Stage 19 San Martín del Rey Aurelio - La Farrapona 158.3 km
The stage start in San Martín del Rey Aurelio, Principado de Asturias. Rock engravings and burial mounds shows stone age tribes living in the area 4-5 thousand years ago. The first written evidence of a town dates back to the end of the eight century.
From San Martín del Rey Aurelio the route moves deeper into the Cantabrian Mountains, over four mountain passes before the summit finish at Alto de La Farrapona, in Somiedo Natural Park.
Today’s stage is a lot shorter than yesterday, but with summit finish after a 23.4 km long climb to Alto de La Farrapona, it is at least as hard as the previous stage.
It is nice and sunny with little wind, should become a bit more cloudy later, but do not expect any rain.
After about 3 km we get the first attack, it is GC 16th Olivier setting of for another long adventure, right behind him Pedrero
After another 3 kilometers another attack, Lehtinen, Van der Velde and Egger.
The two group join forces just in time to start Alto de la Colladona together, 6.9 km at 6.5%.
Olivier is 4th in youth competision and
also best placed in KoM as 6th (74 points), Egger 8th (68 points)
Distance to the peloton 2’32”
De Gendt is leading the peloton on the climb.
In the breakaway Olivier attacks for the KoM, Egger and Van der Velde right behind him.
From the peloton Herrada (KoM 9th), Hughes (KoM 3rd) and Mager (KoM 7th)also attacks on the climb.
Result of KoM Olivier Egger Van der Velde Pedrero Lehtinen Mager Herrada
After the climb F. Schleck and Vanmarcke takes the lead in the peloton.
Hughes has a hard time catching up, sitting alone for over 30 km, but eventually he makes it and the breakaway has grown to 8 riders before the climb to Alto del Cordal 13.4 km 4.5%, the distance have grown to 6’14.
Egger attacks for the KoM from 1.2 km and he makes it.
Result of KoM Egger Olivier Mager Herrada Hughes Lehtinen Van der Velde
Again Hughes is struggling and this time he doesn’t make it back before the climb to Alto de la Cobertoria, 10.1 km at 8.6%, he will be alone on the climb.
In the peloton De Gendt and Heymes in front.
The climb has much harder slopes than the previous two and that shows in the breakaway, little by little everyone drops, leaving only Olivier and Egger.
Egger attacks and wins the KoM sprint.
Peloton at 9’01”
Result of KoM Egger Olivier Van der Velde Lehtinen Pedrero Mager Herrada
In the peloton Konrad takes over, either in an attempt to wear out the other teams or trying to control the increased distance to the breakaway.
This means that large chunks of riders are dropped, reducing the peloton to just 58 riders over the top, but is does not reduce the gap, it has increased to 10’24.
At the start of the climb to Puerto de san Lorenzo (the last before the climb to the finish), 10.2 km at 8.6% most of the breakaway is back together, Olivier, Egger, Lehtinen, Van der Velde, Mager and Pedrero
Herrada at 2’48, Hughes at 5’07, Peloton at 6’43 now 64 riders.
Konrad, Kruijswijk, Kirsch and Goos leading the peloton on the relative flat first 4.5 km of the climb, the distance is still shrinking on this part of the climb.
This time Olivier is setting a devastating pace up front, rider after rider drop, in the end also Egger have to let go.
In the peloton the first attack after the morning breakaway, GC 13th Arndt accelerates.
Olivier passes the top first.
At the same time Monsalve attacks from the peloton.
Selected gaps at this point: Egger at 1’09, Lehtinen and Van der Velde at 3’20, Arndt at 6’33, peloton at 8’10 (55 riders)
Result of KoM Olivier Egger Lehtinen Van der Velde Pedrero Mager Arndt
The peloton has 2.2 km to the top, another attack (top right in the picture) this time Lecuisinier.
For some reason it is Koep leading, maybe Keizer have signaled good legs, but it does not help Olivier.
The top 3 Schleck, Dombrowski and Madrazo (with also Ablenado) right behind.
A small gap to Velits, Keizer, Machado, Nesset, Haig, Kritskiy and Pluchkin, quite daring of him sitting this relative low.
But the only top 20 riders sitting very low is Vosekalns and Brambilla, they are between the last 1/3 of the peloton.
After Lecuisinier’s attack, König and Goos take the lead of the peloton, upping the pace and reducing the group further, 32 riders make it to the top with the favorites.
