Another demanding mountain stage was in store for the Vuelta a Espana peloton on today’s 146.8 kilometer long 15th stage from Graus to Sallent de Gállego including three categorized climbs with a15.8 kilometer long uphill finish with gradients up to 10%. With usual persistence, Team Saxo-Tinkoff launched a series of attacks from the beginning of the stage and Rafal Majka and Oliver Zaugg were extremely active from the get-go.
But it was Saxo-Tinkoff Dane, Chris Anker Sørensen who made it in the long-lasting break of the day and his powerful teammate, Nicki Sørensen bridged the gap to the front group with 30 kilometers to go but unfortunately, the Danish veteran crashed and was distanced from the front.
With 10 kilometers to go, 21-year-old Warren Barguil (Argos-Shimano) launched a fierce attack from the breakaway while Astana, Katusha and Euskaltel worked hard to control the gap and their opponents in the chase group.
Close to the finish line, Rigoberto Uran (Sky) made it across to Barguil but on the line, Barguil took another stunning stage win.
Team Saxo-Tinkoff’s Chris Anker Sørensen was dropped in the finale but Nicolas Roche was fighting intensely to keep up with the favourites and he managed to distance some of his rivals as well including race leader, Vincenzo Nibali. Roche is still sixth overall:
“As we saw today and as we have seen in many other stages of the race anything is possible and we had different cards to play today. First with Oliver and Rafal and later on with Nicki and Chris. Unfortunately, Nicki crashed as he was in the front group. He roamed a parked motorcycle and crashed. Luckily, he was soon back on the bike and wanted complete the stage but obviously, he is sore and bruised. Nicolas did another great stage, which confirmed that he deserves more than the sixth place he is in right now. And we will continue to try to bring him further the rankings. There is a strong team spirit within this team and I am sure that there are more attacks from us to come, “said Saxo-Tinkoff’s Fabrizio Guidi after the stag