Vuelta 2020: Philipsen sprints to rain-soaked triumph, Roglic retains red

At 230.8 kilometres, the 15th stage of La Vuelta serves a long race with a lot of head wind and an elevation gain of more than 4,000 metres. Surprisingly, the sprinters have it their way in Puebla de Sanabria. Jasper Philipsen outguns Pascal Ackermann in the slightly uphill finish, while Primoz Roglic retains the red jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 15th stage Vuelta a España 2020

1. Jasper Philipsen (bel)
2. Pascal Ackermann (ger) s.t.
3. Jannik Steimle (ger)
4. Fred Wright (gbr) s.t.
5. Dion Smith (nzl) s.t.
6. Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (rsa) s.t.
7. Magnus Cort (den) s.t.
8. Dorian Godon (fra) s.t.
9. Stan Dewulf (bel) s.t.
10. Michael Mørkøv (den) s.t.

GC after stage 15
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 0.39
3. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + 0.47
4. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.42
5. Enric Mas (spa) + 3.23
6. Wout Poels (nld) + 6.15
7. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 7.14
8. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 8.39
9. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 8.48
10. David de la Cruz (spa) + 9.23

Race report
Attacks are flying from the gun and after more than one hour of hard racing the breakaway takes shape in the descent of the first climb. Tim Wellens, Mattia Cattaneo, Rui Costa, Rob Power, Mark Donovan, Alex Aranburu, Luis León Sánchez, Nick Schultz, Robert Stannard and Jose Joaquin Rojas open up a gap, while Jonathan Lastra, Guillaume Martin and Julien Simon go after them to rejoin them on the second climb. Martin cements his KOM lead at the top, and again on the Alto do Furriolo and the Alto de Fumaces.

In the course of the day the leaders reach a maximum lead of almost 6 minutes and it has fallen to 2 minutes when two-time stage winner Wellens sits up to wait for the bunch.

After his team mate Sam Bennett has been dropped from the peloton, Cattaneo heads out alone with 30 kilometres remaining. The Italian tackles the last climb 1 minute ahead of his former companions with the peloton 40 seconds further behind.

Cattaneo extends his lead on the Padornelo, while Gino Mäder attacks from the bunch. The young Swiss overhauls the chasers before he is brought back himself with 12 kilometres remaining.

The main group catches Cattaneo inside the last 4 kilometres.

Surprisingly, the hard race comes down to a sprint finish. Young Jasper Philipsen outguns Pascal Ackermann in the slightly uphill finish in Puebla de Sanabria, while Primoz Roglic stays in the overall race lead.

Other interesting reads:
– route 15th stage 2020 Vuelta a España
– KOM classification
– points classification