Vuelta 2016 Stage 16: Drucker sprints to victory, Quintana retains in lead

After the uphill torture of the past few days, the 16th stage in the Vuelta boils down to a bunch sprint. Jean-Pierre Drucker outsprints Gianni Meersman to take the first Grand Tour victory in his career. No changes in the GC. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 16th stage Vuelta

1. Jean-Pierre Drucker (lux)
2. Rüdiger Selig (ger) s.t.
3. Nikias Arndt (ger) s.t.
4. Gianni Meersman (bel) s.t.
5. Lorrenzo Manzin (fra) s.t.
6. Jonas Van Genechten (bel) s.t.
7. Kristian Sbaragli (ita) s.t.
8. Kristian Reijnen (usa) s.t.
9. Tosh Van der Sande (bel)
10. Jhonathan Restrepo (col) s.t.

GC after 16th stage
1. Nairo Quintana (col)
2. Chris Froome (gbr) + 3.37
3. Esteban Chaves (col) + 3.57
4. Alberto Contador (spa) + 4.02
5. Simon Yates (gbr) + 5.07
6. Samuel Sánchez (spa) + 6.12
7. Andrew Talansky (usa) + 6.43
8. Davide Formolo (ita) + 7.17
9. David de la Cruz (spa) + 7.23
10. Michele Scarponi (ita) + 7.39

11. Daniel Moreno (spa) + 8.05
12. George Bennett (nzl) + 9.45
13. Sergio Pardilla (spa) + 10.09
14. Jean Christophe Peraud (fra) + 11.06
15. Ben Hermans (bel) + 11.44
16. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 12.48

Race report
Silvan Dillier, Sven Erik Bystrom, Luis Angel Mate and Julien Morice go on the attack, while Davide Villella and Mario Costa bridge over. The leaders race to a maximum gap at 3 minutes.

The peloton keeps the front group on a leash and with 12 kms left they are reeled in.

With 2.4 kms left Bennati goes solo, but he is chased down in the dying metres. Then Jean-Pierre Drucker jumps to the finest victory in his career.