Vuelta 2021: Sprint triumph Jakobsen, Eiking stays in red

image: Cor VosFabio Jakobsen sprints to his third stage victory in the 16th stage of La Vuelta, while Odd Christian Eiking retains the red jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 16th stage Vuelta a España 2021

1. Fabio Jakobsen (nld)
2. Jordi Meeus (bel) s.t.
3. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.
4. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
5. Alberto Dainese (ita) s.t.
6. Jon Aberasturi (spa) s.t.
7. Rui Oliveira (por) s.t.
8. Riccardo Minali (ita) s.t.
9. Antonio Jesús Soto s.t.
10. Clément Venturini (fra) s.t.

GC after stage 16
1. Odd Christian Eiking (nor)
2. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 0.54
3. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 1.36
4. Enric Mas (spa) + 2.11
5. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 3.04
6. Jack Haig (aus) + 3.35
7. Egan Bernal (col) + 4.21
8. Adam Yates (gbr) + 4.34
9. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 4.59
10. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 5.31

Race report
In a hectic first phase – in which Guillaume Martin, Guilio Ciccone and Enric Mas hit the deck – a group of five men jump clear. Stan Dewulf, Mikel Bizkarra, Dimitri Claeys, Quinn Simmons and Jetse Bol open up a gap of 2 minutes before the peloton takes the reins.

The gap is hovering around 1.30 minutes when Harm Vanhoucke tries to bridge across on the Alto de Hijas. He reaches the summit 20 seconds behind the lead group before he catches them with 65 kilometres remaining.

Roughly 10 kilometers later UAE Emirates ups the pace in a hilly zone. The peloton splits and Jakobsen loses contact before his team mates bring him back.

Dewulf goes solo 10 kilometres before the line, but it’s in vain. The peloton brings him back inside the last 5 kilometres.

Fabio Jakobsen outguns Jordi Meeus and Matteo Trentin in the ensuing bunch sprint.

The GC remains unchanged, so Odd Cristian Eiking keeps the red jersey.

Another interesting read: route 16th stage 2021 Vuelta.