Vuelta 2019: Iturria solos to victory, Roglic still in red

Mikel Iturria brings the early break home in the 11th stage of La Vuelta. The Basque solos to victory in the last 30 kilometres. The GC riders take it easy and Roglic stays in the race lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 11th stage Vuelta a España 2019

1. Mikel Iturria (spa)
2. Jonathan Lastra (spa) + 0.06
3. Lawson Craddock (usa) s.t.
4. Damien Howson (aus) s.t.
5. François Bidard (fra) s.t.
6. Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (eri) + 0.09
7. Benjamin Thomas (fra) + 0.12
8. Matteo Fabbro (ita) s.t.
9. Gorka Izagirre (spa) s.t.
10.Rémi Cavagna (fra) s.t.

Peloton + 18.35

GC after stage 11
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 1.52
3. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 2.11
4. Nairo Quintana (col) + 3.00
5. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + + 3.05
6. Carl Fredrik Hagen (nor) + 4.59
7. Rafal Majka (pol) + 5.42
8. Nicolas Edet (fra) + 5.49
9. Dylan Teuns (bel) + 6.07
10. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 6.25

Race report
Attacks are flying from the start. Jorge Arcas, François Bidard, Gorka Izagirre, Lawson Craddock, Damien Howson, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, Ben O’Connor, Matteo Fabbro, KOM leader Ángel Madrazo, Alex Aranburu and Mikel Iturria initiate the right attack at kilometre 9, while Rémi Cavagna, Jonathan Lastra and Benjamin Thomas chase them down. The fourteen open up a gap of more than 10 minutes.

Madrazo takes 3 points at the Col d’Osquich, while Aranburu and Izagirre strike in the last kilometre of the Col d’Ispéguy. KOM leader Madrazo drops back and Aranburu pockets most points.

Craddock tracks down the two attackers, while Howson, Ghebreigzabhier, Bidard and Fabbro bridge across on the Col de Otxondo. Howson is the first rider over the summit.

All chasers except Madrazo and O’Connor rejoin the lead group in the valley. Iturria goes solo and opens up a gap of 40 seconds, while Cavagna tries to bridge across inside the last 12 kilometres with Lastra on his wheel. Ghebreigzabhier, Bidard and Howson tracks them down on a small climb with 9 kilometres to go. Craddock also makes it across, while Cavagna drops back.

Iturria holds off the chasers to solo to his finest victory ever.

Another interesting read: route 11th stage 2019 Vuelta.