Stage 17

The road

At the start

One climb left: La Covatilla

The last mountain stage, and Richard Carapaz needs 45 seconds. That is what Roglič leads him by, with Hugh Carthy at 53 and everybody else out of it. Six climbs today, and the last is the Alto de la Covatilla, eleven kilometres up to 1,965 metres in the Sierra de Béjar. Luis León Sánchez has gone home. If the Vuelta is going to change hands, it changes hands this afternoon.

How it was won

1. 190 km to go

   The break clears out

   On the penultimate stage the GC men keep their powder dry, letting a large break including Gaudu climb the Alto de San Miguel de Valero and build a lead toward La Covatilla.

2. 226 km to go

   Toward the final climb

   Over the Alto de la Garganta the favourites gather themselves, the whole overall battle poised for the fearsome finishing ascent of La Covatilla.

3. 310 km to go

   Carapaz attacks

   On the slopes of La Covatilla Richard Carapaz launches, distancing Roglič and throwing the red jersey into genuine doubt with the Vuelta on the line.

4. 46 km to go

   Roglič in trouble

   The gap balloons past 25 seconds, threatening Roglič's 45-second overall lead. Hofstede and then Soler drop back to help pace him, and Roglič digs desperately to limit the damage.

5. 54 km to go

   Carthy jumps too

   Hugh Carthy attacks after Carapaz, breaking clear in pursuit and leaving Roglič to fend for himself, the champion isolated and hurting near the summit.

6. 6At the line

   Roglič saves the Vuelta

   Gaudu takes the stage from the break atop La Covatilla, but the day belongs to Roglič, who limits his loss to Carapaz to 21 seconds and clings to red on the brink of overall victory.

The result