Aru edges closer to a top 10 spot in la Vuelta after a brutal day in the mountains

Tomorrow’s rest day couldn’t come any sooner for the peloton at this year’s Vuelta a Espana, after nine days of back-to-back racing was capped off with a 200.8km route which started in Talavera de la Reina and ended with a brutal mountain top finish at La Covatilla. Since La Vuelta began on Saturday 25th August, UAE Team Emirates’ riders have covered nearly 1,500kms and scaled 19 categorised climbs in support of their leader Fabio Aru. The efforts have started to pay off with the 2017 Italian National Champion improving day by day and steadily moving further up the General Classification standings to his current position in 11th place.

Aru crossed the line in 16th today, just 3:20” behind the stage winner Ben King (Dimension Data), but more importantly he was able to jump two places in the GC and come within 1:08” of the red jersey.

Commenting on his performance he said: “Today was a demanding and long stage, with a summit arrival at 2,000m of altitude. However, I feel that day by day my condition and especially my race pace is improving. I was feeling very well when the pace was regular, then with 1,5 km to go there were some attacks and I had to defend, however they were not too bad and I was able limit the gap. Tomorrow we have a rest day, then some stages that aren’t too demanding, so I’m confident I can continue to improve my fitness”.

Whilst Aru is the team’s man in the mountains, his Italian counterpart Simone Consonni has been delivering on the flats during the first section of Le Vuelta. His explosive power and clever tactics have enabled the young gun to contest two sprint finishes against world class riders – earning himself a fifth place and a fourth place finish in stage 3 and stage 6 respectively.

Monday provides the peloton with a well-earned day of rest, before they take on a stage 10 – a 177km flat route from Salamanca to Fermoselle Bermillo de Sayago with just one category three climb to challenge the fast men in the pack, who will inevitably look to contest a bunch sprint finish in Tuesday’s race.

Stage 9 Results:

1. Ben King (USA) Dimension Data 5:30:38”

2. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek Segafredo +0:48”

3. Dylan Teuns (Ger) BMC Racing +2:38”

16. Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates 3:20”

General Classification Standings:

1. Simon Yates (GBr) Mitchelton Scott 36:54:52”

2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar + 0:01”

3. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar +0:14”

11. Fabio Aru (Ita) UAE Team Emirates +1:08”