLENS (BEL/LOTTO SOUDAL) attacked later on the steep, cobbled Alcalá de los Gazules finishing climb than last year but the result was the same
“Once on the final climb, I was not sure if I had to attack or wait. The situation last year - when I was at the front with only one other rider - was a lot easier. After I responded to Izagirre’s attack, I gave my all until the line. I could really turn the experience of last year in my favor. It was difficult to sprint out of the saddle on the cobbles but sprinting while seated suits me really well. That is for sure an advantage on a finish like today.”

“Of course, I want to keep the leader’s jersey until Sunday. The time trial - which should suit me fine - will be of crucial importance. In my opinion, Izagirre will be the man to keep an eye on because he proved in Paris-Nice last year and during the Tour of Valencia this year to have good time trial abilities. But I also worked on my time trial skills and I look forward to seeing the result of that. The queen stage - which finishes in Granada - is scheduled on Saturday but the time trial will be even more decisive for the general classification.”


Tim WELLENS (BEL/LOTTO SOUDAL) wins Stage 1 in 4:12 as two Astana riders appear in the distance, 2nd Jakob FUGLSANG (DEN/ASTANA PRO TEAM) + 5s and 3rd Ion IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI (ESP/ASTANA PRO TEAM)

Stage 2:  Sevilla → Torredonjimeno, 216 km  Full Results and Report


The rollout from Sevilla for Stage 2
Today's unsuccessful break
100m to go: Ivan GARCIA CORTINA (ESP/BAHRAIN - MERIDA) trying to hold on after launching a great move with 300m to go; Matteo TRENTIN (ITA/MITCHELTON - SCOTT) and Danny VAN POPPEL (NED/TEAM JUMBO - VISMA) trying to catch him before the line

Setting up for the close uphill sprint in Torredonjimeno
Matteo TRENTIN (ITA/MITCHELTON - SCOTT) wins a Stage 2 photo finish in 5:28 ahead of 2nd Danny VAN POPPEL (NED/TEAM JUMBO - VISMA) and 3rd Ivan GARCIA CORTINA (ESP/BAHRAIN - MERIDA)
Matteo Trentin (Italy / Team Mitchelton - Scott) celebrates post-Stage 2: “I think I actually did a really good sprint because it was uphill and I really never slowed down speed, I could switch gears coming up to go harder so I am really happy.”

“Corinta went really far from the finish and with about 150metres to go he slowed down and I knew if I could hit the front with around 250metres then it would be ok. I timed my sprint as best as I could and it finished perfectly.

“It was really nice to have the guys riding on the front today and it is why we have had so many victories this season. It is a little bit like one for all, all for one.

"We saved Jack a little bit of course for his GC ambition but we just decided to smash the climb a little bit. Simon was riding a little bit before and I think having climbers riding on a sprint day and sprinters riding on a climb day, it just shows how we are together and how much we care one another.”


Your Stage 2 winner, Matteo TRENTIN (ITA/MITCHELTON - SCOTT), got a new dress shirt for his efforts

Stage 3:  Mancha Real → La Guardia de Jaén, 16.2 km  Full Results and Report


Tim WELLENS (BEL/LOTTO SOUDAL) wins the 16.2 km ITT in 22:25 to extend his overall to 7s over Jakob FUGLSANG (DEN/ASTANA) who was 2nd today + 2s
Tim Wellens (Belgium / Team Lotto Soudal) digging for the win and extending his overall lead to 7s
Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / Team Jumbo - Visma) enjoying the scenery on his way to 4th + 18s

Stage 4:  Armilla → Granada, 120 km  Full Results and Report


The break on the final climb led by Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / Team Jumbo - Visma) and followed by Adam Yates (GBR / Team Mitchelton - Scott)
Steven Kruijswijk (Netherlands / Team Jumbo - Visma) taking inventory near the top. Race leader Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) cracked eariler.
Simon Yates (GBR / Team Mitchelton - Scott), who was not a factor the general classification, attacked 5 km from the top of the steep Hazallanas climb and is shown here descending on his own into Granada

Simon YATES (GBR/MITCHELTON - SCOTT) wins the Queen Stage by 26s. “I had better legs than the first few days, today I was feeling really good so of course I am really happy to win. We wanted to make it a really hard race, Astana did most of the job on the first climb then the race kind of evolved from there over the next climbs. I’m not high up on GC so I thought I’d have a bit more freedom and we wanted to put pressure on Astana and the other teams. We didn’t really want to ride behind so I went early and the selection was made and then the rest of the racing it sorted itself out. I never normally win this early in the season, I had a really good winter so I hope to continue that trend and keep it going.”
7th today + 26s, Jakob FUGLSANG (DEN/ASTANA PRO TEAM) is now the new race leader by 7s after Tim Wellens was dropped on the climbs: “We did a very good race, our main goal was to take the lead and we did it. At the last two climbs of the day we put Tim Wellens under a big pressure with our attacks, and also Mitchelton-Scott helped us with their attacks. It worked perfectly for us. Simon Yates was strong today, maybe I could follow his attack, but I preferred to control my closest rivals since he was out of the GC. The overall classification was our priority for today, so I just followed our plan. The team did a great job, all my teammates were so strong. In the final I had a huge help from Ion Izagirre and Pello Bilbao. We did a good downhill and had a full control over the race until the finish. I am happy to become the leader of the race. We still have one difficult day tomorrow, but in the same time we have a strong team to fight to the finish line to keep my lead.”

Stage 5:  Otura → Alhaurín de la Torre, 164 km  Full Results and Report


Matteo TRENTIN (ITA/MITCHELTON - SCOTT) looks around before celebrating his second stage win. “In the last two kilometres it was roundabout after roundabout after roundabout, we knew it because we checked it yesterday and I said to the guys the best way to win today is to have a clear run to the last kilometre and that’s what they did. Chapeau to Affini, he was dropped and he came back and he did a massive pull to get into the last roundabout, so as a first year as a pro it was a really really good one. Also all the other guys too, when you see Chaves pulling on the front for a sprint it really is something nice. I feel really good and confident now for the next races.”
1st Matteo TRENTIN (ITA/MITCHELTON - SCOTT) wins the Stage 5 power sprint in 3:58:19, 2nd Enrique SANZ UNZUE (ESP/EUSKADI BASQUE COUNTRY - MURIAS), 3rd Carlos BARBERO (ESP/MOVISTAR TEAM)
Your GC podium: 2nd Ion IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI (ESP/ASTANA PRO TEAM) + 7s, 1st Jakob FUGLSANG (DEN/ASTANA PRO TEAM) 17:42:00, 3rd Steven KRUIJSWIJK (NED/TEAM JUMBO - VISMA) + 11s

Astana almost swept the GC podium as Pello BILBAO (ESP/ASTANA PRO TEAM) was 4th overall + 21s. Needless to say, they won the team competition.