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Stage 18, Thursday, September 8: Requena - Gandía, 200.6 km

Stage 18 map and profile | Stage 18 photos | Organizer's stage 18 preview

Magnus Cort Nielsen wins Vuelta stage 18

Stage 18 rated ascent:

• Km 69.8: Pto. de Casa del Alto, 13.3 km @ 3.8% - cat. 2

The Race: Here's the organizer's telling of the day's racing.

Magnus Cort Nielsen won a bunch sprint on the Vuelta despite being usually restrained to a domestique role at Orica-Bike Exchange. The 23-year-old Dane played in smart in the finale to finish ahead of Nikias Arndt (second) and Jempy Drucker (third). The top guns stayed quiet and Nairo Quintana retained the overall leader's red jersey ahead of Friday's individual time trial, which he will start with a comfortable lead over Chris Froome (Sky) and Esteban Chaves (Orica-Bike Exchange).

There were 161 riders at the start of the stage in Requena. The breakaway of the day took shape early one, with four riders -- Pierre Rolland (Cannondale-Drapac), Fumiyuki Beppu (Trek-Segafredo), Quentin Jauregui (ag2r-La Mondiale) and Mattia Cattaneo (Lampre-Merida) – jumping away from the peloton in the sixth kilometer. They were joined by Louis Vervaeke (Lotto-Soudal).

The group had an advantage of almost five minutes after 32 kilometres while the pack was controlled by the Giant-Alpecin and Bora-Argon18 teams.

Beppu was first at top of the only climb of the day, the second-catogy Puerto de Casa del Alto (km 69.8).

Midway through the stage, the gap stabilized around 6:30 and Etixx-Quiick Step, working for Gianni Meersman, took over at the front, with some help from Dimension Data and BMC. Vervaeke was first at the intermediate sprint in Ontinyent (km 147) as the gap melted.

Cattaneo was dropped from the breakaway 33 kilometres from the line.

The fugitives were caught 11.3 km from the line. Jan Bakelants (Ag2r-La Mondiale) went solo with 3.5 km remaining but he was quickly caught by the bunch.

Nielsen launched the sprint and held off Nikias Arndt (Giant-Alpecin) and Jempy Drucker, who won the previous bunch sprint in Peniscola on Monday.

Complete Results:

