Following a well-deserved second rest day for the strained riders in the Vuelta peloton, race organizer Unipublic invited riders and spectators to a new festival of climbing action in stage 16 of Vuelta a Espana 2024 in the Asturias region. Not only would the stage take place in stunningly beautiful mountain terrain, the 181.5-kilometer route was also expected to feature a grand battle between the remaining general classification favorites in this year’s Vuelta peloton.

The 181.5-kilometer route of stage 16 of Vuelta a Espana would take the riders from Luanco to Lagos de Covadonga – the famous glacial lakes in the Picos de Europa national park. The area is also known for its impressive wildlife, the Santuario de Covadonga, and the Basilica de Santa Maria la Real de Covadonga. In addition to the Beyond Category climb to Lagos de Covadonga, the stage featured the challenging Mirador del Fito and Collada Llomena Category One climbs. The first part of the route was along the seashore.

Though he had not had the opportunity to wear the red race leader jersey, Australia’s Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R) had enjoyed the second rest day of this year’s Vuelta a Espana as general classification leader. Primoz Roglic had narrowed the race leader’s advantage to just above one minute and great performances were expected from the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe team captain in the third week. Enric Mas (Movistar) was 02:23 minutes behind O’Connor in third place, while Richard Carapaz was fourth for EF Education-EasyPost, and Mikel Landa fifth for T-Rex-Soudal-QuickStep.

Tom Paquot (Intermarche-Wanty) and Callum Scotson (Jayco-Alula) would not appear at the start. 145 riders remained in the Vuelta a Espana peloton before the start of today’s stage 16.

Louis Vervaeke was the first rider to launch an attack in today’s highly anticipated stage to Lagos de Covadonga. Other riders decided to join in. Harold Tejada attacked, as did Wout van Aert. Van Aert, however, unfortunately crashed together with Filippo Zana (Jayco-Alula), and Laurens Huys (Arkea B & B Hotels). The crashing trio got back on their bikes and tried to rediscover their energy and courage.

Multiple attacks were still being launched when the peloton passed through Gijon with 165 kilometers remaining.

The next twenty kilometers were still dominated by attacks and counter attacks, while race leader Ben O’Connor suffered a mechanical and had to receive new supplies from his Decathlon-AG2R team car.

When the race approached the first categorized climb of the day – the Category One Mirador del Fito – a seventeen-man breakaway group had successfully established itself and fought its way to a lead of more than eight minutes over the chasing main peloton, which was spearheaded by riders from Decathlon-AG2R. 

The riders in the front group were Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), Isaac del Toro (UAE), Jay Vine (UAE), Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), William Lecerf (Soudal-QuickStep), Marco Frigo (PremierTech), Matthew Riccitello (PremierTech), Sylvain Moniquet (lotto-Dstny), Darren Rafferty (EF Education-EasyPost), Oier Lazkano (Movistar), Fran Miholjevic (Bahrain Victorious), Felix Engelhardt (Jayco-Alula), Filippo Zana (Jayco-Alula), Simon Guglielmi (Intermarche-Wanty), Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich), Martijn Tusveld (DSM-Firmenich), and Ion Izagirre (Cofidis Team).

The front group entered the last three kilometers of the first climb with a lead of more than ten minutes over the main peloton. The riders, however, would have to battle gradients of up to eleven percent in the last part of the climb.

Riders in the front group approached the top of the Mirador del Fito, but van Aert and Vine accelerated shortly before the top to fight for the points for the Best Rider Classification. Van Aert won the mountain sprint and continued solo on the fast descent that followed.

Further back the main peloton was still headed by riders from Decathlon-AG2R in protection of their race leader O’Connor.

Van Aert increased his advantage over the sixteen chasers to approximately one minute on the descent and the short uncategorized climb that followed.

With van Aert solo in front, the Vuelta cyclists were now on the false-flat stretch that came before the Collada Llomena, which was the second Category One climb of the stage and had an average gradient of 9.3 percent over a 7.5-kilometer distance. 

Wout van Aert suddenly decided to halt his attack, refuel with energy drinks and food, and enjoy a few relaxing kilometers on his stunning black and yellow Cervelo bike, before getting caught by the chasers. 

Van Aert rejoined forces with the other breakaway riders and the eighteen riders entered the second climb of the day with a lead of approximately nine minutes over the main peloton, which was now headed by riders from the Movistar Team in support of team captain Enric Mas.

While the front group pressed on in joint fashion on the Collada Llomena, Enric Mas attacked from the main peloton and suddenly there was a fierce fight happening between the general classification favorites. 

