Vuelta 2018 Stage 11: De Marchi solos to victory, Simon Yates still leader

The Vuelta a España's 11th stage is played out on a hilly course with its last peak 3.6 kilometres before the line. Alessandro De Marchi is the best attacker of a huge breakaway that formed after more than 100 kilometres of hard racing. The Italian solos to victory, while Simon Yates holds on to the red jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 11th stage 2018 Vuelta a España

1. Alessandro De Marchi (ita)
2. Jhonatan Restrepo (col) + 0.28
3. Franco Pellizotti (ita) + 0.59
4. Nans Peters (fra) + 1.24
5. Dylan Teuns (bel) + 1.45
6. Tiesj Benoot (bel) + 1.46
7. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
8. Nicolas Roche (irl) + 1.48
9. Sergio Henao (col) + 1.50
10. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.

12. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.02
13. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
14. Ion Izagirre (spa) s.t.
15. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
16. Simon Yates (gbr) s.t.
17. Miguel Ángel López (col) s.t.
18. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
20. George Bennett (nzl) z.t
22. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
23. Tony Gallopin (fra) s.t.
24. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.
26. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) s.t.
27. David de la Cruz (spa) + 2.09
28. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 2.10
33. Fabio Aru (ita) + 2.43

GC after the 11th stage
1. Simon Yates (gbr)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 0.01
3. Nairo Quintana (col) + 0.14
4. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 0.17
5. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 0.24
6. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) s.t.
7. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 0.27
8. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 0.32
9. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 0.43
10. George Bennett (nzl) + 0.47

11. Enric Mas (spa) + 1.15
12. David de la Cruz (spa) + 1.33
13. Fabio Aru (ita) + 1.49
14. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 1.50
15. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 2.10
16. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 2.20

Race report
It is a hard battle for the break. Dylan Teuns, Thomas De Gendt and Lukas Pöstlberger are the first to open up a proper gap, but they are brought back on the Puerto de Padornelo. Following a lot of movement on the climb, Franco Pellizotti, Alexandre Geniez, Davide Villella, Alessandro De Marchi, Laurens De Plus and Nick Schultz reach the crest with a small lead. Richard Carapaz and Bauke Mollema jump across in the descent, but it all comes together after 50 kms of hard racing.

Attacks keep flying at the front. Vincenzo Nibali, Ben King, Michal Kwiatkowski, Rafal Majka, Rudy Molard, Tao Geoghegan Hart, Pierre Rolland – they all give it a go. Yet, the pack is bunched at km 100.

On the second KOM climb of the day, Alto do Covelo, the right break finally gets clear. Sergio Henao, Bauke Mollema, Rafal Majka, Thibaut Pinot, Tiesj Benoot, Jack Haig, Franco Pellizotti, Nans Peters, Omar Fraile, Alessandro De Marchi, Nicolas Roche, Dylan Teuns, Winner Anacona, Ryan Gibbons, Pierre Rolland, Jhonatan Restrepo, Léo Vincent, Sergio Pardilla and Mikel Bizkarra open up a maximum gap of more than 4 minutes.

On the Alto do Trives the gap falls below 4 minutes. After the summit Pinot and Teuns push on together, but with 58 kms to the leaders regroup.

Mollema launches an attack at the intermediate sprint with 48 kms out. He widens the gap to 30 seconds in the ensuing descent, but Pinot, Haig, Henao, Roche, De Marchi, Pellizotti and Majka rejoin the Dutchman 38 kms before the line. After a 10 kms chase Benoot, Teuns and Restrepo track them down.

The front group tackles the Alto del Mirador de Cabezoas – 15.5 kilometres at 3.2% – with the peloton 3 minutes in arrears. Restrepo and Roche open up a gap before De Marchi rejoins them. The Italian goes alone 5 kms before the crest but Restrepo makes it back to his wheel in the final part of the ascent.

On the Poblar climb – with its crest 3.6 kms before the line – De Marchi distances the Colombian to solo to victory.

As most GC riders finish together Simon Yates keeps the maillot rojo, still 1 second ahead of Alejandro Valverde with Nairo Quintana a further 13 seconds back.