Stage six saw four riders abandon the Vuelta a España 2019 – Rigoberto Uran and Hugh Carthy (both EF Education First), Nicholas Roche (Sunweb) plus Victor de la Parte (CCC Team).
All four were all taken down in a crash on stage six, from Mora de Rubielos to Ares del Maestrat.
Roche had held the lead in the race from stage two to the end of stage five, where he slipped to fifth.
Uran had been in sixth position on the GC going into the stage.
The previous day saw an end to the race for Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe), who later posted on Instagram to say his body was not at its best and needed rest.
Steven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo-Visma) left the race on stage four of the Spanish race.
The Dutchman’s efforts at the final Grand Tour of the season were thwarted by a knee injury, sustained in the opening team time trial in Torrevieja.
Kruijswijk and his team mates crashed in the TTT, due to a pool of water creating a slippery surface.
The team had said that Kruijswijk’s condition was improving, but he was later forced to leave the race half way through stage four, from Cullera to El Puig.
The 32-year-old finished in third place at the Tour de France. His Jumbo-Visma team mate, Primož Roglič, was in sixth place on the GC after stage three, 35 seconds down on leader Nicolas Roche (Team Sunweb).
The previous day, stage three from Ibi to Alicante, Groupama-FDJ lost Mickaël Delage – who was forced to retire due to an infection and high temperature.
Stage six abandonments
Nicholas Roche (Sunweb) – DNF – crash
Rigoberto Uran (EF Education First) – DNF – crash
Hugh Carthy (EF Education First) – DNF – crash
Victor de la Parte (CCC Team) – DNF – crash
Stage five abandonments
Gregor Mühlberger (Bora-Hansgrohe) – DNF – injury/exhaustion
Stage four abandonments
Steven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo-Visma) – DNF – injury
Stage three abandonments
Mickaël Delage (Groupama – FDJ) – DNF – illness
Stage two abandonments
No withdrawals
Stage 0ne abandonments
No withdrawals
This page will be updated as the race progresses
