Stage Results and Tomorrow’s Stage Preview
Stage 20 of the 2018 Vuelta a Espana was a 97km up hill slog from Escaldes Engordany to Coll de la Gallina with Spanish rider Enric Mas of Quick Step Floors out sprinting Miguel Angel Lopez of Astana to win the stage. THe main focus of the stage was Simon Yates who finished third in the stage only 23 seconds down on Mas, which sealed the overall victory for Yates and for Michelton-Scott team. With Mas and Angel Lopez finishing up front for the day made their way up the overall classification table as well, moving into seconds and third.
Without any real flat riding on this stage, breaks started from the start of the stage. After the first hill climb Vincenzo Nibali lead a group of almost 15 riders into a break, this break splintered into to two as the climbs continued during the day. The peloton closed in on the lead groups and with 20km to go Quintana and Lopez took the lead in the main group with Yates in a chase group not far behind. Yates left the group with Mas and were able to catch Quintana and Lopez with 13km to go.
The four leaders had 30 seconds on the chase group as they started on their final climb, but it wasn't long until Mas and Lopez took off from Yates and Quintana, giving themselves 11 seconds. Once they assured they had won, took it easy as they crossed the line.
Overall classification after stage Twenty
It looks like there is not much chance that Simon Yates will not finish without the Red Jersey, but it has been a massive stage seeing Enric Mas of Quick-Step Floors move into second place and Miguel Angel Lopez of Astana Pro Team moving into third. This takes Valverde and Kruijswijk out of the top three of the overall classification.
- Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton-Scott at 79 hours 44 minutes 30 seconds
- Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step Floors at 1 minutes 46 seconds
- Miguel Angel Lopez (Col) Astana Pro Team at 2 minutes 04 seconds
Tomorrow - Stage 20 From Alcorcon to Madrid
Stage 21 of the 2018 Vuelta a Espana is 101km from Alcorcon to Madrid. The two cities are only 13km apart but the course runs the scenic route with a 6km circuit around Spains Capiltal city into the finish line. The course is flat and fast and will be a fitting farewell to the 2018 tour. Although time bonuses will be awared for the first three finishers but there will most likely not be too much change in the overall classification.