Vuelta 2019: Cavagna solos to victory, Roglic stays in red

Rémi Cavagna solos to victory in Toledo. Sam Bennet sprints to second place, while Primoz Roglic stays in the GC lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 19th stage Vuelta a España 2019

1. Rémi Cavagna (fra)
2. Sam Bennett (irl) + 0.05
3. Zdenek Stybar (cze) s.t.
4. Philippe Gilbert (bel) s.t.
5. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
6. Tosh Van Der Sande (bel) s.t.
7. Dylan Teuns (bel) s.t.
8. Tadej Pogacar (slo) s.t.
9. Miguel Ángel López (col) s.t.
10. Primoz Roglic (slo) s.t.

12. Wilco Kelderman (nld) s.t.
18. Carl Fredrik Hagen (nor) s.t.
20. Nairo Quintana (col) s.t.
22. Rafal Majka (pol) s.t.
29. Marc Soler (spa) s.t.
48. James Knox (gbr) + 0.44

GC after stage 19
1. Primoz Roglic (slo)
2. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.50
3. Nairo Quintana (col) + 3.31
4. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 4.17
5. Tadej Pogacar (slo) + 4.49
6. Rafal Majka (pol) + 7.46
7. Wilco Kelderman (nld) + 9.46
8. Carl Fredrik Hagen (nor) + 11.50
9. James Knox (gbr) + 13.23
10. Marc Soler (spa) 21.09

Race report
Silvan Dillier, Domen Novak, Rémi Cavagna, Lawson Craddock, Bruno Armirail, Tsgabu Grmay, Ben O’Connor, David de la Cruz, Nikias Arndt, Peter Stetina and Shane Archbold open up a gap on the Alto de la Paramera. The breakaway eleven crest the climb 1 minute. Archbold drops back and the other ten widen the gap to more than 3 minutes.

A crash takes down López and Roglic inside the last 65 kilometres. They are forced to chase, as Movistar pushes on. Roglic’ teammates have been taken down, López’ domestiques are able to assist their leader and the red jersey. They are 1 minute behind the group Valverde and 2 minutes behind the lead group.

It comes together with 50 kilometres to go. When the dust settles the lead group is 2 minutes ahead of the regrouped peloton.

Cavagna attacks in the lead group with 25 kilometres remaining when the gap has fallen to 1 minute. He widens the gap to 1.45 minutes.

When he enters Toledo the gap is down to 1 minute, while the chasers are 30 seconds behind. Craddock, Arndt and Armirail leave their companion behind, but the three back are brought back inside the last 2.5 kilometres.

Meanwhile, Cavagna powers up the cobbles that lead into the old town of Toledo. He grinds his teeth and… wins the race 5 seconds ahead of the sprinting peloton. Bennett finishes in second, Stybar in third.

Roglic still leads La Vuelta with one mountain stage left.

Another interesting read: route 19th stage 2019 Vuelta.