{"id":7025,"date":"2016-09-01T08:51:24","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T04:51:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/velorbola.com\/froome-quintana-pena-cabarga-vuelta-2016\/"},"modified":"2026-11-04T22:03:59","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T18:03:59","slug":"froome-quintana-pena-cabarga-vuelta-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/velorbola.com\/en\/froome-quintana-pena-cabarga-vuelta-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"The Great Battle on Pe\u00f1a Cabarga"},"content":{"rendered":"

The day after a rest day is always hard; finding the racing rhythm again never comes easily. All the more so when the stage is crowned with a summit finish on a climb like Pe\u00f1a Cabarga!<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a Cabarga (Cantabria, Spain) \u2013 category 1, 565 meters above sea level, 5.6 kilometers long, average gradient 9.8% (max. 18%); full stage distance 168.6 kilometers;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yesterday’s ascent was only the fifth in Vuelta history. It has mostly been on the route since 2010, when the Spaniards’ beloved Purito (Joaquim Rodr\u00edguez) celebrated victory here. In 2013 the great Belarusian Vasil Kiryienka won, and back in distant 1979 it was Spaniard \u00c1ngel L\u00f3pez del \u00c1lamo.<\/p>\n

But Pe\u00f1a Cabarga will truly go down in history as Froome’s climb: it was right here, in 2011, that Chris took one of his first major victories, and right here that the cycling world got to know him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\u10d9\u10e0\u10d8\u10e1\u10e2\u10dd\u10e4\u10d4\u10e0<\/a>

\u10d9\u10e0\u10d8\u10e1\u10e2\u10dd\u10e4\u10d4\u10e0 \u10e4\u10e0\u10e3\u10db\u10d8, 2011 \u10ec\u10da\u10d8\u10e1 7 \u10e1\u10d4\u10e5\u10e2\u10d4\u10db\u10d1\u10d4\u10e0\u10d8, \u10d5\u10e3\u10d4\u10da\u10e2\u10d0\u10e1 \u10db\u10d4\u201317 \u10d4\u10e2\u10d0\u10de\u10d8, \u10de\u10d8\u10d4\u10dc\u10d0 \u10d9\u10d0\u10d1\u10d0\u10e0\u10d2\u10d0<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Of course everyone was eagerly awaiting the stage, and every expectation was met: the final climb will go down in history as one of the fiercest duels between the greats.<\/p>\n

And yet it might not have happened at all, had it not been for Tinkoff’s work in keeping the breakaway on a short leash. When the breakaway’s lead started growing fast and it became clear that Movistar was happy to let the race split in two, Tinkoff took charge of the peloton and brought the group to the foot of the main climb with the stage still up for grabs. That wasn’t the only reason for their pace, of course: by keeping their rivals at an extreme tempo, Tinkoff was also wearing down their legs and raising the chance of echelons forming on the windy sections.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"31<\/a>

31 August 2016
71st Vuelta a Espana
Stage 11 : Colunga – Pena Cabarga
Peloton at Pena Cabarga
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

So, thanks to Tinkoff, the big names arrived at Pe\u00f1a Cabarga with a real chance of winning the stage, and the climb began.<\/p>\n

The main events unfolded over the last two kilometers. 1,800 meters from the finish Juan Esteban Chaves attacked; his move was so sharp that he easily opened a gap, which reached almost 15 seconds at the final-kilometer marker.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"31<\/a>

31 August 2016
71st Vuelta a Espana
Stage 11 : Colunga – Pena Cabarga
CHAVES Johan Esteban (COL) Orica – BikeExchange, at Pena Cabarga
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The leaders passed the marker led by Leopold K\u00f6nig; later Alejandro lifted the pace and Chavito’s lead began to shrink.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"31<\/a>

31 August 2016
71st Vuelta a Espana
Stage 11 : Colunga – Pena Cabarga
VALVERDE Alejandro (ESP) Movistar, Leader of the Points Classification, at Pena Cabarga
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then came the captains’ turn. Nairo attacked, Froome followed him, and Alberto too, with a delay. I think Leopold’s move at that moment got in Contador’s way; he did close the gap, but that effort was an unplanned expense which proved decisive for him.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"31<\/a>

31 August 2016
71st Vuelta a Espana
Stage 11 : Colunga – Pena Cabarga
QUINTANA Nairo Alexander (COL) Movistar, Leader of the General Classification
CONTADOR Alberto (ESP) Tinkoff
KONIG Leopold (CZE) Sky, at Pena Cabarga
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

With only 600 meters to go, Nairo and Christopher caught and passed Juan Esteban. Then it was Froome’s turn: he raised the pace but couldn’t shake off Quintana, and so the pair approached the 150-meter mark together, where Froome attacked again, this time out of the saddle. This attack proved decisive. Froome beat his direct rival for the stage head-to-head.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"31<\/a>

31 August 2016
71st Vuelta a Espana
Stage 11 : Colunga – Pena Cabarga
1st : FROOME Christopher (GBR) Sky
Photo : Yuzuru SUNADA<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

As he said after the stage, winning two Grand Tours in one season is a big challenge, and his tactics will depend on how things stand on the day. It must be said that there were no big losses on the stage; the main contenders all finished within 30 seconds of each other.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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