Quando al termine della Vuelta mancano solamente la tappa di domani e la passerella di Madrid, Simon Yates ha messo una seria ipoteca sulla conquista definitiva della maglia rossa. La frazione di oggi prevedeva un'impegnativa ascesa finale, quella al Coll de la Rabassa, di poco più di 17 km. A circa 10 km dal traguardo il 26enne britannico è scattato sui pedali, al pari di Thibaut Pinot e di Steven Kruijswijk. Sulle rampe finali è stato il francese ad avere la meglio, conquistando così la 19a tappa davanti a Yates e all'olandese della LottoNL-Jumbo. Per il corridore transalpino della Groupama-FDJ è la seconda vittoria di tappa dopo il trionfo ai Lagos de Covadonga (15a frazione).
Grazie al secondo posto colto oggi, il britannico ha un vantaggio di 1'38'' su Alejandro Valverde, 1'58'' su Steven Kruijswijk e 2'15'' su Enric Mas. Si tratta di un margine rassicurante in vista dell'ultima vera tappa della Vuelta di domani, in attesa poi della frazione cerimoniale di domenica, quando i corridori giungeranno nella capitale spagnola.
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