Stage 16: Mads Bests Rivals in Bloody Finish
Mads Pedersen (TSF) wins a reduced bunch sprint on a mad attack in the final kilometers of Stage 16 in La Vuelta 2022. The attack was launched by a hungry Primoz Roglic (TJV), but came to naught. Pedersen adds another major stage win to his extraordinary 2022.
Stage 16Stage 16 was a flat stage that eased the riders back into the swing of things after a peaceful rest day. It’s also the last stage for the pure sprinters until the finale on Stage 21, so the sprint teams needed to make the best of it. A variety of futile breakaways led most of the day until being reeled in with about 11km to go.
Teams battled to line up their sprint trains and keep their GC riders out of the risky muck in back of the pack. Primoz Roglic launched off the front at 2.6km to go and caught the peloton by surprise. A strong group of four riders nipped at the Slovenian’s heels all the way until losing steam and taking a hard spill in the small bunch sprint to the finish. He made it across the line under his own power but looked dazed.
Primoz RoglicRemco Evenepoel (QST) retains the red jersey. The Belgian caught a flat in the final kilometers, but he will not lose extra time due to the 3km rule. Along with the stage win, Mads Pedersen holds on to the green jersey and Jay Vine (ADC) retains the polka dot jersey.
Lawson Craddock (BEX) remains the highest-ranked American at 52nd-place in the overall standings.
Notable exits: Jhoan Esteban Chaves (EF) did not start the stage. At 55th overall after Stage 15, he is purely a talented support rider, but the hard luck cycling squad will miss every ounce of talent it loses this race.
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