With Erik Baška and Peter Sagan on lead-out duty, Sam Bennet of the BORA-hansgrohe team surged ahead to take the Vuelta a San Juan’s final stage with a commanding effort that saw him finish a bike length ahead of second place. With three BORA-hansgrohe riders in the stage’s top five and Felix Großschartner finishing fifth in the overall standings, it marked the end of a strong campaign where teamwork was the defining feature of the race for the German team.
Returning to where it all began, the Vuelta a San Juan came to a close in San Juan City with a circular nine-lap street circuit, totalling 141.3km. Each 16km lap of the route would bring the riders closer to the end of what had been a thrilling race, but the Vuelta wasn’t over until the final stage was won – and with a pan flat finish, the sprinters were guaranteed not to let this go one by without a fight.
With the breakaway having frustrated the bunch on yesterday’s stage, the early attempts to escape were quickly shut down and several more attacks ended the same way. With the race hitting the 100km to go point, there was still no break in sight, and it was only with 75km to go that something finally stuck. A group of five built a lead of a minute, but almost as though they were on a piece of elastic, the peloton brought them back in to within thirty seconds. This group was working together well though, and the bunch was held at bay until the final 20km, when the bunch jumped into action and started pushing to make the catch – the result of today deciding both the stage and the overall standings would make sure those with their eye on a victory would take every chance they could – easily sweeping up the lead group and then ramping up the pace for the finale.
While there were plenty of attacks in the final 5km, the BORA-hansgrohe riders were vigilant on the front with Poljański, Baška and Sagan keeping the pace high for Sam Bennett. Coming out of nowhere when it looked like the race was over, Sam streaked ahead and decisively snatched the victory.
“I’m really happy. We came here looking for a stage win and it was good for the morale to start the season by taking a win in my first stage race,” Bennett commented after the race. “I just want to thank the team again – they did an awesome job. The hardest part was in the finale. The guys were doing a perfect lead-out and I think Quick Step’s focus was on me, and they tried to hold me out in the wind really early so, in the end, I decided to hang back a bit and try and come a bit later in the sprint. I probably went a little too late, but I had enough power and managed to get the win. Still, the last 300m were definitely the most difficult part for me. The crowds were like something you see at the Tour de France or the Giro d’Italia – great atmosphere – they were really amazing.”
Overall, Team Prize to Winner Anacona & Movistar
Winner Anacona (Movistar Team) took overall honours in the Vuelta a San Juan on the heels of his winningest week since he became a pro cyclist.
The Colombian, supported by a solid Movistar squad, completed the stage tucked into a complete peloton fighting for the sprint. Anacona took the top stop on the podium with Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (Decueninck – Quick Step) second overall, and 2018 race winner Óscar Sevilla (MDE) in third.
Movistar also won the team prize.
Sunday’s final jersey marks Winner’s fourth UCI win, following an amateur success at the GiroBio (2011) and stage nine of the 2014 Vuelta a España (Valdelinares) before Friday’s Alto Colorado victory. Anacona’s triumph also brings the third overall victory to the Movistar Team in Argentina, following two GC wins by the Quintana brothers in the Tour de San Luis (2014 and 2016).
“We could not celebrate before the last finish line, and now that’s it’s over, I feel so happy as much as relieved I could finish it off. It’s my first stage race victory, and I hope it won’t be the last,” Anacona said after the jersey presentation. “It’s a magnificent way to confirm all preparations we did for this season were right – and claiming a victory in 2019 was also a hidden goal for me this season. I could achieve it atop the Colorado on Friday and sealing this overall success brings me massive joy. My most important win? I think the Vuelta a España stage and this success are both important in different ways. The former was my first Grand Tour stage win, but this stagerace had very talented contenders, and everyone is ambitious at the start of the season. All in all, this is a boost of confidence for what’s to come during this season.”
Remco Evenepoel wins Vuelta a San Juan green jersey
Two days after turning 19, Belgian prodigy Remco Evenepoel made his pro debut and what he showed on the roads of Argentina was nothing short of remarkable. Three days into the race – after having previously worked in the services of his teammates – Remco produced a strong ride in the flat individual time trial which reshuffled the general classification, finishing third on the stage and moving into the green jersey.
“We did a great job as a team this week, it’s been a beautiful race for us and we can be happy with what we have achieved. I started here without any expectations, as I wasn’t in the best shape, so to get the green jersey, a stage podium and ninth in the GC is really great,” Evenpoel said after the race. “I am proud of what I’ve done here and of what I have learned, it’s been an excellent start to the season and I hope that from here I will only continue my upward trajectory.”
Evenepoel continued in the spotlight also on the queen stage, where he put in a mighty performance on Alto del Colorado, emptying himself for Julian Alaphilippe, an effort which didn’t prevent him from retaining the lead in the youth standings. On the flat, together with Max Richeze and Petr Vakoc, he put in some heavy rotations at the front of the bunch, in the crosswinds or headwind, including on the final stage, where Alvaro Hodeg came close to getting his maiden win of the season.
Stage 7 Brief Results:
- Sam Bennett (BORA – Hansgrohe) 2h 54’26” + 10”
- Alvara Hodeg (Deceuninck – Quick Step) s.t. + 6″
- Erik Baska (BORA – Hansgrohe) s.t. + 4″
- Manuel Bellitti (Androni Giocattoli – Sidermec) s.t.
- Peter Sagan (BORA – Hansgrohe) s.t.
Final General Classification:
- Winner Anacona (Movistar Team) at 22h09’21”
- Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck – Quick Step) at 35″
- Oscar Sevilla (Medellin) at 57″
- Valerio Conti (UAE Team Emirates) at 1’03”
- Felix Grossschartner (BORA – Hansgrohe) at 1’13”
- Richard Carapaz(Movistar Team ) at 1’20”
- Cesar Paredes (Medellin) at 1’24”
- Nairo Quintana (Movistar) at 1’29”
- Remco Evenpoel (Deceuninck – Quick Step) at 1’36”
- Tiesj Benoot (Lotto Soudal) at 1’38”
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