Hugh Carthy becomes first British rider to win Vuelta a Asturias

Caja Rural successfully defend Hugh Carthy's lead in Vuelta a Asturias, as he places third on final stage to secure overall victory

Hugh Carthy wins the 2016 Vuelta Asturias opener
(Image credit: Watson)

Hugh Carthy (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) placed third in the final stage of the Vuelta a Asturias in Spain on Monday to become the first British rider to win the race.

Carthy won the opening stage on Saturday, and defended the lead throughout the UCI 2.1-ranked event.

The 21-year-old from Lancashire placed third on Monday's stage to Uría behind Daniel Moreno (Movistar) and Caja Rural team-mate Sergio Pardilla.

Hugh Carthy wins stage one of the 2016 Vuelta Asturias

Hugh Carthy wins stage one of the 2016 Vuelta Asturias
(Image credit: Watson)

Carthy topped the final general classification ahead of Pardilla, with Garikoitz Bravo (Euskadi) in third spot.

>>> Promising Brit Hugh Carthy aiming for Vuelta a España start in 2016

It's Carthy's biggest win to date, and has now established him as a serious climbing talent. Earlier this season, Carthy put in a solid performance in the Volta a Catalunya to finish ninth overall and take the best young rider classification.

Watch: Secrets of the Toolbox - JLT-Condor

Prior to his Vuelta a Asturias win, Carthy had won the Tour de Korea in 2014 while riding for British squad Rapha Condor JLT. He was signed by Spanish Professional Continental outfit Caja Rural for the 2015 season, and now seems to have hit his stride.

Carthy is hoping to ride in the 2016 Vuelta a España, where Caja Rural should secure a wildcard place.

On Sunday, Caja Rural also found success with the team's Jose Goncalves winning the 2016 Tour of Turkey.

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Nigel Wynn
Former Associate Editor

Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.