Vuelta a Espana Stage 9 Results

Dumoulin Takes the Red Jersey on Stage 9

Tom Dumoulin, of Team Giant-Alpecin, captured the Red Jersey of the Vuelta a Espana in Stage 9 today. Dumoulin has moved past Esteban Chaves (Orica GreenEdge) by seconds for the lead. Chris Froome (Team Sky) and Joaquim Rodriguez (Team Katusha) battled Dumoulin for the victory in this stage down to the final meters. Among the changes in the General Classification standings were Chavez, the former leader, falling to third, one minute behind and Froome moving up to 8th from 11th. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team) slipping to fifth, adding twenty seconds to his deficit and his teammate Nairo Quintana dropping one spot to 7th.

There was a nine-rider breakaway with Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) at the 15 km (9.3 km) mark of the stage with a 42 second lead on the peloton. The breakaway broke into two just before 10 km (6.2 miles) to go. The peloton, led by Katusha, with Team Sky close behind, scooped up the six riders who fell off of the pace. At 3.4 km (2.1 miles) the peloton caught up with the remaining breakaway riders.  Alejandro Valverde and Nairo Quintana led the peloton at the 3.2 km (2.0 mile) with Joaquim Rodriguez and Dumoulin close behind. Dumoulin went to the front of the peloton at the 2.5 km mark and tried to pull away from Chaves. Dumoulin attacked with 1.7 km (1 mile) left leaving the lead peloton behind, moving out to a slim 10-second lane. Froome moved to the front of the lead peloton group to close down the gap, and Rafal Majka (Tinkoff-Saxo) pulled past him. Froome responded with an attack to catch Majka and to bear down on Dumoulin with 600 m (.37 miles) to go to the finish. Froome and Rodriguez pulled in front of Dumoulin, but Dumoulin countered with his own last minute attack to win the stage over Froome and Rodriguez.

The 168.3 km (104.5 mile) Stage 9 ran from Torrevieja to Cumbre del Sol over a mostly flat route with a Category 2 climb and a Category 1 climb at the finish. These two climbs are up the Alto de Puig Llorenca, but by different roads.

Stage 10 from Valencia to Castellon runs for 146.6 km (91.1 miles) that will feature 2 climbs; a Category 3 climb, Puerto del Oronet and a Category 2 climb, Alto del Desierto de las Palmas, which averages 5% over 8 km (5 miles).

Key Withdrawals

Peter Sagan (Tinkoff-Saxo) abandoned the Vuelta due to injuries sustained in yesterday’s accident with a race motorcycle. Sagan suffered first and second-degree burns in his crash.

Stage 9 Results

1	Tom Dumoulin	Ned	Team Giant-Alpecin	4:09:55
2	Chris Froome	GBr	Team Sky	0:00:02
3	Joaquim Rodriguez	Spa	Team Katusha	0:00:05
4	Fabio Aru	Ita	Astana Pro Team	0:00:16
5	Rafal Majka	Pol	Tinkoff-Saxo	0:00:18
6	Nairo Quintana	Col	Movistar Team	0:00:20
7	Alejandro Valverde	Spa	Movistar Team	0:00:20
8	Nicolas Roche	Irl	Team Sky	0:00:31
9	Domenico Pozzovivo	Ita	AG2R La Mondiale	0:00:33
10	Louis Meintjes	RSA	MTN - Qhubeka	0:00:34

General Classification Standings

1	Tom Dumoulin	Ned	Team Giant-Alpecin	35:22:13
2	Joaquim Rodriguez	Spa	Team Katusha	0:00:57
3	Esteban Chaves	Col	Orica GreenEdge	0:00:59
4	Nicolas Roche	Irl	Team Sky	0:01:07
5	Alejandro Valverde	Spa	Movistar Team	0:01:09
6	Fabio Aru	Ita	Astana Pro Team	0:01:13
7	Nairo Quintana	Col	Movistar Team	0:01:17
8	Chris Froome	GBr	Team Sky	0:01:18
9	Rafal Majka	Pol	Tinkoff-Saxo	0:01:47
10	Domenico Pozzovivo	Ita	AG2R La Mondiale	0:01:52