The 15th stage of the 2017 Vuelta a Espana, the race’s queen stage, offered a great show all around the mountains of Sierra Nevada, in Andalucia.
The great protagonist of this incredible stage was Astana’s Miguel Angel Lopez, taking his second win in the 2017 edition of the race and looking like to strongest climber in the bunch.
Lopez won the stage and recovered four positions in the GC where he is now 6th at 2:51.
Fabio Aru concluded the stage in 11th position and now in the GC he is 7th at 3:24.
“It has been incredible,” said Lopez after the stage. “I followed Contador when he attacked at more than 20 km to go and I didn’t know if it was too early to go but my legs were ok so I said to myself ‘let’s try!’ it went well…”.
“I have to thank all my team mates because I think we have ridden very well as a Team” continued Lopez.
Lopez’s teammate Fabio Aru commented this way his stage: “We did the race for Miguel and I’m happy he was won, congrats to him!”.
“It was another tough day, for sure I’m not at my 100% of the condition, but I keep fighting even because this is the first time in my career I’m racing in two grand tour consequently and, at least, this would be a very important experience for me even if it’s not easy: I’m taking confidence with this and I’m satisfied the way I’m managing myself.”
After the stage, Astana sport director, Bruno Cenghialta, spoke to the media: “We knew that Miguel Angel prepared very well the Vuelta but Fabio Aru is and remain our captain in this race”
“On the other hand, Lopez in this moment is probably the best climber of the race so why don’t try to win the stages? – continued the Italian sport director – Fabio is really strong but we have to say that he did a great Dauphine in June, he was at 100% at the Tour de France and now he is still fighting here at the Vuelta, we cannot ask him to be at 100% for the entire year.”
Stage 15 Brief Results:
- Miguel Angel Lopez (Colombia / Astana Pro Team) 3:34:51″
- Ilnur Zakarin (Russia / Katusha-Alpecin) +36″
- Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands / Team Sunweb) +45″
- Esteban Chaves (Colombia / Orica-Scott) +47″
- Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky)
- Michael Woods (Canada / Cannondale-Drapac) +50″
- Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Bahrain-Merida) +53″
- Wout Poels (Netherlands / Team Sky)
- Louis Meintjes (South Africa / UAE Team Emirates)
- Pello Bilbao (Spain / Astana Pro Team) +1:02″
General Classification After Stage 15:
- Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 62:06:25″
- Vincenzo Nibali (Italy / Bahrain-Merida) +1:01″
- Ilnur Zakarin (Russia / Katusha-Alpecin) +2:08″
- Wilco Kelderman (Netherlands / Team Sunweb) +2:11″
- Esteban Chaves (Colombia / Orica-Scott) +2:39″
- Miguel Angel Lopez (Colombia / Astana Pro Team) +2:51″
- Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana Pro Team) +3:24″
- Michael Woods (Canada / Cannondale-Drapac) +3:26″
- Alberto Contador (Spain / Trek-Segafredo) +3:59″
- Wout Poels (Netherlands / Team Sky) +5:22″
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