68 Vuelta a Burgos

Vuelta a Burgos | August 2-6 | Spain

little under one month after a fever-stricken Alberto Contador (Tinkoff) climbed into his team car and abandoned the Tour de France, following two painful crashes in the opening week, the Spaniard gave a strong final-day performance at the Vuelta a Burgos to secure the narrowest of victories.

With the first four days of the five-stage race comprising two flat stages, a short team time trial and a moderately hilly stage finishing on a punchy cobbled climb in Lerma, it was always likely that the 38th edition of this race was going to come down to the final day. The fifth day’s queen stage brought seven classified climbs including the tough summit finish at Lagunas de Neila, the race’s only special category climb.

Riding his first stage race since the Tour, Contador started the final day in 25th place, 13 seconds off the pace. On the climb to the finish Sergio Pardilla (Caja Rural), who trailed Contador by 18 seconds on GC, attacked out of a small bunch of leaders. The Spanish rider quickly gained an advantage and with no reaction behind looked to be riding to the stage and overall win.

Contador remained patient and only reacted when BMC’S Ben Hermans accelerated with under 2km to go. The Spaniard followed and then danced away in the final kilometre as Hermans tired.

With 800m to go Pardilla still had 50 seconds on the chasing Contador, easily enough to have given him the overall win. But Contador was on fire and clawed back 33 seconds in half a kilometre, crossing the line 17 seconds after Pardilla, enough to take the overall win by just one second.

It was a welcome return to stage racing for Contador as he looks to the upcoming Vuelta a España.

“This race was a positive test heading to the Vuelta,” he said. “I’m gradually improving. Now we have to fine-tune my preparation before the Vuelta.”

Result

Winner: Alberto Contador (Esp) Tinkoff in 15:50.50; 2, Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC at 1sec; 3, Sergio Pardilla (Esp) Caja Rural-seguros at st; 4, Simon Yates (GBR) OricaBikeexchange at 4sec; 5, Peter Kennaugh (GBR) Team Sky at 11sec; 6, Ruben Fernandez (Esp) Movistar at 16sec; 7, Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-quick Step at 36sec; 8, Matvey Mamykin (Rus) Katusha at 57sec; 9. Igor Anton (Esp) Dimension Data at 1:04; 10, Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale at st.