Nicolas Roche claws his way towards Vuelta top 5 with more climbing aggression

The Vuelta field enjoyed better conditions and a stunning backdrop in the Pyrenees for today's stage 16

By Gavin McLoughlin

Nicolas Roche managed to further reduce his deficit on general classification as race-leader Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) experienced something of an off-day on stage 16 of the Vuelta a Espana today, Monday.

The Irishman launched a brief attack about 2.5 kilometres short of the summit finish, but it was the subsequent powerful strike by Joaquin Rodriguez that shattered the favourites’ group to bits and saw Nibali’s advantage over second-placed Chris Horner fall to just 22 seconds.

Roche arrived home six seconds ahead of Nibali, and is 3:43 behind the red jersey heading into the second rest day tomorrow.

The sixth-placed Saxo-Tinkoff leader was able to distance fifth-placed Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R-La Mondiale) by a solitary second in the final metres, and is now a mere five seconds behind the Italian overall.

However, it was not all good news for Roche. Though he edged closer to the red jersey and the man ahead of him in the standings, he again lost time to Rodriguez, Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Chris Horner (Radioshack-Leopard) when the road curved upward.

These riders stand between the Irishman and a place on the final podium in Madrid, and it looks like Roche will need to replicate his strategic invention of yesterday if he is to claw back some time in the final week.

To Irish supporters, his aggression today will represent an encouraging signal of his intentions.

It was an action-packed beginning to today’s 147-kilometre ride from Graus to the Aramon Formigal ski-station. An 8-man breakaway went clear in the early kilometres, but a vigilant Movistar squad would not allow these riders to establish much of an advantage.

The third-category Puerto de la Foradada arrived after 20 kilometres, and by the time this hill had been scaled a new escape group of about 25 had gone clear. Now it was Astana who were wary and the Kazakh outfit set about the pursuit at a searing rate. With 50 kilometres covered, the race was back together again.

This meant precious bonus seconds were on offer to the general classification contenders at the intermediate sprint in Boltaña, and third-placed Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) emulated Roche’s tactic from Thursday by crossing the line first to reduce his deficit by three seconds.

Next to attack the bunch was Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil-DCM), with the ever-aggressive Spaniard taking 8 men including Rigoberto Uran (Sky) and Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural) away from the peloton with him.

Onto the second climb of the day, the second-category Puerto de Cotéfablo, and rider after rider streamed out of the bunch in an effort to latch on to the breakaway. By the bottom of the descent, another group of about 25 found itself at the head of the race, with French prodigy Warren Barguil (Argos-Shimano), Juan Manuel Garate (Belkin) and Mikael Cherel (AG2R-La Mondiale) now part of the move.

Behind, Astana were content to let the pace slacken, and with 25 kilometres remaining the leaders had an advantage of over three minutes. However, Euskaltel-Euskadi tired of the dawdling and soon the orange-clad outfit breathed new life into the pursuit.

Still the gap was over three minutes as the breakaway men commenced the final ascent, a 16-kilometre, first-category climb to Aramon Formigal. Garate was the first to attack and briefly he managed to go clear with Barguil and Cherel, but most of the escapees managed to get back on as the canny Uran loitered with intent in the middle of the group.

The 21-year-old Barguil was brimming with enthusiasm and he jumped away again with about 9.5 kilometres to go. His erstwhile companions were scattered all over the road in the pursuit, and back in the favourites’ group Euskaltel were making few inroads, while Roche and the rest of the overall contenders held fire.

Barguil was spinning a high cadence and as he peeked over his shoulder with a little over 2 kilometres to go, the horrible sight of an encroaching Uran sparked a redoubling of his efforts.

Valverde was the first of the overall contenders to test the water and the Movistar leader kicked away with less than 3 kilometres to go for the favourites. The Spaniard looked strong but soon he had sat up, with Roche still a part of the group.

The Irishman was next to chance his arm but could not establish a big advantage and he too was reeled back in, before Rodriguez immediately steamed away to spark chaos.

Quickly it became clear that Nibali was in trouble as Horner had pulled out a significant gap. For a time Valverde lurked behind the race-leader, but soon he too had left Nibali behind, with Roche another who managed to go clear.

Up ahead, Uran had caught Barguil just short of the flamme rouge and the Sky man tried to sucker-punch the Frenchman right away. The Colombian charged through in imperious fashion but somehow Barguil managed to cling on.

The line neared and the mind games were now in full flow. Breakaway survivors Dominik Nerz (BMC) and Bartosz Husarski (NetApp-Endura) were gaining quickly, and a panicked Uran took up the sprint with 125 metres to go.

The Sky man had blinked first, and excruciatingly Barguil pipped him to the stage win by a margin so small as to be practically imperceptible on the photo finish. It is the wunderkind’s second stage-victory of the race and you can be certain that he will be anointed the new saviour of French cycling.

Rodriguez arrived 1:41 later as best of the overall contenders, and Roche ultimately got in 22 seconds after the Spaniard. The surprisingly-weak Nibali came home 6 seconds after the Irishman.

All will be ever so thankful for a day of rest tomorrow, and the race resumes on Wednesday with a stage that looks to favour the sprinters.

@gavmcloughlin