Event of the Day: Vuelta a España - Stage 16

Our event of the day is Stage 16 of the Vuelta a España, which after a well-deserved rest day will take the riders from Santillana del Mar to Torrelavega. Taking place in Cantabria, and covering 32km, stage 16 provides the riders with the second individual time trial of this year’s race. However this opportunity can be tainted by the routes harsh rolling hills. Expectations are set after the first kilometre, which has a savage 5% incline, after this the rolling roads are constant until the next climb. Once the first 12.4km are complete the riders will begin the longest climb of the day, which has an average incline of 4% and lasts for 3.4km. The last climb, has a distance of 2km at an incline of 3.5%, this last moment of intensity is rewarded with the final 10km of this stage, to the finish line in Torrelavega, being flat. Sunday’s stage 15 of the Vuelta a España covered a gruelling distance of 178.2km, from Ribera del Arriba to the crowning point of Lakes of Cavadonga. The riders endured a 6.9km climb at 4.2% to cross the Alto de Santo Emiliano and then a chain of hills to Mirador del Fito. 

Sunday’s stage brought the last of three successive summit finishes. The route took in three intermediate King of the Mountain climbs and five non-classified ascents before the final gruelling climb to the Lakes of Covadonga. Despite the thick fog, it was in the last 6km that Thibaut Pinot made his attack, pulling ahead of Miguel Lopez and stage 14’s victor Simon Yates. Pinot, smashed this stage with a time of 5h 01’ 49’' with Miguel Lopez behind with a time of 5h 02’ 17'' and Simon Yates following Lopez 2 seconds later. Simon Yates continues to lead the General Classification by 26 seconds from Alejandro Valverde who is 7 seconds ahead of third placed Nairo Quintana. With the second time trial today, we are set for an exciting start to what should be a thrilling final week of the Vuelta.

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the final day of the 5th Test match between England and India - India require 406 runs to win with 7 second innings wickets remaining or survive the day for the draw.. The UEFA Nations League has Croatia’s first UEFA Nations League outing - the 2018 World cup runners-up face Spain.  While in Southampton, the County Championship Division One clash between Hampshire and Somerset continues. In the MLB, fans are set for an interesting game between the LA Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds, as the Dodgers continue their fight to make the playoffs. In the Caribbean Premier League in Qualifier 1, the Trinbago Knight Riders are set to take on the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium, Guyana. In the tennis, the 2nd Day of the Japan Women’s Open proves to be interesting as the young Amanda Anisimova from the USA takes on Jana Fett from Croatia. At the World Rowing Championship, the Men’s single Scull heat takes place.

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

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Photos by La Vuelta; Photo Gomez Sport

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