The times when the peloton passes the top is. Olivier alone in front with 27 km to the line. Egger at 1’11 Lehtinen and Van der Velde at 4’24 Pedrero at 5’07 Mager at 5’30 Arndt and Monsalve at 6’09 Lecuisinier at 6’57
Peloton at 7’57
Olivier starts the ultimate climb to La Farrapona, 23.4 km at 5.2% - a very uneven climb, the last 5 km clearly the hardest with slopes over 11%
The peloton have been fast on the descent, reeling back Arndt, Monsalve and Lecuisinier
On the first 5 km of the climb we get the first important victim of the hard pace, GC 18th Vosekalns seems to be in pain, losing more than a minute very fast. Soon after also GC 20th Bibby has to say goodbye.
A little less than 12 km for Olivier, 13.5 km for the favorites, another attack this time Machado and again Lecuisinier and Monsalve
The TV producers have their hand full, something happening all the time now. 10.7 km to the top
Machado and Monsalve have left Lecuisinier behind, they have 3’32 to Olivier
The favorite group is split in two, besides Lehtinen from the break, the first group is Schleck, Madrazo, Pluchkin, Keizer, Arndt, Haig and Dombrowski who is attacking at exactly this moment.
The next group with Kritskiy, Abal, Velits and Galta (totally 16 riders) are 28” behind the favorites.
6 km to the top for Olivier
At 1’16” Egger having an amazing ride today.
At 2’45 Dombrowski have got contact with Machado and Monsalve, also Lecuisinier back in this group.
At 3’16
Pluchkin is leading the group with Madrazo, Schleck and Keizer,
At 3’39 Arndt,
At 4’02 Haig with a good gap down to what we may now call the peloton or group Kritskiy
Monsalve attacks out of the group with Dombrowski Machado and Lecuisinier.
Not long after the favorite group catches this group from behind, except Keizer who is not able to hold on any longer.
A little later another important attack, Pluchkin accelerates Dombrowski quick to take his wheel.
Madrazo with Schleck attached, tries to counter but can’t close the gap.
4.5 km to the line for Olivier
The situations is:
At 1’14” Egger
At 1’24” Monsalve
At 1’37” Pluchkin and Dombrowski
At 1’50” Madrazo and Schleck
At 2’30” Machado and Lecuisinier
At 2’56” Keizer
At 3’33” Arndt
At 3’57” Abal, Kritskiy, Brambilla and Haig
At 4’40” Velits, Guldhammer, Preidler, Galta and Bonnin
The camera haven’t been able to find GC 18 Vosekalns for some time, but according to uncertain reports he is some 7-8 minutes behind at this point.
Does not take long for Pluchkin and Dombrowski to close up to Monsalve, but he is definitely not exploded and hangs on to the group over the next 2 km, where they catch Egger, just to immediately drop him.
Then, with a little more than 2 km to the top, they also catch Olivier
Let’s take a last overview of the situation before the final. Dombrowski, Pluchkin, Olivier and Monsalve with 2 km to the top.
At 43” Schleck and Madrazo
At 1’04” Egger
At 1’22” Machado, Lecuisinier and also Kritskiy have improved remarkably to join this group
At 1’51 Keizer and Velits also having made a good move forward.
At 2’34 Abal
At 2’58 Brambilla
At 3’15 Guldhammer
At 3’49 Arndt, Preidler, Galta and Haig.
At 4’37 Bonnin
The four rider in front still together under the red kite
Group Schleck now a little closer at 37” Egger, Machado, Lecuisinier and Kritskiy at 1’13
Keizer and Velits at 1’47
Dombrowski sprinting from pole position
Dombrowski wins on La Farrapona, an also takes over the red leader jersey that Andy Schleck have been wearing since stage four. This was his 3 stage win and 6th podium.
Monsalve 2nd , his 3rd podium.
Pluchkin 3rd, his 5th podium in this tour. They all get the same time.
Olivier just manages to hold of Schleck for 4th both at 27”, a disappointing stage for Andy Schleck, but a great result for Daan Olivier now also leading the KoM.
Madrazo is over the limit, losing some additional seconds over the last few 100 meters, he come in 6th at 46”
Machado 7th at 1’13
Kritskiy 8th in front of Lecuisinier 9th both at 1’31 Egger holding off Peter Velits for 10th in 2’02, a brilliant stage from Mike Aaron Egger.
As mentioned the race leader and the KoM leader changed today.
In the GC also the distance between 3rd Angel Madrazo and 4th Aleksandr Pluchkin decreased remarkably, the race is very open before the final mountain stage tomorrow.
Tiago Machado passes Timofey Kritskiy for 5th, Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier passed David Abal for 7th, also Martijn Keizer, Daan Olivier and Gianluca Brambilla improved their GC
Marc Goos entered top 20 replacing Ian Bibby
In the KoM Mike Aaron Egger moved up from 8th to 3rd.
[PTM] Vuelta a Espana 
