Vuelta 2018 Stage 13: Óscar Rodríguez wins at horror climb, Jesús Herrada holds on to red

The 13th stage of La Vuelta is the first of a trilogy of climbing races. Early attacker Óscar Rodríguez climbs to a surprise victory ahead of Rafal Majka. Jesús Herrada holds on to the red jersey, while Nairo Quintana en Simon Yates are the best GC riders. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 13th stage 2018 Vuelta a España

1. Óscar Rodríguez (spa)
2. Rafal Majka (pol) + 0.19
3. Dylan Teuns (bel) + 0.30
4. Bjorg Lambrecht (bel) + 0.38
5. Laurens De Plus (bel) + 0.43
6. Merhawi Kudus (eri) + 1.00
7. Ilnur Zakarin (rus) + 1.12
8. Pieter Serry (bel) + 1.21
9. Edward Ravasi (ita) + 1.25
10. Benjamin King (usa) + 1.27

21. Nairo Quintana (col) + 2.32
22. Simon Yates (gbr) + 2.38
23. Enric Mas (spa) + 2.41
24. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.49
25. Thibaut Pinot (fra) s.t.
26. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 2.52
27. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 2.57
28. David de la Cruz (spa) s.t.
29. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) s.t.
30. Rigoberto Uran (col) s.t.
31. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 3.12
33. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 3.14
34. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 3.19
37. Fabio Aru (ita) + 3.26
40. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 3.48
43. George Bennett (nzl) + 4.02
44. Jesús Herrada (spa) + 4.18

GC after the 13th stage
1. Jesús Herrada (spa)
2. Simon Yates (gbr) + 1.42
3. Nairo Quintana (col) + 1.50
4. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 1.54
5. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 2.23
6. Rigoberto Uran (col) + 2.33
7. Ion Izagirre (spa) + 2.35
8. Tony Gallopin (fra) + 2.40
9. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 2.44
10. Emanuel Buchmann (ger) + 2.47

11. Enric Mas (spa) + 3.00
12. David de la Cruz (spa) + 3.34
13. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 3.51
14. George Bennett (nzl) + 3.53
15. Benjamin King (usa) + 4.10
16. Thibaut Pinot (fra) + 4.13
17. Fabio Aru (ita) + 4.19
18. Rafal Majka (pol) + 4.45
19. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) + 5.02

Race report
Following a fast start a huge front group of 32 riders takes shape on the first climb, Alto de la Madera. Big names Thomas De Gendt, Rafal Majka, Bauke Mollema, Ilnur Zakarin and Sergio Henao are accompanied by domestiques and dark horses such as Ben King, Gorka Izagirre, Dylan Teuns, Sander Armée, Laurens De Plus, and KOM leader Luis Ángel Maté. Also on board is Óscar Rodríguez, a 23-year old Euskadi rider…

The front group puts more than 9 minutes into the peloton before the gap falls down to 6 minutes atop the Puerto de Tarna. De Gendt is the first rider over both KOMs before the leaders tackle the final climb with a lead of almost 4 minutes.

On the steep ramps with 2 kms left to climb Majka strikes. Merhawi Kudus goes after the Pole, but he cracks. Teuns claws his way back to Majka’s wheel. Rodríguez rejoins them 1 km before the top to leave them behind.

Meanwhile, George Bennett, Tony Gallopin, Emanuel Buchmann, Fabio Aru, Michal Kwiatkowski and Ion Izagirre are dropped from the GC group. Simon Yates sets the pace before he accelerates alongside Nairo Quintana.

Higher up La Camperona, Majka goes after Rodríguez with 500 metres to go. The acceleration comes too late and the Spaniard climbs to victory. Majka comes in second, 19 seconds down.

Quintana kicks on the stiff final approach to the line to drop Yates and put 6 seconds into the Brit, while Enric Mas, who had been trailing the two, almost makes it back to Yates’ wheel. Those three turn out to be today’s best GC riders with Quintana strongest.

Leader Jesús Herrada limits his losses for another day in the red jersey. Yates trails him by 1 minute and 42 seconds with Quintana 8 seconds further behind.

The 14th stage travels over four intermediate climbs to finish atop Les Praeres, an unprecedented climb of 4 kilometres at 12.5%.