Vuelta 2015 stage 13: Oliveira soloes to victory

Stage 13 is a hilly ride taking the riders in 178 kilometres from Calatayud to Tarazona. In between are two 3rd category climbs and one 1st category climb, making the stage a chance for escapees. And it is. Nelson Oliveira leaves the front group with 30 kilometres left and soloes to the win. Aru retains the overall lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 13th stage Vuelta

1. Nelson Olveira (por)
2. Julien Simon (fra) + 1.00
3. Nicolas Roche (irl) s.t
4. Sylvain Chavanel (fra) s.t.
5. José Joaquin Roja (spa) s.t.
6. Rinaldo Nocentini (ita) s.t.
7. Kévin Reza (fra) s.t.
8. Mikael Cherel (fra) s.t.
9. Cameron Meyer (aus) s.t.
10. Maxime Monfort (bel) s.t.

GC after stage 13
1. Fabio Aru (ita)
2. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) + 0.27
3. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 0.30
4. Rafal Majka (pol) + 1.28
5. Esteban Chaves (col) + 1.29
6. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 1.52
7. Daniel Moreno (spa) + 1.54
8. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 1.58
9. Gianluca Brambilla (ita) + 2.51
10. Romain Sicard (fra) s.t.
11. Nairo Quintana (col) + 3.07

Race report
Obviously, a seat in the breakaway is most wanted, but it’s only after 25 km’s Sylvain Chavanel, Iljo Keisse and Jimmy Engoulvent succeed in forcing a tiny gap. But that’s what it stays, tiny, before the trio gets caught.

With 51 km’s done it’s Chavanel again, now joining forces with Arashiro, Oliveira and De Marchi. They get clear and are accompanied by Cherel, Coppel, Plaza and Meyer. While climbing Alto de Beraton (1st category) Sicard, Roche, Henao, Arroyo, Poljanski, Simon, Rojas, Brambilla, Monfort, Elissonde, Nocentini, Terpstra, Bagot, Réza and Conti bridge the gap also. Then the troupe races to a 5 minutes lead.

At the last climb, Alto de Moncayo, Poljanski ecapes, but his companions make it back in the rolling section at the top. Nelson Oliveira attacks in the drop en powers to a 1 minute lead. His former companions fail to work together in the chase and victory is his. Strong performance.