Be sure to check out Jim and Iri’s photos from stages 1 to 3 of the Vuelta as well.
Having narrowly beaten Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) to win stage 3, Michael Matthews (Orica-GreenEdge) went into stage 4 as the overall leader of the Vuelta; the second Grand Tour he’s led this season. Stage 4 belonged to John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) though, who took the sprint victory, while Matthews’ third place was enough to see the young Australian keep the overall lead.
Degenkolb went back-to-back the following day, winning stage 5 in controversial circumstances. Second-placed Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ.fr) claimed Degenkolb forced him into the barriers, but the commissaires ruled differently, ensuring Degenkolb’s victory would stand. Matthews finished in the lead bunch to secure a third day in red.
Stage 6 saw the first significant uphill finish of the race and in the sweltering heat that’s plagued the race all week, the GC contenders came out to play. After appearing to work for teammate Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde still had the legs to follow a Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) attack, before striking for victory. He was followed over the line by Chris Froome (Sky) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff-Saxo).
The stage win puts Valverde back into red (he led the race after stage 2 for one day) ahead of stage 7, which also finishes with a climb.
In the meantime though, be sure to check out the following gallery of photos from stages 4 to 6 courtesy of BrakeThrough Media. Click through to follow them on Instagram and Twitter.
- Peter Sagan has been a long way from his best so far in this year’s Vuelta, 46th being his best result in the road stages so far.
- John Degenkolb celebrates after taking out stage 4, the first of two consecutive wins for the German.
- Sweltering conditions throughout the week have wreaked havoc on the riders.
- Michael Matthews’ third place on stage 4 bought him an extra day in red.
- Alberto Contador obliges a fan at the start of stage 5.
- Nairo Quintana has no shortage of fans. Even though his teammate Alejandro Valverde now leads the race (after six stages), the team is still reportedly riding for the Colombian Giro winner.
- Stage 5 gets underway in Priego de Cordoba …
- … with Michael Matthews in red for the second day.
- Pim Ligthart (Lotto-Belisol) joined Tony Martin (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) in the stage 5 breakaway. Martin suffered a mechanical and dropped away but Ligthart pushed on, only getting caught inside the final 30km.
- Nacer Bouhanni claimed after the stage that John Degenkolb (in the green jersey) had pushed him into the barriers. The complaint was dismissed and Degenkolb’s second consecutive stage victory stood.
- With oppressive temperatures, many riders seemed happy to take part in the Ice Bucket Challenge.
- After placing eighth on the second stage, Tom Boonen has been rather quiet.
- Alejandro Valverde drives the pace for his teammate Nairo Quintana, before reacting to a Joaquim Rodriguez attack …
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- … then attacking on his own to distance Chris Froome and Alberto Contador …
- … and then holding on for victory.
- Dan Martin currently sits 17th, 1:37 off the pace, and has accrued a second and fifth place in the race so far.
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- Cadel Evans currently sits 25th overall having lost a chunk of time on the uphill finish to stage 6.
- Laurens “the tap” Ten Dam needs to get his washers changed.
- Alejandro Valverde leads the Vuelta a Espana with six stages completed.