The decisive stage



122km to go

First mountain sprint of the day goes to Uran.

91km to go

The Colombian also wins the second mountain sprint. No attacks yet.

82km to go

Puncture for Van den Broeck. Rather now than in the final, though.

75km to go

3 mountain sprints in a row for Uran. Van den Broeck has returned to the peleton.

46km to go

It will all come down to the final batle up the Bola del Mundo. Uran wins the fourth mountain sprint.

42km to go

Crash from Van Garderen.

20km to go

The American hasn't rejoined the peleton yet when the first attacks of today take place. Horner, Valverde, Mollema, Nibali, Costa, Froome and Contador!

10km to go

Everything seems back together now except for Horner (at the front) and Van Garderen (at the back).

5000m to go

Situation at the moment: 4 leaders (Horner, Froome, Nibali and Quintana), with Rodriguez trying to join them. Uran (2nd in GC), Betancur (3th in GC) and Evans (4th in GC) have been dropped.

3000m to go

3km to go and we have a big group of 11 riders! Horner attacks, but can't get rid of them.

2000m to go

But Chris Froome can! Quintana is trying to follow!

1000m to go

Nibali and GC-leader Rodriguez are also attacking, but they are too late!

0m to go

It's Chris Froome who takes the victory here at the Bola del Mundo! Quintana takes second and Rodriguez succesfully defends the red jersey by finishing third!



Stage:

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Chris Froome	Sky Procycling	5h07'18
2	Nairo Quintana	Colombia	+ 36
3	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	+ 1'18
4	Vincenzo Nibali	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
5	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	+ 1'26

GC:

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	85h44'32
2	Nairo Quintana	Colombia	+ 2'43
3	Chris Froome	Sky Procycling	+ 3'04
4	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	+ 3'25
5	Jurgen Van den Broeck	Lotto Belisol	+ 4'22

Points:

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	241
2	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	232
3	Ryder Hesjedal	Garmin - Sharp	201

Mountains:

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	167
2	Chris Froome	Sky Procycling	161
3	Vincenzo Nibali	Astana Pro Team	140

The last kilometers of the Vuelta



77km to go

Froome wins the first intermediate sprint, but look at the background next to the Ag2r rider! Quintana has fallen off his bike and has taken Sanchez with him.

36km to go

They both returned to the peleton before reaching Madrid. Froome wins the last intermediate sprint of the Vuelta.

21km to go

The final stage usually means no attacks, but Contador does it.

15km to go

He gets caught 15 kilometers before the finish line, and immediately Horner attacks, followed by almost the entire peleton!

5000m to go

5 kilometers to go and Nibali attacks! He gets a small gap.

1000m to go

The final kilometer of the Vuelta. Nibali is still ahead, but the sprint behind him is on!

500m to go

He is almost caught. Valverde is making his move now.

0m to go

Alejandro Valverde wins the last stage, but the finish line was a bit confusing. It seems like it was drawn 100 meters before the actual line. Evans finishes second and Pinot third.



Stage:

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	2h56'03
2	Cadel Evans	Drapac Cycling	s.t.
3	Rigoberto Urán	Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team	s.t.
4	Thibaut Pinot	FDJ.fr	s.t.
5	Vincenzo Nibali	Astana Pro Team	s.t.

Joaquim Rodriguez wins this year's Vuelta! He has led the classification since stage 3, with the exception of stage 13 (Valverde with bonus seconds) and 15 (Evans in the break). Unfortunately for him, there's no public at the ceremony, which takes place partly underground. Quintana finishing second after a comeback from a bad start. Froome lost time in some stages, and won time back in other stages. He finishes third.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	88h40'35
2	Nairo Quintana	Colombia	+ 2'39
3	Chris Froome	Sky Procycling	+ 2'52
4	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	+ 3'05
5	Jurgen Van den Broeck	Lotto Belisol	+ 4'22
6	Vincenzo Nibali	Astana Pro Team	+ 4'23
7	Bauke Mollema	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	+ 4'24
8	Carlos Betancur	AG2R La Mondiale	+ 5'00
9	Rigoberto Urán	Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team	+ 5'01
10	Chris Horner	RadioShack - Leopard	+ 5'16

It was an exciting battle between Alejandro Valverde and Rodriguez, but it's Valverde who will take home the green jersey.

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	266
2	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	234
3	Chris Froome	Sky Procycling	203
4	Ryder Hesjedal	Garmin - Sharp	203
5	Bauke Mollema	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	190

The only rider to have led the classification was Joaquim Rodriguez, although Froome came close in the end. And we have finally found the public underneath the ground!

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	167
2	Chris Froome	Sky Procycling	161
3	Vincenzo Nibali	Astana Pro Team	140
4	Thibaut Pinot	FDJ.fr	101
5	Rigoberto Urán	Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team	100