John Degenkolb has taken his fourth stage victory of the 69th Vuelta a Espana with victory on stage seventeen.
After the rest day, the riders, minus Rigoberto Uran (OPQS), Haimar Zubeldia (Trek), Christian Knees (Sky) and Astana’s Tanel Kangert and led by Alberto Contador of Tinkoff Saxo who had a lead of 1.36 over Valverde, took on a 190.7 km stage from Ortigueira to Coruna.
After twenty kilometres, Lluis Mas Bonet (Caja Rural), Elia Favilli (Lampre Merida), Daniel Teklehaimnot (MTN-Qhubeka), Rohan Dennis (BMC) and Bob Jungels (Trek launched an attack which was to see them form the main break of the day.
This group, which saw Dennis unhappy with the lack of work from some of those with him in the break, got 3.50 clear but were 3.30 ahead with 37.3kms to go.
Teklahiaimanot took the sprint with 18.8kms left and was not out front with Teklehaimanot, Jungels, Favilli and Dennis.
With a lead of 54 seconds, Dennis tried to go away with ten kilometres left but Jungels and Favili went with him.
FDJ and Codifis sent riders up the road to try and bring the escapers back as Contador sat close to the front of the peloton.
Team Sky were on the peloton as the three riders were on the sea front approaching a small climb before a 2km downhill dash for the finish line in Coruna.
The peloton were right down the necks of Dennis and Favili who were caught and the sprint was on with Ferrari and Degenkolb battling. The German held off Michael Matthews in a hum-dinger of a sprint and won in 4.26.07 for his fourth stage in this race.
Cancellera was third ahead fo Stuyen and Ferrari. Chris Froome was 26th.
Alberto Contador keeps his leaders jersey for another day.
Source: DSG
