Britain’s Chris Froome produced a superb display to win the stage 19 time trial of the Vuelta a Espana and cut the overall lead of Nairo Quintana down to one minute and 21 seconds heading into the penultimate stage.
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The peloton kept close to the breakaway group in the second longest stage of the Tour, from Requena to Gandia, so leader Nairo Quintana maintained his 3:37 lead over nearest challenger Chris Froome before Friday’s individual time trial.
Three-time Vuelta victor Alberto Contador expects Colombian rider Nairo Quintana to win his first Tour of Spain in Madrid on Sunday.
“Of course I’m really happy with the result today [Friday], especially at this point of the season”. “We still have an advantage and we need to defend it”. “I’m confident I can get a good time tomorrow”.
It will be the first time the 26-year-old Colombian has defeated Froome in a Grand Tour, having been edged out by the Briton at the Tour de France in 2013, 2015 and 2016.
Three-time Vuelta victor Alberto Contador finished eighth Friday to leapfrog Esteban Chaves of Colombia into third in the general standings.
Quintana even had the strength to accelerate away from Froome at the finish to claim 10th spot – his Team Sky rival sportingly applauding the Colombian.
Jonathan Castroviejo (Movistar) finished 44 seconds behind Froome and Tobias Ludvigsson (Giant-Alpecin) was third.
“It’s really fantastic – a big dream come true”, said Nielsen.
Quintana said: “I’m very proud of having been able to beat him”.
“From our side it’s business as usual”, Froome said after Wednesday’s Mas de la Costa summit finish.
Contador is fourth in the general standings, four minutes and two seconds behind Quintana.
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Quintana finished alongside Froome in the same time to keep his 3min 37sec lead ahead of Friday s crucial 37km time trial from Xabia to Calp.
