Vuelta (Tour of Spain) 2012 - Stage 16 "Queen Stage" : Gijón - Valgrande-Pajares
Monday, September 3, 2012 - Stage 16 : QUEEN STAGE
Gijón> Valgrande-Pajares. Cuitu Negru 185 km/114.9 miles - Mountain stage
General classification after stage 16 :
1. Joaquim Rodriguez (Es) 63h38'24"
2. Alberto Contador (Es) 28"
3. Alejandro Valverde (Es) 2'04"
4. Christopher Froome (UK) 4'52"
5. Daniel Moreno (Es) 6'58"
6. Robert Gesink (Nl) 7'28"
7. Andrew Talansky (USA) 8'28"
8. Laurens ten Dam (Nl) 9'00"
9. Igor Anton (Es) 9'11"
10. Nicolas Roche (Irl) 11'44"
03/09 - Stage16 :
Dario Cataldo (It) arrived as first at the summit of the Cuitu Negru during the queen stage of this Vuelta, with 7 seconds ahead on Thomas De Gendt (Be).
Results stage 16 :
1. Dario Cataldo (It) 185 km 5h18'28"
2. Thomas De Gendt (Be) 7"
3. Joaquim Rodriguez (Es) 2'39"
4. Alberto Contador (Es) 2'41"
5. Alejandro Valverde (Es) 2'58"
Asturias, the majestic province in the north of Spain,is well known in the Vuelta for his famous climbs such as the Angliru. In 2012 however, this climb is not included in the program.
This year, Asturias offers during the queen stage a summit finish on the Cuitu Negru, also called the Asturian Bola del Mundo. This queen stage, which also includes the climbs of San Lorenzo and Cobertoria, will thus end on a spectacular high note.
The inclusion of Cuitu Negru in the route depended upon whether it would be possible to undertake the revamping of the road surface in time, because it used to be a dirt and tarmac path.
The queen stage is situated at a key moment of the Vuelta, since there will also be summit finishes on the two previous days: Ancares (Saturday, September 1) and Lagos de Covadonga (Sunday, September 2). The following day will be a rest day.
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Location: Gijón, Spain (Explore routes near Gijón, Spain.)