When stage 17 of the Vuelta began in Ortigueira Alberto Contador was in the red leader’s jersey for the seventh day in a row. He never relinquished the lead through to the end of the race. John Degenkolb (Giant-Shimano) took his fourth stage win of this year’s race on stage 17 when he won the bunch sprint into A Coruña.
On stage 18 Fabio Aru (Astana) climbed to his second stage win of the race, crossing the line just ahead of Chris Froome (Sky) who moved into second overall.
The following day Australia’s Adam Hansen (Lotto-Belisol) attacked on a short climb just out of the finish in Cangas de Morrazo, holding off the surging peloton to take his second stage victory at a Grand Tour (in his 10th consecutive Grand Tour).
On the penultimate stage Alberto Contador left no doubt in anyone’s mind about who was the strongest rider in the race, climbing to his second stage victory of the race and cementing his overall lead.
And on the final stage Adriano Malori (Movistar) won the 9.7km ITT while Contador did enough to win the race overall by 1:10 ahead of Chris Froome and 1:50 over Alejandro Valverde (Movistar).
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- Rohan Dennis (BMC), Bob Jungels (Trek Factory Racing) and Elia Favilli (Lampre-Merida) were three of the five riders that got clear on stage 17, forming the day’s breakaway. The break was gradually whittled down to just Dennis and Favilli.
- John Degenkolb hits the front in the bunch sprint …
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- … and takes his fourth stage win of the race.
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- Valverde, Rodriguez and Contador battle it out for third on stage 18 …
- … but ahead of them Fabio Aru had won his second stage of the race.
- Another stage, another day in red for Alberto Contador.
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- After attacking on a short climb late in stage 19, Adam Hansen was able to get clear of the peloton and hold on for victory.
- Hansen was riding his 10th consecutive Grand Tour. His Vuelta stage win sits alongside is Giro d’Italia win from 2013 as the biggest success of his career.
- Sammy Sanchez was BMC’s designated leader for the Vuelta. The Spaniard finished sixth overall which included an eighth place on stage 20.
- Alberto Contador sealed his overall victory in the Vuelta with a second stage win on stage 20.
- Chris Froome rolled in 16 seconds behind Contador on stage 20, maintaining his second place overall …
- … while Joaquim Rodriguez finished fourth, behind Alejandro Valverde.
- The 2014 Vuelta ended with a 9.7km ITT around Santiago de Compostela.
- Wet conditions faced some of the riders throughout the day.
- Adriano Malori took stage honours ahead of Jesse Sergent (Trek) and Rohan Dennis (BMC). Movistar started the race with a win in the TTT and ended with a win in the ITT.
- Alberto Contador rode conservatively to finish 101st on the stage, but did enough to hold on to overall victory.
- Contador finished the Vuelta 1:10 ahead of Chris Froome and 1:50 ahead of Alejandro Valverde.