Stage 18 photos

200.6 kilometers raced at an average speed of 40.867 km/hr

1	NIELSEN Magnus Cort	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	4hr 54min 31sec
2	ARNDT Nikias	GIANT ALPECIN	s.t.
3	DRUCKER Jean-Pierre	BMC	s.t.
4	BENNATI Daniele	TINKOFF	s.t.
5	VAN GENECHTEN Jonas	IAM CYCLING	s.t.
6	REIJNEN Kiel	TREK-SEGAFREDO	s.t.
7	SCHWARZMANN Michael	BORA-ARGON 18	s.t.
8	MEERSMAN Gianni	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	s.t.
9	SBARAGLI Kristan	DIMENSION DATA	s.t.
10	MANZIN Lorenzo	FDJ	s.t.
11	LAMPAERT Yves	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	s.t.
12	STYBAR Zdenek	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	s.t.
13	ANDERSON Ryan	DIRECT ENERGIE	s.t.
14	BAGDONAS Gediminas	AG2R LA MONDIALE	s.t.
15	HARDY Romain	COFIDIS	s.t.
16	ROJAS José Joaquin	MOVISTAR	s.t.
17	LAGUTIN Sergey	KATUSHA	s.t.
18	PRADES Eduard	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	s.t.
19	LADAGNOUS Matthieu	FDJ	s.t.
20	ARASHIRO Yukiya	LAMPRE-MERIDA	s.t.
21	WALLAYS Jelle	LOTTO SOUDAL	s.t.
22	VALVERDE Alejandro	MOVISTAR	s.t.
23	KNEES Christian	SKY	s.t.
24	VAN DER SANDE Tosh	LOTTO SOUDAL	s.t.
25	BENNETT George	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	s.t.
26	FELLINE Fabio	TREK-SEGAFREDO	s.t.
27	RESTREPO Jhonatan	KATUSHA	s.t.
28	QUINTANA Nairo	MOVISTAR	s.t.
29	CHAVES Johan Esteban	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	s.t.
30	HANSEN Adam	LOTTO SOUDAL	s.t.
31	DE KORT Koen	GIANT ALPECIN	s.t.
32	FROOME Christopher	SKY	s.t.
33	SCARPONI Michele	ASTANA	s.t.
34	BYSTRÖM Sven Erik	KATUSHA	s.t.
35	BIDARD François	AG2R LA MONDIALE	s.t.
36	KEUKELEIRE Jens	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	s.t.
37	SANCHEZ Samuel	BMC	s.t.
38	SMUKULIS Gatis	ASTANA	s.t.
39	PÉRAUD Jean-Christophe	AG2R LA MONDIALE	s.t.
40	WYSS Marcel	IAM CYCLING	s.t.
41	MOLARD Rudy	COFIDIS	s.t.
42	TALANSKY Andrew	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	s.t.
43	YATES Simon	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	s.t.
44	LATOUR Pierre-Roger	AG2R LA MONDIALE	s.t.
45	FORMOLO Davide	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	s.t.
46	MAMYKIN Matvey	KATUSHA	s.t.
47	KOCHETKOV Pavel	KATUSHA	s.t.
48	DOMONT Axel	AG2R LA MONDIALE	s.t.
49	CHEVRIER Clément	IAM CYCLING	s.t.
50	VANOTTI Alessandro	ASTANA	s.t.
51	CONTADOR Alberto	TINKOFF	s.t.
52	TROFIMOV Yury	TINKOFF	s.t.
53	MATE Luis Angel	COFIDIS	s.t.
54	MORENO Daniel	MOVISTAR	s.t.
55	MONFORT Maxime	LOTTO SOUDAL	s.t.
56	HERMANS Ben	BMC	s.t.
57	PELLAUD Simon	IAM CYCLING	s.t.
58	ATAPUMA Darwin	BMC	s.t.
59	DE LA CRUZ David	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	s.t.
60	ZUBELDIA Haimar	TREK-SEGAFREDO	s.t.
61	SILIN Egor	KATUSHA	s.t.
62	PARDILLA Sergio	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	s.t.
63	BAKELANTS Jan	AG2R LA MONDIALE	s.t.
64	NAULEAU Bryan	DIRECT ENERGIE	+ 00' 10''
65	BERNARD Julien	TREK-SEGAFREDO	+ 00' 14''
66	MACHADO Tiago	KATUSHA	+ 00' 15''
67	WYSS Danilo	BMC	s.t.
68	DOCKX Gert	LOTTO SOUDAL	s.t.
69	WARBASSE Larry	IAM CYCLING	s.t.
70	GOLAS Michal	SKY	s.t.
71	LAENGEN Vegard Stake	IAM CYCLING	s.t.
72	BOARO Manuele	TINKOFF	s.t.
73	ARMEE Sander	LOTTO SOUDAL	s.t.
74	HOWSON Damien	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	s.t.
75	GERRANS Simon	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	s.t.
76	TERPSTRA Niki	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	s.t.
77	KUDUS Merhawi	DIMENSION DATA	s.t.
78	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	ASTANA	s.t.
79	QUEMENEUR Perrig	DIRECT ENERGIE	s.t.
80	ERVITI Imanol	MOVISTAR	s.t.
81	PFINGSTEN Christoph	BORA-ARGON 18	s.t.
82	DURASEK Kristijan	LAMPRE-MERIDA	s.t.
83	GESINK Robert	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	s.t.
84	VILLELLA Davide	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	s.t.
