Aru takes another top ten finish for UAE Team Emirates

It was another hard-fought day for UAE Team Emirates in Stage 14 of La Vuelta, as Fabio Aru added one more top 10 finish to the team’s tally and in doing so jumped four spots in the GC rankings to 13th position. Aru (photo Bettini) bedded in with his GC rivals early on in the race and stayed with them as the group broke away from the main peloton on the brutal climbs that peppered today’s 171km route from Cistierna to Les Praeres de Nava.

The riders were challenged with a category 3, a category 2 and two category 1 climbs, before they eventually took on a third category one climb to the summit finish on Alto Les Praeres, 750m above sea level.  Aru’s improving form saw him drive his way to the line just 39 seconds behind stage winner Simon Yates (Mitchelton Scott), who completed the race in 4:19:27”.

Commenting on the race, Aru said: “Today I had better feelings, so I’m happy and satisfied and it has been a better day than in the previous stages. Being at the head of the race will give me a boost in confidence for the coming days”.

There will be no respite for UAE Team Emirates in stage 15, as they remain in the mountains to face a 178.2km route that starts in Ribera de Arriba and ends with the mythical climb up Lagos de Covadonga – an 11.7km long ascent that averages 7.2% and summits 1,110m above sea level. Before reaching Lagos de Covadonga, the riders will have to contend with three categorized climbs; the first goes over Alto de Santo Emiliano after just 30kms – after which they will scale Mirador del Fito twice, initially with 78km to go and then again with 40kms left of the race. The excruciating summit finish is set to be a thrilling spectacle and could be the segment of the tour that decides the overall GC standings come Saturday 15th September.

Stage 14 results
1 Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) 4h19’27”
2 Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) +2″
3 Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) s.t.
10 Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates) +39″

General classification after stage 14
1 Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) 59h11’18”
2 Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) +20″
3 Nairo Quintana (Movistar ) 25″
13 Fabio Aru (UAE Team Emirates) +3’26”