There was a critical win for Joaquim Rodriquez on stage 15 of the Vuelta. The 175.8 kilometre ride between Comillas and Sotres was the second of
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There was a critical win for Joaquim Rodriquez on stage 15 of the Vuelta.
The 175.8 kilometre ride between Comillas and Sotres was the second of three consecutive summit finishes. It started with Italian rider Fabio Aru the overall leader ahead of Rodriquez by 26 seconds.
By the end of the day that lead was cut to just one second.
The breakaway started to take shape after 35 kiliometres but it was the final climb to Sotres where the race was won.
And on the steepest part where gradients reached 13 percent and one kilometre from the line the little cigar – Purito as he is known in the peleton – made his solo attack.
The Spaniard gained a ten second time bonus with the victory that helped him almost annihilate Aru’s advantage. The Italian finished fifth 15 seconds off the pace.