Stage 16

The road

At the start

The sprinters' last chance, at Tomares

Thymen Arensman won on Sierra Nevada and Remco Evenepoel came through the queen stage still in red, 1:34 ahead of Primož Roglič and 2:01 ahead of Enric Mas. Thirty-nine riders have left this race. Today is 190 flat kilometres out of the sherry country at Sanlúcar de Barrameda, around Seville to Tomares — the fast men's last real chance before Madrid, and Mads Pedersen wants a second.

How it was won

1. 129 km to go

   Fifteen more for the green jersey

   Okamika and Maté have been up the road since the flag dropped and their lead is down to a minute. Pedersen cruises through the intermediate in third for fifteen points he barely needs any more.

2. 214 km to go

   The day-long move dies

   The two are caught with fourteen kilometres left as the terrain hardens towards Tomares. QuickStep move the red jersey up, Ineos and Jumbo-Visma alongside them. A short unclassified rise costs Groves his chance with a puncture.

3. 33 km to go

   Roglič attacks, Evenepoel punctures

   On the gently climbing road with 2.6km left Roglič launches a searing, completely unexpected attack, dragging Ackermann, Van Poppel, Wright and Pedersen with him — and at almost the same instant the red jersey punctures. For a few seconds this Vuelta looks like it is turning over. Then the commissaires confirm Evenepoel was inside the final three kilometres and gets the peloton's time.

4. 4At the line

   Pedersen wins, Roglič hits the deck

   The Dane is a resounding winner from Ackermann and Van Poppel, all but sealing the green jersey with his second stage. But the day is remembered for what happens behind him: Roglič crashing hard in the finishing straight after gambling everything on one acceleration.

The result