85	FERNANDEZ Ruben	MOVISTAR	s.t.
86	TANKINK Bram	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	s.t.
87	MOSER Moreno	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	s.t.
88	LOSADA Alberto	KATUSHA	s.t.
89	DILLIER Silvan	BMC	s.t.
90	ARROYO David	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	s.t.
91	MORICE Julien	DIRECT ENERGIE	s.t.
92	FRANK Mathias	IAM CYCLING	s.t.
93	BILBAO Pello	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	s.t.
94	PUCCIO Salvatore	SKY	+ 00' 21''
95	CONTI Valerio	LAMPRE-MERIDA	s.t.
96	GOGL Michael	TINKOFF	+ 00' 24''
97	SELIG Rüdiger	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 00' 26''
98	ROVNY Ivan	TINKOFF	+ 00' 28''
99	THWAITES Scott	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 00' 30''
100	VENTER Jacobus	DIMENSION DATA	+ 00' 43''
101	FRÖHLINGER Johannes	GIANT ALPECIN	s.t.
102	GRUZDEV Dmitriy	ASTANA	s.t.
103	COUSIN Jérome	COFIDIS	+ 00' 46''
104	MUHLBERGER Gregor	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 00' 54''
105	BEWLEY Sam	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 01' 14''
106	FARRAR Tyler	DIMENSION DATA	s.t.
107	CASTROVIEJO Jonathan	MOVISTAR	+ 01' 49''
108	ZEITS Andrey	ASTANA	s.t.
109	CATALDO Dario	ASTANA	s.t.
110	GRMAY Tsgabu	LAMPRE-MERIDA	s.t.
111	KING Benjamin	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	s.t.
112	ROSSETTO Stéphane	COFIDIS	s.t.
113	ZOIDL Riccardo	TREK-SEGAFREDO	s.t.
114	HAGA Chad	GIANT ALPECIN	s.t.
115	PAULINHO Sergio Miguel	TINKOFF	s.t.
116	ELISSONDE KENNY	FDJ	s.t.
117	GENIEZ Alexandre	FDJ	s.t.
118	EIKING Odd Christian	FDJ	s.t.
119	LUDVIGSSON Tobias	GIANT ALPECIN	s.t.
120	BRAMBILLA Gianluca	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	s.t.
121	DIDIER Laurent	TREK-SEGAFREDO	+ 02' 30''
122	FRAILE Omar	DIMENSION DATA	+ 02' 32''
123	HERRADA Jose	MOVISTAR	+ 02' 40''
124	HERNANDEZ Jesus Alberto	TINKOFF	s.t.
125	DE CLERCQ Bart	LOTTO SOUDAL	s.t.
126	BOUWMAN Koen	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	s.t.
127	DOMBROWSKI Joe	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	+ 02' 42''
128	MEINTJES Louis	LAMPRE-MERIDA	+ 02' 45''
129	LOPEZ David	SKY	+ 03' 24''
130	KONIG Leopold	SKY	s.t.
131	KEIZER Martijn	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	s.t.
132	VELITS Martin	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	s.t.
133	DEVENYNS Dries	IAM CYCLING	s.t.
134	BOUET Maxime	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	s.t.
135	SERRY Pieter	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	s.t.
136	CARDIS Romain	DIRECT ENERGIE	s.t.
137	TUFT Svein	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 03' 27''
138	DE GENDT Thomas	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 04' 04''
139	VERVAEKE Louis	LOTTO SOUDAL	s.t.
140	BEPPU Fumiyuki	TREK-SEGAFREDO	s.t.
141	TEUNS Dylan	BMC	s.t.
142	SICARD Romain	DIRECT ENERGIE	s.t.
143	CALMEJANE Lilian	DIRECT ENERGIE	s.t.
144	MENDES José	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 05' 32''
145	SKJOESTAD LUNKE Sindre	GIANT ALPECIN	s.t.
146	RIBLON Christophe	AG2R LA MONDIALE	s.t.
147	JAUREGUI Quentin	AG2R LA MONDIALE	s.t.
148	BENEDETTI Cesare	BORA-ARGON 18	s.t.
149	SUTHERLAND Rory	MOVISTAR	s.t.
150	KENNAUGH Peter	SKY	s.t.
151	CARTHY Hugh	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	s.t.
152	BOSWELL Ian	SKY	s.t.
153	CATTANEO Mattia	LAMPRE-MERIDA	s.t.
154	ROSON Jaime	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	s.t.
155	CHETOUT LOÏC	COFIDIS	s.t.
156	ROLLAND Pierre	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	s.t.
157	STAMSNIJDER Tom	GIANT ALPECIN	s.t.
158	DOUGALL Nick	DIMENSION DATA	s.t.
159	KOSHEVOY Ilia	LAMPRE-MERIDA	s.t.
160	HAIG Jack	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	s.t.
161	CAMPENAERTS Victor	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	s.t.