Primoz Roglic reached to Mas’ attack as did Mikel Landa. Multiple other attacks were launched by various GC favorites.

Wout van Aert was the first rider across the top of the Collada Llomena and secured the maximum points for the Best Climber Classification. Meanwhile, approximately sixteen riders remained in the general classification favorites group, where all attacks were put on pause, but a fast pace was being maintained.

Riders were dropped from the front group on the technical and dangerous descent in the foggy mountainous riding conditions.

Van Aert, del Toro, and a Jayco-Alula rider crashed while cornering. The roads on the descent were slippery, and the riders were in serious pain. Van Aert got back on his bike but was now freewheeling down from the mountain at a very slow pace. He appeared to be suffering from pain in his right leg after it was smashed into the cliff. Alas it was cowabunga, not Covadonga, for van Aert.

Van Aert stopped shortly thereafter, and rider number seven abandoned the race, while leading the Best Climber Competition. Van Aert won three stages in this year’s Vuelta a Espana before he was forced to quit the race. The Belgian rider also finished second no less than three times.

Multiple riders from the front group were caught by the chasing general classification favorites group on the descent. The remaining courageous breakaway riders had a lead of 06:30 minutes when thirty kilometers remained.

The Vuelta peloton was slowly approaching the Lagos de Covadonga climb, which would take the riders to the finish line and hopefully invite spectators to an exciting battle between not just the front men, but also the best general classification riders.

The 12.2-kilometer Lagos de Covadonga climb now constituted the climax of today’s stage 16. The climb was categorized as Beyond Category and a twelve-man front group entered the climb with a lead of six minutes over the chasing main favorites group.

With 10.5 kilometers remaining, only nine men were left in the front group. Jay Vine, Max Poole, and Marc Soler were active at the front. Dario Frigo attacked solo.

Max Poole attacked from the breakaway group when nine kilometers remained. Other riders countered. Meanwhile, riders from Decathlon-AG2R were leading the main peloton for their race leader and team captain Ben O’Connor. The other GC favorites were clearly pondering attacks.

Soler was the next breakaway optimist to launch an attack on the climb to Lagos de Covadonga. Poole immediately responded and took over the lead. Zana was chasing five seconds behind.

Action was also taking place between the GC favorites. Mikel Landa launched a fast attack and broke away. The other GC favorites were struggling to close the gap.

Enric Mas moved to the front of the GC favorites group and increased the speed. Richard Carapaz countered. Other GC riders joined the fun. Vuelta leader O’Connor was close to cracking. A gap opened between O’Connor and the other GC riders further up the road.

Poole, Zana, and Soler were forming a front trio when five kilometers remained, but Soler broke away.

Landa was caught and Mas and Carapaz attacked from the GC favorites group. Roglic was dropped, but later caught up together with David Gaudu. O’Connor was now far behind.

Soler was solo in front with three kilometers remaining and the roads were turning wet in the foggy and mountainous conditions.

Marc Soler was still solo in front when just 1000 meters remained of today’s stage 16 of Vuelta a Espana 2024. Would the Spanish rider take the victory today or would another rider catch him before the finish line?

Marc Soler won stage 16 and crossed the finish line in solo fashion. Soler won in Lagos de Covadonga in 04:44:46. Filippo Zana was next across the finish line, while Max Poole completed the stage podium.

But action was still taking place between the general classification favorites. GC leader O’Connor was fighting hard to keep his race lead. An impressive effort by the Australian.

Enric Mas, Richard Carapaz, and Primoz Roglic were the first GC favorites to reach the finish line approximately four minutes after the stage winner.

Mattias Skjelmose and other GC favorites reached the finish line shortly thereafter.

O’Connor found new energy from the red race leader jersey and managed to reach the finish line in time to preserve his general classification lead, which had now, however, been minimized to a mere minuscule. 

Ben O’Connor leads Vuelta a Espana ahead of Primoz Roglic, but the Australian rider now has no more than a five-second advantage over the Slovenian rider, who has won the Vuelta a Espana on three previous occasions. Enric Mas is third, 01:25 minutes behind the leader, while Richard Carapaz is fourth with a 01:46 minute deficit. Mikel Landa is fifth, David Gaudu sixth, Carlos Rodriguez seventh, and Mattias Skjelmose eighth for Lidl-Trek. 

The general classification favorites will have the opportunity to relax and recover somewhat in Wednesday’s stage 17, which will be a 141.5-kilometer ride from Arnuero to Santander. The stage concludes with a flat finale, which will suit the sprinters in the peloton, but also features two challenging Category Two climbs mid-stage.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for complete coverage from Vuelta a Espana 2024.

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