My 1st Grand Tour, this is what the big stage feels like.
What an honor to be taking part the 2015 Vuelta a Espana.

Not only was I on a home team, but expectations were high
because of my surprise podium finish in California.

--- *** --- *** --- *** ---



I get the honor of leading the team off the start line for the opening TTT.



Stage 2 and I decide I might try and go after the King of the Mountains.



My efforts get me the jersey to wear on Stage 3!



By Stage 4, I come to realize that I'm not strong enough to truly
go after the KoM jersey. It was fun while it lasted but I just don't have
the stamina to ride in the breakaway every single day.



So, I'm told to look after our captain Sergio Henao for the next week.



Henao is doing well, a top 10 overall looks even possible.
He even wins a mountain top finish on Stage 13 beating rival Betancur.

I sit in the peloton and rest up, waiting for a good breakaway stage.



That day would come on Stage 18. A typical breakaway stage.

Luis Leon Sanchez and I jump into the breakaway together.
LLS won the stage yesterday so he decides to use
his remaining energy to protect me today.



20kms to go, the breakaway of 10 is going to make it to the finish.
14 minute lead over the peloton and they are starting to attack each other.

But, I can't worry about Henao now. LLS is trying to close down a late attack from Steven Kruijswijk, and seconds later an attack by Maxim Iglinskiy.



There's the banner, LLS has dragged me as close as possible.
The rest is up to me. The crowd is in a frenzy, this is my moment.



Kruijswijk and Iglinskiy started to play cat and mouse with each other...
They haven't realized I'm coming from behind!



The slashing of water from my wheels finally catches their attention.
Now it's a mad dash to the line. The spectators are yelling so much I can't think.



LLS looks on. His efforts will get him a 4th place after his win on Stage 17.
So, can I bring Santander back-to-back wins here at the Vuelta?



YES I CAN!!!



AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!



I can't believe it! I charged in from behind and stole the stage!

"Travis Newton wins Stage 18 of the 2015 Vuelta a Espana!"

The only thing that could have made today any better was if Chloe and the kids were here in Noja with me and not back at our apartment in Barcelona.

At least Santander, Spain is just a few miles west, so big party there tonight!



After not getting much sleep I didn't have the motivation
to try another breakaway on Stage 19 or Stage 20,
so I rode into Madrid with my head held high after my victory three days ago.

Fans were even taking pictures of me. Some people were even calling
my victory salute the most memorable one of the entire Tour.



As much as I was enjoying my limelight, the team had a great tour as well.
Our Captain, Sergio Henao, finished 5th overall with a stage win.



And our sprinter Juan José Lobato,
capped off the Vuelta by winning the final stage here in Madrid.

General Classification

Sprint Points

King of the Mountains

Youth Classification

Best Team

4 Stage Wins + 5th and 13th Overall = Overwhelming Favourites For Promotion.

After 64 days of racing the team has told me my season is finished.

What a great year it was, by far my best as a professional cyclist.
I just hope I can carry this momentum to Garmin with me for the 2016 season.

"Mr. Newton, what is your plea?"

I couldn't hide any more. It was time for everything to be put out on the table.

"Guilty."

"Thereby the UCI bans Travis Newton from competing in
2016 professional road race season without pay.
All results from the 2015 season will be nullified."



I looked over to Chloe, her head was buried in her hands as she wept.
There went our family income for the year, however we knew it was coming.
It wasn't as much as a shook as it was heartbreaking.

Go ahead, judge me for taking PED's... I have heard it all already.
But, I had to support my family somehow and
I still believe that was my only option.

I just needed to impress the pro teams at AToC and get a PT contract.
After that I wasn't going to use them ever again. And I didn't.
It was a one time thing, and I got caught.

You probably won't believe me but,
my performance at the Vuelta a Espana was clean.
But that doesn't matter, all my results from 2015 season were voided.



It was a stupid mistake, yet looking back on it... I would do it again.
I couldn't make it at the PCT level, I top out as an above average CT cyclist.
I'm not ashamed of that because it's 1 step further than
what my grandfather achieved before he broke his leg and quit.

Being an above average CT cyclist doesn't make enough money
to support my wife, two kids, and my folks back in Kansas.