|
Canada’s Ryder Hesjedal pipped Swiss rider Oliver Zaugg in a brutal climb to the finish line to win the 14th stage of the Vuelta a Espana as Alberto Contador extended his overall lead yesterday. |
Zaugg looked to have the stage victory wrapped up when he broke away from the leading group with two kilometres of the 8.3km climb to the end of the 200.8km stage from Santander to La Camperona, but 2012 Giro d’Italia winner Hesjedal pegged him back in the final 200m to claim victory.
Contador finished 12th on the day, 22 seconds ahead of fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, to extend his overall race lead to 42 seconds.
Britain’s Chris Froome clawed back some time on Contador as he finished seven seconds ahead of the two-time Vuelta champion in 10th to move ahead of Rigoberto Uran into third place overall, 1min 13sec behind Contador.
A large early breakaway group had been cut down to 12 riders by the time they started the climb for home, whilst the general classification leaders remained in the peloton.
Zaugg looked to have given himself enough of an advantage as he pulled away from the rest of the pack, but he ran out of steam on the demanding climb to the finish on gradients as severe as 24% in places as Hesjedal passed him in the final stages.
Hesjedal had been under scrutiny earlier in the week after a video showed his bike continuing to move on the ground after he crashed on stage seven leading to allegations that a motor could have been fitted.
However, his Garmin-Sharp team were cleared of any wrongdoing after the International Cycling Union checked the bikes and the 33-year-old was delighted to make amends for his struggles earlier in the race.
“The chance to fight in the general classification went out the window early on, but I knew i was in good physical condition and I had to keep fighting,” he said.
