Vuelta 2014: Adam Hansen powers to solo-win

Friday, September 12 - Firm tailwinds aIong the coast will speed up the 180.5 kilometres stage between Salvaterra de Mino and Cangas. With 15 kilometres left riders are to crest a 2nd category climb and then it's mainly downhill. Degenkolb survives the climb, but it's not enough because power-rider Hansen takes his chances with 5 kilometres to go and soloes to victory. Degenkolb comes in second. (Slideshow route/profile)

Vuelta 2014: Results stage 19

1. Adam Hansen (aus)
2. John Degenkolb (Ger) + 0.05
3. Filippo Pozzato (ita) s.t.
4. Yannick Martinez (fra) s.t.
5. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
6. Geoffrey Soupe (fra) s.t.
7. Paul Martens (Ger) s.t.
8. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.
9. Romain Hardy (fra) s.t.
10. Damiano Caruso (ita) s.t.

GC after stage 19
1. Alberto Contador (spa)
2. Chris Froome (gbr) + 1.19
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 1.32
4. Joaquim Rodriguez (spa) + 2.29
5. Fabio Aru (ita) + 3.15
6. Daniel Martin (Irl) + 6.52
7. Samuel Sanchez (spa)+ 6.59
8. Warren Barguil (fra) + 9.12
9. Daniel Navarro (spa) + 9.44
10. Damiano Caruso (ita) + 9.45

Race report
It’s not only the southern winds that are restless, it’s the bunch as well. At first 25 riders try to break away, then it’s yesterday’s attackers Johan Le Bon and Rohan Dennis aiming for glory, but today Pim Ligthart, Wouts Poels and Laurent Mangel are the ones and they ride to a 3 minutes gap. There it stops, because Giant controls the race.

The three escapees reach the top of the Monte da Groba 2’25” before the peloton does. In the downhill it goes down to 2 minutes and with 20 kilometres left the gain is gone.

At the Alto Monte Faro Lutsenko attacks and on the other side of the mountain his gain is 0’15”. John Degenkolb survived the climb en the Kazach is reeled in. With around 5 kilometres left Adam Hansen accelerates on a short climb. The Aussie takes a handful of seconds and powers to to the win. The pack follows at 5 seconds, with Degenkolb being fastest.