Esteban Chaves recaptured the lead from Dutchman Tom Dumoulin at the 2015 Vuelta a Espana when he surged clear to win Thursday’s sixth stage, a second victory of the race for the Colombian that suggested he may be a genuine contender.
Orica rider Chaves, who surrendered first place to Dumoulin (Giant) on Wednesday, attacked around two kilometres before the steep finish into Sierra de Cazorla and despite the searing heat had enough in the tank to hold off Daniel Martin (Cannondale) and Dumoulin, who crossed the line together five seconds behind.
Chaves heads the general classification by 10 seconds from Dumoulin, with Irish cousins Martin (+33 seconds) and Nicolas Roche (Team Sky, +36) in third and fourth respectively.
“I can’t believe I’ve won,” Chaves told reporters.
“It was a long, hot, hard stage today,” he added. ” I’m really happy and I want to thank all the team and staff again, they’re all amazing.”
Sky leader Chris Froome, who won a second Tour de France crown in July and is bidding for a rare Tour-Vuelta double, finished seventh and moved up one place to sixth overall (+55).
Friday’s summit finish on the seventh stage into La Alpujarra is expected to provide one of the first genuine skirmishes among the race favourites.
Briton Froome is bunched with some of his main rivals including Spaniards Alejandro Valverde (Movistar, +49) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha, +56) and Valverde’s Colombian team mate Nairo Quintana (+57).
Orica’s Daryl Impey said the Australian outfit, whose young rider Caleb Ewan won Wednesday’s fifth stage, were having a much better time at the Vuelta than in last month’s Tour de France, where things had not gone to plan.
“That’s cycling and sports in general, you have your ups and downs and this is fantastic,” Impey told reporters.
“I think he (Chaves) is just in great condition at the moment and when you’ve got good condition it seems like he can’t do anything wrong,” added the South African.
Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil (1963) and Bernard Hinault (1978) are the only riders to have won the Tour and the Vuelta in the same year. (Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Alan Baldwin)
Stage 6 Brief Results:
- Esteban Chaves (Colombia / Orica) 4:46:16″
- Daniel Martin (Ireland / Cannondale) +5″
- Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands / Giant)
- Ruben Plaza (Spain / Lampre) +11″
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar)
- Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha)
- Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky)
- Rafal Majka (Poland / Tinkoff – Saxo)
- Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar)
- Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Team Sky)
General Classification After Stage 6:
- Esteban Chaves (Colombia / Orica) 21:55:13″
- Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands / Giant) +10″
- Daniel Martin (Ireland / Cannondale) +33″
- Nicolas Roche (Ireland / Team Sky) +36″
- Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Movistar) +49″
- Daniel Moreno (Spain / Katusha) +51″
- Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) +55″
- Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain / Katusha) +56″
- Nairo Quintana (Colombia / Movistar) +57″
- Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana) +1:08″
Ron is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.
Websites:
Bike World News
Ron’s Bike Garage
Current Bike Quiver:
Bird Bikes Zero 29 29″ hardtail mountain bike
Commencal Absolut 26″ Dirt Jump/Pump Track bike
Commencal Tempo 29″ full suspension mountain bike
Felt ZA 700c race bike
Kona Kilauea vintage 26″ mountain bike
Niner RLT9 700c road/gravel bike
Specialized Stumpjumper vintage 26″ mountain bike
Day Job: Digital Marketing
Night Job: Digital Marketing, eCommerce Consultant, Web Consultant, Bike Shop Operator, Husband, Dad, Tenor