Vuelta 2015 stage 15: Purito powers to the win, now 1 second down on leader Aru

Following a calm opening and some introducing climbs, stage 15 saves the toughest for last. The 3 final kilometres are monstruous with grades in the double digits and it's there 'Purito' Rodríguez attacks. He climbs to the win and is now only 1 second down on leader Aru. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 15th stage Vuelta

1. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa)
2. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.12
3. Daniel Moreno (spa) + 0.14
4. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.15
5. Fabio Aru (ita) s.t.
6. Mikel Landa (ita) + 0.18
7. Esteban Chaves (col) + 0.20
8. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 0.24
9. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.29
10. Domenico Pozzovivo (ita) + 0.41

12. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 0.51

GC after stage 15
1. Fabio Aru (ita)
2. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) + 0.01
3. Rafal Majka (pol) + 1.24
4. Tom Dumoulin (nld) + 1.25
5. Esteban Chaves (col) + 1.34
6. Daniel Moreno (spa) + 2.08
7. Mikel Nieve (spa) + 2.19
8. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.25
9. Nairo Quintana (col) + 3.00
10. Louis Meintjes (rsa) + 5.07

Race report
Once the flag is dropped attacs are everywhere, but it takes 30 km’s for a group to be gone for good. Pierre Rolland, Maarten Tjallingii, Nikolas Maes, Ricardo Vilela, Dominique Rollin, Brayan Ramirez, Natnael Berhane, Haimar Zubeldia and Blel Kadri race to a 3 minutes advantage.

Movistar takes control in the pack to bring the gap down to 2 minutes, yet it goes back up again to 5 minutes. But eventually Quintana Inc. what’s asked for and when hitting the closing climb the difference is 1 minute.

Kadri is the first to attack, but when the dust settles Zubeldia is in the lead. In the pack Quintana opens fire with 10 km’s left… to no avail.

Zubeldia is caught at the steep closing section and Tom Dumoulin is dropped. In the last km Purito accelerates and one by one his rivals are dropped. The tough Catalan powers to the win and taking 10 bonification seconds, he now is only 1 second down on Aru. Strong performance by Majka also and he jumps to third place.