Vuelta a Espana: Simon Yates retakes leader's jersey with stage 14 victory

Britain's Simon Yates retook the Vuelta a Espana lead with a spectacular summit victory on stage 14.

Jesus Herrada, who moved ahead of Yates to take the red jersey on Thursday, dropped away on a day that featured almost 3,000m of vertical climbing.

Mitchelton-Scott rider Yates, 26, emerged strongest from an elite group of eight on the steep Alto les Praeres.

He burst decisively clear in the final kilometre, leaving behind rivals Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde.

The Englishman is now 20 seconds clear of second-placed Valverde and 25 seconds ahead of the Spaniard's Movistar team leader Quintana in third.

Yates, who first took the lead at this year's race after finishing ninth on stage nine, said: "I'm a bit happier now, I feel more like I deserve it this time.

"I gave everything I could, I'm very happy," he added. "I chose my moment really well and didn't look back until it flattened out a little. There was a bit of a gap, so I just gave everything to the line."

Saturday's 171km race from Cistierna in Castile and Leon had Herrada struggling well before front of the race reached the foot of the final ascent - the day's third category-one climb.

There were gradients of 17% as Team Sky's Michal Kwiatkowski, the sole remaining member of the breakaway, was swept up before Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk became the first to attack from the group of leaders.

The race's main rivals for overall victory attacked and counter-attacked behind, before Miguel Angel Lopez and Quintana opened up what appeared to be a decisive gap.

But suddenly they seemed to tire and no rider was able to answer when Yates broke clear, with Lopez finishing second and Valverde placing third, both two seconds behind him.

Cofidis' Spanish rider Herrada finished nine minutes and 16 seconds back.

Sunday's stage 15 features a third consecutive summit finish as the riders cross 178.2km from Ribera de Arriba to Lagos de Covadonga in Asturias.

Stage 14 results:

1. Simon Yates (GB/Mitchelton-Scott) 4hrs 19mins 27secs

2. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col/Astana) +2secs

3. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) Same time

4. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/FDJ) +5secs

5. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +7secs

6. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Team LottoNL-Jumbo) +11secs

7. Enric Mas (Spa/Quick-Step Floors) +19secs

8. Rigoberto Uran (Col/Team EF Education First-Drapac) +27secs

9. Ion Izagirre (Spa/Bahrain-Merida) +37secs

10. Fabio Aru (Ita/UAE Team Emirates) +39secs

Overall standings:

1. Simon Yates (GB/Mitchelton-Scott) 59hrs 11mins 18secs

2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +20secs

3. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +25secs

4. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col/Astana) +47secs

5. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Team LottoNL-Jumbo) +1min 23secs

6. Rigoberto Uran (Col/Team EF Education First-Drapac) +1min 28secs

7. Ion Izagirre (Spa/Bahrain-Merida) +1min 40secs

8. Enric Mas (Spa/Quick-Step Floors) +1min 47secs

9. Tony Gallopin (Fra/AG2R La Mondiale) +1min 55secs

10. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger/Bora-Hansgrohe) +2mins 08secs

.view-comments-button-wrapped-component {display: block !important;} .view-comments-button-wrapper {display: none !important;}

Comments

Join the conversation

These comments are now closed.

49 comments

Comment posted by D1679636078834, at 17:31 8 Sep 2018
Would be all three grand tours held by different british men and 5 british wins in a row if Yates were to win. Go on Yatesy
Comment posted by Get the miles in, at 17:17 8 Sep 2018
A great win for Yates, but a lot of mountains to come.

Hope he hangs on for a well deserved Grand Tour victory.
Comment posted by Inmyopinion, at 17:32 8 Sep 2018
Yates looks to be timing his effort better here than at the Giro. Hope he holds it together and wins the GC overall, he deserves it.
Comment posted by Number9, at 17:28 8 Sep 2018
Man, British riders are doing well in Grand Tours these days aren't they.

Let's hope he keeps hold of the red jersey.
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 17:20 8 Sep 2018
Plain and simple Simon Yates was the strongest man on the mountain today by a margin. He is also the strongest rider at the Vuelta. He knew exactly what he was doing and exactly when to attack. He knew Valverde was the man to mark and not his team mate Quintana who was distanced. Yates looked very comfortable and always rode within himself. Without any doubt a serious contender for the overall.
Comment posted by Shaun, at 19:05 8 Sep 2018
Ten years ago people would have laughed if you had said Britain would have a TDF winner ... so what would they have done if you had said we would also be on the verge of 5 consecutive Grand tour wins for Britain with 3 different riders ...
Comment posted by limited ability, at 17:46 8 Sep 2018
Great win by Yates in Spain and by Ian Yogi Standard in the tour of Britain.

Hope Yates can hang on as very tough Vuelta. Hope his team.let the breaks go and make Movistar worry again and do the chasing.
Comment posted by Tigersteve, at 19:02 8 Sep 2018
Well done to Yates!
Where are all the usual trolls knocking another great cycling performance ?
Obviously don't understand the sport , just love knocking winners and have never heard of Simon so don't know what to do .....!
Comment posted by Laser sailor, at 17:48 8 Sep 2018
Yes, get in there Simon.
Comment posted by philipwalduck, at 18:54 8 Sep 2018
Good work from Simon. I was very disappointed with what happened at the Giro but you have more than made up for it the last two weeks. I would be nice o see another British Grand Tour Winner. Keep up the good work.
Comment posted by Adam, at 21:07 8 Sep 2018
Fingers crossed Simon has got the legs in the final week and not crack like he did in the Giro.Tomorrow and stage 17 are tough but the two days in Andorra will decide the outcome.Yatesy knows the Andorran mountains well as he is based there so hopefully it will give him an advantage.
Comment posted by Violinman, at 22:42 8 Sep 2018
Great stuff from SY. And he wears a proper cycling cap post race not a silly looking baseball cap! Good man. Classy cyclist.
Comment posted by roughyed1952, at 22:15 8 Sep 2018
Bravo Simon Yates,let’s hope he can survive the last week.Quintana still looks a danger but not quite at his best.
Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 18:59 8 Sep 2018
@12. Red Hare

I don't agree with you. Yates climbed steady an within himself but marked Valverde as he saw him as the stongest rider over Quintana. He was proven correct. That Yates delivered on a very steep gradient is testament to the fact that he is a real contender for the overall and without doubt the strongest rider at the Vuelta. Any sensible DS would have recce'd the route &final climb.
Comment posted by User0772918098, at 23:23 8 Sep 2018
Anyone doubting the ability of these guys, just try a climb at 17% !
Comment posted by Les Harvey, at 00:09 9 Sep 2018
Brilliant ride, GB could end up with all the leaders Jersey's.

The French may never forgive us...
Comment posted by smudge, at 21:03 8 Sep 2018
I wonder what is going on at Movistar. Quintana seems to be completely lacking in self confidence.
Comment posted by Qcumbor, at 18:11 8 Sep 2018
Vuelta showing again why it's the best of the big 3.

@7
Yogi putting that power out for the last 20k was just so impressive.

While the BBC has posted a piece on Appleton going for the world champs again they have made very little of it. Odd since they love to big up women's sport. Here is a true female champion n role model Yet BBC aren't interested.! Good luck to her
Comment posted by Markthehorn, at 19:56 8 Sep 2018
Well done and hopefully will lead to another GB grand tour win !
Comment posted by Mike LJP, at 19:31 8 Sep 2018
Go Yates, top rider with a big smile.

Accessibility links