
In an exhilarating Stage 19 of the Vuelta a España, the day’s narrative was dominated by a fiercely contested sprint finish with a game-changing crash.
The closing kilometers saw teams strategically positioning their sprinters for the anticipated bunch sprint finish in hopes of claiming the stage victory.
This nail-biting scenario was further intensified by a crash just outside the flamme rouge, where Australian Kaden Groves – riding in the green jersey – was among the unfortunate fallers.
This setback saw Groves’ hopes of stage victory dashed, allowing other contenders to battle it out for the top spot, with Alberto Dainese (dsm-firmenich) taking home the win.
The battle for the General Classification was unchanged, with Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) remaining in the red jersey.
Early Breakaway Attempts
From early on, a breakaway group formed which kept the peloton on its toes.
This group consisted of Mathis Le Berre (Arkéa Samsic), Paul Lapeira (AG2R-Citroen), Michal Schlegel (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), and Clément Davy (Groupama-FDJ).
Throughout the stage, the lead these four managed over the peloton fluctuated, but the gap was never wide enough to allow them any sense of security. With 50 km to go, their lead was dwindling, with only 41 seconds separating them from the pursuing pack.
This diminishing lead and the peloton’s relentless pursuit set the tone for the latter part of the stage, leaving spectators in suspense.
“I’m super happy to finish a hard Vuelta in this way”
Alberto Dainese of DSM emerged as the victor of Stage 19, marking his third win in a Grand Tour. His triumph was not without its challenges.
In the final moments leading to the finish line, Filippo Ganna made an audacious attempt, but Dainese strategically waited for the perfect moment, factoring in the headwind, to make his winning move.
This stage win was particularly special for Dainese as it marked a memorable conclusion to his time with DSM before his move to Tudor Pro Cycling in 2024.
As the Vuelta nears its end, the red jersey race intensifies. With Sepp Kuss inching ever closer to securing a Vuelta GC win, we are bound to witness more thrilling and unexpected turns in tomorrow’s stage.
Vuelta A España 2023: Stage 19 Results
- DAINESE Alberto (Team dsm – firmenich): 3:42:09
- GANNA Filippo (INEOS Grenadiers): Same time
- VAN DEN BERG Marijn (EF Education-EasyPost):
- CIMOLAI Davide (Cofidis):
- GARCÍA CORTINA Iván (Movistar Team):
- BALLERSTEDT Maurice (Alpecin-Deceuninck):
- ASKEY Lewis (Groupama – FDJ):
- HOFSTETTER Hugo (Team Arkéa Samsic):
- BARCELÓ Fernando (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA):
- KOCH Jonas (BORA – hansgrohe):
Vuelta A España 2023: General Classification Standings After Stage 19
- KUSS Sepp (Jumbo-Visma): 69:14:04
- VINGEGAARD Jonas (Jumbo-Visma): + 0:17
- ROGLIČ Primož (Jumbo-Visma): + 1:08
- AYUSO Juan (UAE Team Emirates): + 4:00
- LANDA Mikel (Bahrain – Victorious): + 4:19
- MAS Enric (Movistar Team): + 4:30
- UIJTDEBROEKS Cian (BORA – hansgrohe): + 7:37
- VLASOV Aleksandr (BORA – hansgrohe): + 8:35
- ALMEIDA João (UAE Team Emirates): + 10:20
- BUITRAGO Santiago (Bahrain – Victorious): + 12:20
Vuelta A España Jerseys After Stage 19
Red Jersey
KUSS Sepp (Jumbo-Visma)
Green Jersey
GROVES Kaden (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK)
Polka-Dot Jersey
EVENEPOEL Remco (Soudal – QuickStep)
White Jersey
AYUSO Juan (UAE Team Emirates)
Stage 19 Combativity Award Winner
SCHLEGEL Michal (Caja Rural – Seguros RGA)