Team Visma | Lease a Bike CEO Richard Plugge responds to today’s events: “It is really unfortunate that this decision once again had to be taken to guarantee the riders’ safety. As long as the race organizers and the UCI allow the Vuelta to continue, I assume they can also ensure it is done in complete safety. But this is already the second time they have had to reconsider that during the race, and that has an impact on the outcome of the race. I would like to once again call on the public not to interfere with our riders and the race. At the same time I urge the organizers to do everything possible to secure the event so that we can all enjoy an exciting battle in the final week of the Vuelta.”

Team Visma | Lease a Bike started the last week of the Vuelta this morning without Victor Campenaerts, who fell ill and was unable to take the start of the sixteenth stage. After the start in Poio, seventeen riders gained a big lead over the peloton, with Wilco Kelderman and Dylan van Baarle maintaining control. With more tough stages still to come, the GC contenders kept each other in check today. It soon became clear that the battle for the stage win would be between the breakaway riders. Due to protests at the original finish, the decision was made mid-stage to shorten the course.

In the end, Egan Bernal was the first to reach the eight-kilometre mark, where the official times were recorded. Vingegaard crossed the improvised finish line a little later alongside Sepp Kuss, Matteo Jorgenson, and the other favorites for the general classification. With five stages to go, the Dane still holds a 48-second lead over closest rival João Almeida.

“It’s a shame that this has happened again”, Vingegaard says afterwards, referring to the forced shortening of the stage. “Everyone has a right to protest, but it’s a shame that it has to happen here and in this way and that we can’t finish the race. That should not happen. The team worked well today, and I would have loved to honour their work in the final of the race. It’s a shame that the Spanish cycling fans did not get to see an exciting finale.”

Tomorrow brings another tough stage in Spain. For the tenth time this Vuelta a España, the race will finish uphill, this time on Alto de El Morredero.