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cycling: Vuelta a España stage #21: Trentin wins as Contador bids farewell

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Trentino Matteo Vuelta

Cycling: Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors) has won the final stage of the Vuelta a España in Madrid. Overall winner Chris Froome (Sky) surprisingly defended the points jersey. Meanwhile, Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) celebrated a successful farewell to professional sport.

Muchas gracias, Alberto Contador

The 72nd Vuelta a España is over - and with it the career of Alberto Contador. The Spaniard was celebrated by his fans in Madrid today and drove several kilometers as a tolerated breakaway a few meters in front of the peloton. Chris Froome (Sky) crossed the finish line without incident and thus won the general classification. After three second places in the Tour of Spain, he can now call himself the overall winner for the first time. He also managed the double, consisting of the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) is also satisfied with second place. The Italian fell yesterday and ultimately had no chance of actually becoming a threat to Froome. Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha-Alpecin) finished on the podium for the first time in a Grand Tour. The Russian was able to oust Wilco Kelderman (Sunweb) from third place yesterday. Still, Kelderman was able to take a few seconds off Contador today and regain fourth place.

Chris Froome doesn't give gifts

After the peloton had traveled many kilometers at a leisurely pace on today's 21st and final stage of the Vuelta a España, things really got going in the end. First up was the sprint classification – at least on the plans of Quick-Step Floors and Sky. Because Chris Froome did not want to give up in the fight for the green jersey. However, the Belgian team launched the sprint in an exemplary manner so that Matteo Trentin was able to secure the four points. However, he also needed the points on arrival to take the jersey from Froome after all. Trentin did its job to measure. The Italian won easily ahead of Lorrenzo Manzin (FDJ) and Søren Kragh Andersen (Sunweb). But Chris Froome was also involved at the front. The Brit actually held out in his red jersey into the mass sprint to keep the points jersey - and he succeeded. His eleventh place puts him ahead of Trentin by two points. You haven't seen anything like this on the last day of a tour. Will Chris Froome make friends with it? He thus wins the overall ranking, the point ranking and the combination ranking. The mountains classification goes to Davide Villella (Cannondale-Drapac) and the team classification to Astana. Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) was awarded as the best young professional.

Vuelta a España stage #21 daily classification

PLATZDriverCountryTeamTime
1.Matteo TrentinItalyQuick Step Floors3:06:25
2.Lorrenzo ManzinFranceFDJst
3.Soren Kragh AndersenDenmarkSunwebst
4.Tom Van AsbroeckBelgiumCannondale Drapacst
5.Ivan GarciaSpainBahrain-Meridast
6.Magnus Cort NielsenDenmarkOrica Scottst
7.Kenneth VanbilsenBelgiumCofidisst
8.Sacha ModoloItalyUAEst
9.Michael SchwarzmanGermanyBora, hansgrohest
10.Daniel HoeglgaardNorwayFDJst

Vuelta a España stage #21 general classification

PLATZDriverCountryTeamTime
1.Chris FroomeGreat BritainSky82:30:02
2.Vincenzo NibaliItalyBahrain-Merida+ 2: 15
3.Ilnur ZakarinRussiaKatusha Alpecin+ 2: 51
4.wilco keldermanNetherlandsSunweb+ 3: 15
5.Alberto counterSpainTrek-Segafredo+ 3: 18
6.Wout poelsNetherlandsSky+ 6: 59
7.Michael WoodsCanadaCannondale Drapac+ 8: 27
8.Miguel Angel LopezColombiaAstana+ 9: 13
9.Steven KruijswijkNetherlandsLottoNL Jumbo+ 11: 18
10.Tejay Van GarderenUSABMC+ 15: 50
Tags:CounterFroomeNewsthirtyReturnVuelta a Espana

More than Michael Behringer

Cycling with all its tactics, stage analyses, placements and forecasts are Michael Behringer's great passion. In 1996 he tracked his first Tour de France. Since then he has observed almost every race. His passion for cycling has been with him for over two decades. There is no end in sight.