- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
news
La Vuelta 2018 logo.JPGLa Vuelta Stage 20: Simon Yates secures Vuelta and grand slam of Grand Tours for British riders
No country has ever before won the three Grand Tours in the same year with three different riders. Earlier this year, Chris Froome won the Giro d’Italia and Geraint Thomas the Tour de France, and after tomorrow’s largely ceremonial sprint stage, Simon Yates will secure the Vuelta a Espana to complete the set.
The final mountain stage from Escaldes-Engordany to Coll de la Gallina squeezed in six categorised climbs despite being only 97.3km in length. It’s fair to say that flat roads weren’t in plentiful supply.
A large break went early with Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) doing enough to secure the mountains classification.
Nairo Quintana (Movistar) accelerated and opened a gap on the descent from Coll de Beixalis with 29km to go. He was joined by countryman Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana).
On the penultimate climb, Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) decided that he might as well do the job properly and attacked the group of favourites. Enric Mas (Quick-Step Floors) – chasing a podium spot – went with him and the two riders soon bridged across to Quintana and Lopez.
At the foot of the final climb, the four riders had a 30s advantage over the chasing group, which included second-placed Alejandro Valverde (Movistar). Just as he did the day before, Quintana dropped back to help his team leader.
With 7km to go, Yates lost touch with Lopez and Mas, but the gap to Valverde didn’t shrink. In fact, with 4km to go, the Spaniard cracked and despite Quintana’s best efforts, the Vuelta had been decided.
Mas took the stage and moved up to second overall, while Valverde lost minutes, meaning Lopez moved up to third.
Speaking afterwards, Yates said: “Yes, I’ve made it. It’s still sinking in. I’m incredibly proud. I’m also incredibly proud of the team. They’ve carried me for these entire three weeks. It’s the first Grand Tour for the team. It’s just unbelievable.
"Adam (Yates) was running out of legs (when Simon attacked in the penultimate climb) and I didn’t want to end up in a position where I could have been riding in the valley, that would have been the worst situation possible.
"I knew Quintana and Lopez were up the road and Lopez had something to win so I figured maybe he could work with me. Sometimes attack is the best defence.
"In the last climb I was ok. I was at my limit. Mas and Lopez were riding incredible. I just tried to make my own rhythm. I gave everything I had and thankfully it was enough.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- Jakrayan 8 sec ago
I bought my Dura-Ace groupset to go on a new frame in December 2020. I was surprised when I checked the code to find it was one of the affected...
- chrisonabike 5 hours 42 min ago
Could it be that an industry * with vast wealth and long cultivated influence, which is now seen as providing something both practically and...
- chrisonabike 6 hours 27 sec ago
Presumably a) expense b) for something that (mostly) works against your customers' convenience? And the usual "but emergencies - what about when...
- David9694 7 hours 6 min ago
Remembrance event driving incident sees woman reported (paywall)...
- quiff 10 hours 26 min ago
I was going to suggest the Fairlight Strael too, and went to check if it came in on budget. While there, I finally ordered the frameset I've been...
- quiff 13 hours 21 min ago
"No darling, I said a cactus bike holder, not a bike cactus holder."...
- Andrewbanshee 15 hours 36 min ago
I have visited Guernsey and my wife goes there a few times a year for work. This act of premeditated violence shocks me. There are quite a lot of...
- hawkinspeter 16 hours 2 min ago
You could well be right. Personally, I think Avonvale Rd is just a disaster for having two way traffic. So many drivers think the traffic calming...
- hawkinspeter 16 hours 9 min ago
Although Muller Rd isn't great to cycle on (the north end, anyhow), it's certainly not the worst. I'm definitely in the "brave and bold cyclist" at...
Add new comment
12 comments
Really well deserved win by Yates, he's looked great all race, and he's shown real patience and maturity in the way he's done it. His tactics, whether or not they've just been instinct on the road or well thought through, have been spot on.
I don't think the Giro was particularly unfortunate for him, by his own admission he got sme of his nutrition wrong leading up to the last few stages, which combined with his earlier attacking left him with fewer reserves to fall back on, would he ride it differently in hindsight? maybe, but I think keeping his fuelling right would make a bigger difference.
Looking forward to next year, there could be some really interesting racing, especially if some of the younger riders the likes of Lopez and Mas carry on being prepared to attack the race instead of playing it defensively as many of the older riders have, not many of them can 'out sky' sky.
That goes back further as the last 5 Grand Tours have been won by Brits! What a great run.
apparently if you can't trace your genetic ancestry back to the first piece of wobbly primordial protoplasm that evolved on these islands you're not truly British. As it happens, I can. However, as I was not personally born on these shores, in some people's minds I'm still not truly British. Tossers.
^
This, with huge great Big Ben size bells on. Born in Hastings myself, lineage is from this isle all the way back as far as you can trace, various uncles, grandparents et al fought in all the 20th century wars everyone gets hung up on, plus the Boer War if you really want to dig deep.
Doesn't make me think people with less British ancestry who identify themselves as British are less British than me. The entitled way a small percentage of 'true Brits' behave often makes me want more of the hard working newbies.
And most importantly on this site, well done Simon Y. Brilliant wee man, just brilliant.
The Vuelta was a fantastic opportunity for Yates this year, with many of the dominant GC riders having done the Giro Tour double and therefore out of the running. Looking over the top five of the Vuelta you have a number of still emerging riders like Mas and Lopez, as well as inconsistent or second tier GC riders like Pinot and Kruijswijk. The most seasoned competition like the Movistar duo Valverde and Quintana fell short, and the likes of Nibali and Aru were quite literally miles back on the road.
Besides Froome, who are you thinking could have matched or maybe beaten Yates, Lopez et al?
I don't think this Vuelta would have suited Dumoulin, I think it attracted the riders most suited to the parcours - lots of steep, uneven climbs and mountain-top finishes and very few km of time trials.
I wonder what Movistar will do now to revitalise their GT ambitions. From the 3 races they came away with zero podiums. Quintana scraped into the top 10 in the Tour and not much better in the Vuelta. Valverde perhaps no longer has the freshness for 3 weeks, though can still race like a gazelle for 10 days or a fortnight. Landa? I wouldn't be surprised if he goes elsewhere to find success. Their best result was with Carapaz - 4th in the Giro.
I believe Landa has already signed for Astana for next year?
It's not just that the team leader field was a relatively weak one for the Vuelta, there was a lack of the super domestiques as well. Just look at the fact that Sky had Poels, Froome, Thomas and Kiriyenka at Tour of Britain.
Held his nerve. Well played!
Brutal final day, Great ride by Simon. Awesome.
Congratulations, Simon Yates. It is a particularly well deserved victory after his courageous but ultimately ill-judged Giro. He has clearly learned from that experience and got this one almost perfectly right. I couldn't give a stuff where he comes from, or where he currently lives, I just appreciate raw talent developed to its full potential. Well done Simon and well done to his team.
I didnt think his Giro was ill judged. He was up against 2 world class timetrialists, Domoulin, Froome. He knew he had to put a lot of time against them. He just over extended himself. Next time he knows he doesnt have to have several minutes to beat them, because if I remember correctly, he only lost 1min in the TT. The loss in the Giro has already made him a much better tactical rider.
Congratulations Simon Yates, a magnificant win in the Vuelta
Also the same congratulations go to Chris Froome, holding all grand tours at once.
To Geraint Thomas, a superb display winning the toughest Tour de France.
Btw I've got a reminder on my wrist of this year,buying a Tissot to commemorate the TDF.
Three Brits, grand tour winners of 2018
Looks like we're going to have the first english born winner of a grand tour