Simon Yates solos to victory on Vuelta a España stage six
The Briton attacked with around 4km to go on the short climb before the finish to take victory on the sixth stage of the Vuelta and take his maiden Grand Tour stage victory


Simon Yates (Orica-BikeExchange) took a maiden Grand Tour victory after soloing to the line on stage six of the Vuelta a España.
The 24-year-old made a move from the main peloton with Dani Moreno (Movistar) on the short sharp unclassified climb just 4km from the finish, but managed to go solo with 3.5km remaining as Ben Hermans (BMC) also made it across.
Despite the peloton sitting only 20 seconds or so behind, there didn't look to be a concerted chase taking place amongst the GC teams, and the group behind Yates looked to be struggling at matching the pace the Orica rider was setting out front.
>>> Five talking points from stage six of the Vuelta a España
Best known for his climbing ability, Yates was able to hold off the chasers by 20 seconds and cross the line in Luintra to take a momentous victory, which comes after a difficult year that saw him banned for failing an anti-doping test.
Not only is it Yates's first Grand Tour victory, but his first at WorldTour level having joined Orica in 2014.
The day looked set to favour a breakaway or at least a reduced bunch sprint, with the summit of the route's major climb, the category two Alto Alenza, coming with 47km to go left in the stage and the uphill shortly before the finish.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
But it took over 40km of racing for a large group to get away, and when it did the peloton weren't keen on letting it have much time.
The break of Andrey Zeits (Astana), Kevin Reza (FDJ), Jan Bakelants (AG2R - La Mondiale), Alberto Losada (Katusha), Gert Dockx (Lotto Soudal), Omar Fraile (Dimension Data), Mathias Frank (IAM Cycling), Valerio Conti (Lampre - Merida), José Mendes and Gregor Muhlberger (Bora-Argon18) only got 2-30 max before things began to split up.
Fraile tried his luck with a long range attack, pursued by Bakelants, Frank and Zeits, but struggled to hold on to any advantage after taking the day's KOM points and the Spaniard was caught by the three chasers with Frank then going on the attack himself with 19km to go.
That attack held out until Yates and Moreno made their move, with the Swiss rider just able to hold on and take a top-10 placing as the chasers were swamped by the peloton in final kilometre and Yates crossed the line in victory.
There were no significant changes in the general classification, with Darwin Atapuma (BMC) holding on to his lead, though Yates moved up to tenth overall with his team leader Esteban Chaves still in fifth and fellow Brits Chris Froome and Peter Kennaugh of Team Sky in third and eighth respectively.
Friday's seventh stage sees the riders face a lumpy but flowing 158.5km stage that will likely end in a reduced sprint finish.
Results
Vuelta a España 2016, stage six Monforte de Lemos to Luintra. Ribera Sacra (163.2km)
1. Simon Yates (GBr) Orica - BikeExchange, in 4-05-00
2. Luis Leon Sanchez (Esp) Astana, at 20s
3. Fabio Felline (Ita) Trek - Segafredo, at 22
4. Ben Hermans (Bel) BMC
5. Kenny Elissonde (Fra) FDJ
6. Daniel Moreno (Esp) Movistar
7. Mathias Frank (Sui) IAM Cycling, all same time
8. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 29s
9. Romain Hardy (Fra) Cofidis
10. Simon Clarke (Aus) Cannondale-Drapac, all same time
Overall classification after stage six
1. Darwin Atapuma (Col) BMC, 21-45-21
2. Alejandro Valverde (Esp) Movistar, at 28s
3. Chris Froome (GBr) Team Sky, at 32s
4. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar, at 38s
5. Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-BikeExchange, st
6. Samuel Sanchez (Esp) BMC, at 1-07
7. Leopold Konig (Cze) Team Sky, at 1-12
8. Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky, at 1-14
9. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Etixx-Quick Step, at 1-22
10. Simon Yates (GBr) Orica - BikeExchange, at 1-28
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
Reusser wins Tour de Suisse Women final stage to take overall victory
Swiss rider leads the four day race from start to finish, taking GC and her second stage win with a tactically perfect attack
-
“I feel proud racing guys I used to watch on TV” says French teenage sensation Paul Seixas after climbing to 6th in Critérium du Dauphiné GC
As Romain Bardet prepares to bow out, 18-year-old Paul Seixas looks well prepared to take up his stage racing baton
-
Wout van Aert rode harder than ever on the Finestre to help deliver Simon Yates to Giro d’Italia victory
Belgian put in 'career best performance' according to Visma-Lease a Bike's head of performance
-
Giro d'Italia celebrations, the Tour de France, BBC Sports Personality of the Year? What's next for Simon Yates
'It's his crowning moment, without a doubt' says Nick Hall, former Bury Clarion Cycling Club chair
-
'I’m not an emotional person, but I couldn’t hold back the tears' - Simon Yates writes his redemption arc story to seal Giro d'Italia victory on Colle delle Finestre
British Visma-Lease a Bike rider had the perfect stage on Saturday to jump up general classification and seal overall victory
-
Identical start, diverging destinies? The story of Adam and Simon Yates as they both race for pink at the Giro d'Italia
Adam and Simon Yates head to the Giro d’Italia on different teams and with different prospects. As their career paths diverge, does the brotherly bond endure?
-
Altitude, Colle delle Finestre and an open field: Simon Yates presents his case for Giro d'Italia glory
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider will return to the Colle delle Finestre in this year's Giro, for the first time since he lost pink on its slopes in 2018.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
-
Simon Yates says he took a pay cut in order to join Visma-Lease a Bike
32-year-old says it was now or never as he gets set to leave Jayco AIUla after eleven years
-
Jayco AlUla set out to win 'every single stage and the GC' at the Tour Down Under
With Simon Yates, Caleb Ewan and Luke Plapp all on one team, the team's big goal for their home race might be in reach