Vuelta 2021: Majka solos to triumph, Eiking retains La Roja

foto: Cor VosRafal Majka goes solo with 88 kilometes remaining and finishes it off in brilliant style. Steven Kruijswijk finishes in second, Chris Hamilton in third. Odd Christian Eiking stays in the overall race lead. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 15th stage Vuelta a España 2021

1. Rafal Majka (pol)
2. Steven Kruijswijk (nld) + 1.27
3. Chris Hamilton (aus) + 2.19
4. Adam Yates (gbr) + 2.42
5. Giulio Ciccone (ita) + 2.57
6. Odd Christian Eiking (nor) s.t.
7. Felix Großschartner (aut) s.t.
8. Sepp Kuss (usa) s.t.
9. David de la Cruz (spa) s.t.
10. Enric Mas (spa) s.t.

– other GC riders s.t.

GC after stage 15
1. Odd Christian Eiking (nor)
2. Guillaume Martin (fra) + 0.54
3. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 1.36
4. Enric Mas (spa) + 2.11
5. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 3.04
6. Jack Haig (aus) + 3.35
7. Egan Bernal (col) + 4.21
8. Adam Yates (gbr) + 4.34
9. Sepp Kuss (usa) + 4.59
10. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 5.31

Race report
In a very fast opening 24 riders jump clear. The peloton is still chasing at kilometre 51, which inspires Cort and Sivakov to attack from the breakaway. Trentin joins the duo at kilometre 64, but moments later the peloton brings them back.

The attacks continue on the Alto de la Centenera. Fabio Aru, Maxim Van Gils and Rafal Majka open up a gap. Van Gils can’t follow the pace and he wins up in the chase group with Steven Kruijswijk, Geoffrey Bouchard, Andrea Bagioli, Carlos Verona, Michael Storer, Steff Cras, Lucas Hamilton, Chris Hamilton, Gianluca Brambilla, Rudy Molard, Guy Niv, Wout Poels, Diego Andres Camargo, Gorka Izagirre, Mikel Nieve, Thymen Arensman, Juan Pedro Lopez, Joe Dombrowski, Martijn Tusveld and Simone Petilli.

Majka goes solo in the 3.5 kilometres of the Puerto de Pedro Bernardo.

The Pole tackles the Puerto de Mijares 2 minutes ahead of Aru. Kruijswijk, Arensman, Verona, Lopez, Izagirre and Bouchard reel in the Italian before Kruijswijk heads out alone.

The Dutchman can’t close the gap and the Pole solos to an impressive victory.

Yates opens a gap on the last climb of the day and finishes 15 seconds ahead of his GC opponents, but it doesn’t effect the standing. Eiking retains the red jersey.

Another interesting read: route 15th stage 2021 Vuelta.