GC after Stage 18:

• GC leader: Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
• Points classification leader: Alejandro Valverde (Movistar)
• Mountains classification leader: Kenny Elissonde (FDJ)
• Combination classification leader: Nairo Quintana (Movistar)
• Team classification leader: BMC

2,980.5 kilometers raced so far at an average speed of 40.006 km/hr

1	QUINTANA Nairo	MOVISTAR	74hr 30min 3sec
2	FROOME Christopher	SKY	@ 3min 37sec
3	CHAVES Johan Esteban	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 03' 57''
4	CONTADOR Alberto	TINKOFF	+ 04' 02''
5	YATES Simon	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 06' 03''
6	TALANSKY Andrew	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	+ 07' 34''
7	SANCHEZ Samuel	BMC	+ 08' 12''
8	FORMOLO Davide	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	+ 08' 13''
9	SCARPONI Michele	ASTANA	+ 08' 28''
10	DE LA CRUZ David	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	+ 08' 52''
11	MORENO Daniel	MOVISTAR	+ 09' 03''
12	BENNETT George	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	+ 11' 02''
13	PARDILLA Sergio	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	+ 11' 13''
14	PÉRAUD Jean-Christophe	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+ 11' 44''
15	HERMANS Ben	BMC	+ 12' 32''
16	VALVERDE Alejandro	MOVISTAR	+ 13' 48''
17	SILIN Egor	KATUSHA	+ 15' 56''
18	MONFORT Maxime	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 20' 11''
19	BAKELANTS Jan	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+ 24' 50''
20	WYSS Marcel	IAM CYCLING	+ 29' 36''
21	ZUBELDIA Haimar	TREK-SEGAFREDO	+ 30' 33''
22	ELISSONDE KENNY	FDJ	+ 34' 05''
23	HARDY Romain	COFIDIS	+ 34' 46''
24	MAMYKIN Matvey	KATUSHA	+ 47' 39''
25	BRAMBILLA Gianluca	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	+ 48' 53''
26	MATE Luis Angel	COFIDIS	+ 50' 03''
27	ZEITS Andrey	ASTANA	+ 51' 17''
28	SANCHEZ Luis-Leon	ASTANA	+ 59' 42''
29	KONIG Leopold	SKY	+ 01h 00' 08''
30	FELLINE Fabio	TREK-SEGAFREDO	+ 01h 06' 23''
31	FERNANDEZ Ruben	MOVISTAR	+ 01h 07' 02''
32	LATOUR Pierre-Roger	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+ 01h 07' 56''
33	MEINTJES Louis	LAMPRE-MERIDA	+ 01h 08' 11''
34	MOLARD Rudy	COFIDIS	+ 01h 08' 24''
35	KUDUS Merhawi	DIMENSION DATA	+ 01h 08' 42''
36	TROFIMOV Yury	TINKOFF	+ 01h 16' 29''
37	ATAPUMA Darwin	BMC	+ 01h 19' 49''
38	CASTROVIEJO Jonathan	MOVISTAR	+ 01h 21' 26''
39	ROJAS José Joaquin	MOVISTAR	+ 01h 22' 27''
40	BOUET Maxime	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	+ 01h 23' 08''
41	KENNAUGH Peter	SKY	+ 01h 24' 14''
42	HOWSON Damien	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 01h 24' 15''
43	DOMONT Axel	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+ 01h 24' 19''
44	FRANK Mathias	IAM CYCLING	+ 01h 29' 35''
45	WYSS Danilo	BMC	+ 01h 30' 23''
46	CHEVRIER Clément	IAM CYCLING	+ 01h 30' 32''
47	ROLLAND Pierre	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	+ 01h 30' 47''
48	WARBASSE Larry	IAM CYCLING	+ 01h 30' 56''
49	HERNANDEZ Jesus Alberto	TINKOFF	+ 01h 31' 42''
50	KOCHETKOV Pavel	KATUSHA	+ 01h 33' 24''
51	GESINK Robert	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	+ 01h 33' 40''
52	CATALDO Dario	ASTANA	+ 01h 36' 10''
53	MENDES José	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 01h 36' 55''
54	SICARD Romain	DIRECT ENERGIE	+ 01h 39' 54''
55	LUDVIGSSON Tobias	GIANT ALPECIN	+ 01h 40' 59''
56	KING Benjamin	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	+ 01h 45' 10''
57	BERNARD Julien	TREK-SEGAFREDO	+ 01h 51' 27''
58	LOSADA Alberto	KATUSHA	+ 01h 59' 21''
59	GRMAY Tsgabu	LAMPRE-MERIDA	+ 02h 00' 19''
60	ZOIDL Riccardo	TREK-SEGAFREDO	+ 02h 02' 09''
