Romain Bardet (Team DSM) took Stage 14 of the 2021 Vuelta a Espana, winning atop the 14.7km Pico Villuercas in the depth of the central Extremadura region.
The Frenchman was part of an 18-rider breakaway and then chased down the attacks and went clear himself in the final kilometres of the climb to the finish.
Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) emerged to finish 44 seconds behind Bardet, with Australia’s Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix) third despite crashing at speed mid-stage after contact with his team car.
Britain’s Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) made some sense of his presence at the Vuelta by going on the attack and finishing fourth at 1:12.
The overall contenders were happy for the breakaway to open a 10-minute lead during the stage and then Jumbo-Visma controlled their rivals and hurt Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) in the final kilometres of the Pico Villuercas.
Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar) edged clear in the final three kilometres but Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) closed him down near the line and distanced Eiking.
Only Enric Mas (Movistar), Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) and Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious) were able to stay with Roglič. Eiking finished 20 seconds down on them but kept the leader’s red jersey for another day.
“It‘s An Amazing Vuelta”
Bardet’s win was DSM’s third victory of this year’s Vuelta. His day on the attack also landed him the jersey for best climber, overhauling Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious).
I had a feeling that no one wanted to commit in this breakaway, so I really had a hard time catching the man in the front,” Bardet said. “The spirit is super-high in the team, and everyone is still focused. We are already enjoying ourselves and we try to do our best every day. It’s an amazing Vuelta.”
2021 Vuelta a Espana Stage 14 Brief Results
- Romain Bardet (Team DSM) at 4h20’36”
- Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) at 44″
- Jay Vine (Alpecin-Fenix) s.t.
- Thomas Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) at 1’12”
- Clément Champoussin (AG2R Citroën Team) at 1’14”
General Classification After Stage 14
- Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) at 55h03’17”
- Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) at 54″
- Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) at 1’36”
- Enric Mas Nicolau (Movistar Team) at 2’11”
- Miguel Angel Lopez Moreno (Movistar Team) at 3’04”
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