Roche crashes out after pile-up on Vuelta stage six

NICOLAS Roche’s Vuelta a Espana came to a sad end following a big crash in the main peloton just past the halfway mark yesterday. Fifth-placed Roche, a former race leader, and sixth-placed Rigoberto Uran of EF Education First both abandoned after the pileup as did Uran’s team mate Hugh Carthy and Victor de la Parte of CCC. Things went from bad to worse for EF as Tejay van Garderen, who was part of the breakaway, came off the road on a descent just before the final climb. Jesus Herrada rode to victory as Dylan Teuns claimed the leader’s jersey after finishing second. The 199km stage from Mora de Rubielos to Ares del Maestrat featured four climbs and ended at the summit of the Puerto de Ares where Herrada strode away with 150 metres remaining. Today’s ride is 183 kilometres from Onda to Mas de la Costa.