61	DE CLERCQ Bart	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 02h 02' 20''
62	VILLELLA Davide	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	+ 02h 03' 37''
63	ROSSETTO Stéphane	COFIDIS	+ 02h 03' 46''
64	STYBAR Zdenek	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	+ 02h 09' 06''
65	KEUKELEIRE Jens	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 02h 11' 03''
66	DURASEK Kristijan	LAMPRE-MERIDA	+ 02h 12' 39''
67	GOGL Michael	TINKOFF	+ 02h 17' 06''
68	DE GENDT Thomas	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 02h 17' 55''
69	FRAILE Omar	DIMENSION DATA	+ 02h 19' 25''
70	LOPEZ GARCIA David	SKY	+ 02h 20' 12''
71	CONTI Valerio	LAMPRE-MERIDA	+ 02h 29' 06''
72	ROSON Jaime	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	+ 02h 35' 00''
73	LAGUTIN Sergey	KATUSHA	+ 02h 36' 41''
74	QUEMENEUR Perrig	DIRECT ENERGIE	+ 02h 37' 57''
75	PFINGSTEN Christoph	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 02h 40' 02''
76	HAGA Chad	GIANT ALPECIN	+ 02h 40' 54''
77	BILBAO Pello	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	+ 02h 41' 21''
78	BOSWELL Ian	SKY	+ 02h 41' 41''
79	SBARAGLI Kristan	DIMENSION DATA	+ 02h 42' 16''
80	EIKING Odd Christian	FDJ	+ 02h 45' 16''
81	DOMBROWSKI Joe	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	+ 02h 45' 32''
82	VERVAEKE Louis	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 02h 45' 42''
83	SMUKULIS Gatis	ASTANA	+ 02h 47' 24''
84	DILLIER Silvan	BMC	+ 02h 47' 41''
85	ERVITI Imanol	MOVISTAR	+ 02h 48' 10''
86	CALMEJANE Lilian	DIRECT ENERGIE	+ 02h 49' 00''
87	LAENGEN Vegard Stake	IAM CYCLING	+ 02h 49' 20''
88	FRÖHLINGER Johannes	GIANT ALPECIN	+ 02h 49' 22''
89	HERRADA Jose	MOVISTAR	+ 02h 49' 27''
90	GERRANS Simon	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 02h 50' 00''
91	JAUREGUI Quentin	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+ 02h 50' 16''
92	BENEDETTI Cesare	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 02h 51' 07''
93	BIDARD François	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+ 02h 52' 02''
94	MACHADO Tiago	KATUSHA	+ 02h 52' 07''
95	VANOTTI Alessandro	ASTANA	+ 02h 52' 10''
96	MOSER Moreno	CANNONDALE-DRAPAC	+ 02h 52' 11''
97	WALLAYS Jelle	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 02h 52' 16''
98	ARMEE Sander	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 02h 53' 33''
99	DE KORT Koen	GIANT ALPECIN	+ 02h 56' 06''
100	ROVNY Ivan	TINKOFF	+ 02h 57' 09''
101	LADAGNOUS Matthieu	FDJ	+ 02h 58' 37''
102	TEUNS Dylan	BMC	+ 03h 00' 36''
103	CATTANEO Mattia	LAMPRE-MERIDA	+ 03h 01' 38''
104	DEVENYNS Dries	IAM CYCLING	+ 03h 02' 43''
105	DIDIER Laurent	TREK-SEGAFREDO	+ 03h 04' 04''
106	TANKINK Bram	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	+ 03h 06' 44''
107	GENIEZ Alexandre	FDJ	+ 03h 06' 56''
108	BENNATI Daniele	TINKOFF	+ 03h 07' 02''
109	ARASHIRO Yukiya	LAMPRE-MERIDA	+ 03h 07' 12''
110	PELLAUD Simon	IAM CYCLING	+ 03h 07' 12''
111	HANSEN Adam	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 03h 10' 08''
112	VAN DER SANDE Tosh	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 03h 10' 13''
113	SERRY Pieter	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	+ 03h 15' 51''
114	MEERSMAN Gianni	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	+ 03h 17' 47''
115	HAIG Jack	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 03h 19' 41''
116	MUHLBERGER Gregor	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 03h 20' 45''
117	PAULINHO Sergio Miguel	TINKOFF	+ 03h 21' 07''
118	THWAITES Scott	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 03h 21' 35''
119	LAMPAERT Yves	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	+ 03h 24' 14''
120	BEPPU Fumiyuki	TREK-SEGAFREDO	+ 03h 26' 16''
