Vuelta a San Juan (st. 2)

Colombian leader from Movistar Team attacks into steep, final climb to Peri Lago, leads strong overall presence from Blues with five out of six into GC group; Barbero, Carapaz, take 6th, 7th.

Nairo Quintana (Movistar Team) was eager to leave his mark into the earliest significant climbs of the 2019 Vuelta a San Juan, and contested the day’s win at the Punta Negra dam near the end of stage two. The day’s racing, shortened by nearly thirty kilometers due to extreme heat in the Argentinian summer, became more aggressive in the end, with the ‘Cóndor’ playing a main role.

Well supported through the entire stage by Jorge Arcas, Eduardo Sepúlveda and a strong Winner Anacona, who led him out into the slopes of the fourth, final climb to the Peri Lago, Nairo tried to follow a huge acceleration from Julian Alaphilippe (DQT), eventually the day’s winner. The Frenchman’s move, though, was unattainable for either Quintana or Tiesj Benoot (LTS), who shortly joined the Boyacá native in his attempt. Both were caught by a bunch of about 35 riders, which was still able to reduce Alaphilippe’s gap to zero over the finish.

Up to five of the six Movistar Team riders were able to make the GC group, with Carlos Barbero (6th) and Richard Carapaz (7th) in a double top-ten result for the José Luis Jaimerena-led squad. Up next will be a crucial ITT on Tuesday, 12km in and around Pocito which are set to create some important gaps for the end result.

** TT start times – 2019 Vuelta a San Juan (local, CET = +4h): Arcas 17.35, Sepúlveda 18.34, Barbero 18.48, Quintana 18.49, Anacona 18.55, Carapaz 18.56.