Vuelta 2020: Cort sprints to triumph, Roglic cements lead

Rémi Cavagna is the attacker of the day, but a reduced peloton brings the soloist back with 2 kilometres left. In the ensuing sprint Magnus Cort outguns Primoz Roglic and Dion Smith. The Slovene takes 6 bonus second to cement his lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 16th stage Vuelta a España 2020

1. Magnus Cort (den)
2. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.
3. Dion Smith (nzl) s.t.
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
5. Richard Carapaz (ecu) s.t.
6. Felix Großschartner (aut) s.t.
7. Dorian Godon (fra) s.t.
8. Michael Valgren (den) s.t.
9. Jasha Sütterlin (ger) s.t.
10. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) s.t.

GC after stage 16
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Richard Carapaz (ecu) + 0.45
3. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + 0.53
4. Daniel Martin (irl) + 1.48
5. Enric Mas (spa) + 3.29
6. Wout Poels (nld) + 6.21
7. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 7.20
8. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 8.45
9. Aleksandr Vlasov (rus) + 8.54
10. David de la Cruz (spa) + 9.29

Race report
A lot of movement in the early kilometres, but it takes 15 kilometres for a rider to open up a gap. Angel Madrazo is quickly joined by his Burgos-BH teammate Felipe Osorio and the two extend their lead to 2 minutes before Rémi Cavagna decides to go after them, which inspires other riders. The Frenchman bridges across to the front with Robert Stannard, Kobe Goossens and Jesus Ezquerra. The six put more than 5 minutes into the main group.

Osorio can’t follow the pace on the first climb, Puerto El Portillo. The other five reach the summit with a lead of almost 4 minutes.

Ineos puts pressure and brings the gap down to 1.30 minutes just before El Robledo. Ezquerra loses contact in the lead group as well.

Cavagna goes solo on the Robledo and Stannard tracks him down. The two crest the summit 20 seconds ahead of the main group, which is down to forty riders.

Cavagna shakes off Stannard inside the last 17 kilometres. He forges on, but the peloton brings him back with 2 kilometres left.

Valverde opens the sprint before he fades to fifth, while Cort wins the stage ahead of Roglic and Smith.

The Slovene gains a time bonus of 6 seconds and extends his GC lead.

Other interesting reads:
– route 16gh stage 2020 Vuelta
– KOM classification
– points classification