121	GOLAS Michal	SKY	+ 03h 26' 30''
122	GRUZDEV Dmitriy	ASTANA	+ 03h 29' 02''
123	ARROYO David	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	+ 03h 29' 16''
124	BOUWMAN Koen	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	+ 03h 31' 36''
125	PUCCIO Salvatore	SKY	+ 03h 34' 17''
126	CARTHY Hugh	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	+ 03h 35' 43''
127	KNEES Christian	SKY	+ 03h 37' 28''
128	DOCKX Gert	LOTTO SOUDAL	+ 03h 39' 58''
129	PRADES Eduard	CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA	+ 03h 41' 53''
130	RESTREPO Jhonatan	KATUSHA	+ 03h 42' 44''
131	COUSIN Jérome	COFIDIS	+ 03h 43' 02''
132	SUTHERLAND Rory	MOVISTAR	+ 03h 44' 38''
133	STAMSNIJDER Tom	GIANT ALPECIN	+ 03h 46' 23''
134	REIJNEN Kiel	TREK-SEGAFREDO	+ 03h 48' 36''
135	SKJOESTAD LUNKE Sindre	GIANT ALPECIN	+ 03h 48' 55''
136	NIELSEN Magnus Cort	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 03h 49' 46''
137	BAGDONAS Gediminas	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+ 03h 54' 16''
138	KEIZER Martijn	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	+ 03h 55' 17''
139	ANDERSON Ryan	DIRECT ENERGIE	+ 03h 55' 18''
140	BEWLEY Sam	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 04h 00' 07''
141	TERPSTRA Niki	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	+ 04h 02' 23''
142	CHETOUT LOÏC	COFIDIS	+ 04h 02' 50''
143	VAN GENECHTEN Jonas	IAM CYCLING	+ 04h 06' 36''
144	DRUCKER Jean-Pierre	BMC	+ 04h 08' 25''
145	BYSTRÖM Sven Erik	KATUSHA	+ 04h 08' 37''
146	VENTER Jacobus	DIMENSION DATA	+ 04h 10' 56''
147	CAMPENAERTS Victor	LOTTO NL-JUMBO	+ 04h 12' 55''
148	NAULEAU Bryan	DIRECT ENERGIE	+ 04h 15' 26''
149	BOARO Manuele	TINKOFF	+ 04h 17' 56''
150	CARDIS Romain	DIRECT ENERGIE	+ 04h 18' 56''
151	MANZIN Lorenzo	FDJ	+ 04h 20' 59''
152	KOSHEVOY Ilia	LAMPRE-MERIDA	+ 04h 22' 23''
153	VELITS Martin	ETIXX-QUICK STEP	+ 04h 22' 52''
154	FARRAR Tyler	DIMENSION DATA	+ 04h 23' 43''
155	SELIG Rüdiger	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 04h 24' 18''
156	MORICE Julien	DIRECT ENERGIE	+ 04h 25' 18''
157	SCHWARZMANN Michael	BORA-ARGON 18	+ 04h 28' 01''
158	DOUGALL Nick	DIMENSION DATA	+ 04h 28' 01''
159	RIBLON Christophe	AG2R LA MONDIALE	+ 04h 28' 05''
160	ARNDT Nikias	GIANT ALPECIN	+ 04h 31' 37''
161	TUFT Svein	ORICA BIKEEXCHANGE	+ 04h 34' 08''

Stage 18 map and profile:

Vuelta stage 18 map. Riders will follow red route

Vuelta stage 18 profile

Stage 18 photos by Fotoreporter Sirotti:

Simon Yates has just signed in

Vuelta race director Javier Guillen

Alberto Contador has lots of fans

As does Nairo Quintana

Laurent Didier gets his bike

Mountains leader Kenny Elissonde

Chris Froome

Robert Gesink

Nairo Quintana heads to the start

Magnus Cort Nielsen (right with green helmet) just wins stage 18

And celebrates his victory

Stage winner Magnus Nielsen

Fumiyuki Beppu was awarded the prize for being the day's most combative racer

And Nairo Quintana is just three stages away from winning the 2016 Vuelta a España

Organizer's stage 18 preview: Flat stage, between the Valencian localities of Requena and Gandia with a rugged first part, with the Puerto de Casa del Alto, that becomes smoother in the final part, and that will be decisive for the race. If the teams control the escape, there will be a sprint to the finish-line, and if there is a long escape, it could end as a battle among the very few that break away in an attempt to cross the finish-line alone.

This will be the second-last opportunity for sprinters. After today, there will only be three days left until the end, two of which will be decisive for the general classification.

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