Alberto Contador is not going to win the 2016 Vuelta a España, but he may have decided who will after a daring breakaway over the weekend.
The two-time Tour de France, two-time Giro d’Italia, three-time Vuelta winner is a legend in the world of cycling at this point, but going into stage 15 of the Vuelta this year, with Nairo Quintana in control of the race, it didn’t look like he would be able to manage any better than sixth place.
The 2016 Tour de France will be remembered for the control shown by Team Sky over the race and the seeming ease with which Froome roamed home to glory. The 2016 Vuelta on the other hand, will not.
Tinkoff’s Alberto Contador attacked a mere 6km from the start the start line. Movistar’s Nairo Quintana clocked on and with two teammates each, away the duo went.
Forcing Froome to sprint after them and breaking again just a couple of kilometres later, the powerhouse duo opened up over a minute on Chris Froome early on in the race, and effectively paved the way for Quintana’s first victory on the Tour of Spain.