Kiwi cyclist George Bennett is one place closer to a prized top 10 finish at the Vuelta a Espana after a solid performance in the stage 19 time trial.
Advertisement
Colombian Quintana, wearing the race leader’s red jersey, was the last man down the start ramp but could not maintain the pace of the Tour de France victor and finished 11th in the stage, losing two minutes and 16 seconds to Froome.
“It’s my last race of the year and I’m happy to still be in good condition”.
Barring an accident or incident on the final stage’s traditional arrival in Madrid, the Colombian riding for Movistar will add the Vuelta to the 2014 Giro d’Italia on his Grand Tour list of honours.
Another big gainer of the day was Three-time Vuelta victor Alberto Contador.
Spain’s Jonathan Castroviejo finished 44 seconds behind Froome and Tobias Ludvigsson of Sweden was third.
Froome rode imperiously to claw back 2mins 16secs from the race leader.
“Until we reach Madrid, we can not say the race is over”, Quintana said. “The question now is what we all have in our legs for the stage tomorrow, which will be a very important day”.
“Froome was flying”, Quintana told Spanish TVE.
Quintana and his nearest rivals – Chris Froome, Esteban Chaves and Alberto Contador – duly recorded the same time by finishing in the peloton, keeping the Movistar rider three minutes and 37 seconds clear in the red jersey. “We still have an advantage and we need to defend it”.
“We normally try for the GC guys, but today I gave it a go and it’s unbelievable”, added Nielsen.
Frenchman Latour produced a late dart to claim the stage win for AG2R La Mondiale, denying Darwin Atapuma (BMC Racing) in a pulsating finish to a stage which started in Benidorm.
Advertisement
And the Briton – seeking to become only the third man to win the Tour de France and Vuelta in the same year – since duly set off at a blistering pace, completing the first section of the course nearly half a second quicker than Castroviejo. “I have to just cover Chris and I have the team to do it”.
