| 2014 UCI World Tour, race 22 of 29 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Race details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dates | 23 August – 14 September | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 3,181.5 km (1,977 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 81h 25' 05" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2014Vuelta a España took place between 23 August and 14 September 2014 and was the 69th edition of the race.[1] It featured eight mountain stages, five hill stages, five flat stages, and three time trials (one team and two individual), two of which appeared at the beginning and end of the race.Jerez de la Frontera, on the Spanish south coast, hosted the opening stage. The Vuelta then went counterclockwise, through the south-east and east of the country before crossing the north and finishing inSantiago de Compostela. This was the first time in 21 years that the race has finished outsideMadrid.
The race was won for the third time by Spanish rider,Alberto Contador, ofTinkoff–Saxo.[2]Contador went into the race uncertain of his form after crashing out of theTour on the 10th stage, breaking his tibia. However, Contador found his form in the race earlier than expected, taking the red jersey on the 10th stageindividual time trial and taking two key mountain stage wins on his way to victory. He won the race by 1' 10" over runner-up,Chris Froome ofTeam Sky. Like Contador, Froome also went into the race uncertain of his form after he crashed three times in two days during the Tour, leading to his withdrawal. However, Froome came to life during the third week, finishing second in three key mountain stages and taking time to move into second place overall. Spanish riderAlejandro Valverde of theMovistar Team completed the podium, finishing 40 seconds behind Froome and 1 minute and 50 seconds behind Contador. Valverde also took the sixth stage of the race going toLa Zubia, the race's first mountain stage.[3]
In the race's other classifications,John Degenkolb ofGiant–Shimano won the green jersey for thepoints classification. Degenkolb took four stage wins, the most by any rider in the race. The blue polka-dot jersey for themountains classification was taken by SpaniardLuis León Sánchez ofCaja Rural–Seguros RGA. Aside from taking the red jersey, Contador also won the white jersey for thecombination classification. He took the first place in the general classification, third place in the points classification and second place in the mountains classification.Team Katusha took theteam classification for accumulating the lowest time from their three best cyclists.
The 18UCI World Tour teams were automatically entitled to start the race; four wildcard teams were also invited.
†: InvitedUCI Pro Continental teams
Before the start of the race, defending champion,Chris Horner,2014 Giro d'Italia championNairo Quintana,Joaquim Rodríguez andAlejandro Valverde were among the favourites for overall victory. After abandoning theTour de France,Chris Froome[4] andAlberto Contador[5] announced they would compete in the Vuelta.[6] Other possible contenders could emerge fromWilco Kelderman,Carlos Betancur,Fabio Aru,Thibaut Pinot,Ryder Hesjedal,Rigoberto Urán,Andrew Talansky andDan Martin.
The day before the Vuelta began, Chris Horner was withdrawn from the race due to low levels ofcortisol. This is because Lampre Merida (UAE Team Emirates XRG) are part of theMouvement pour un cyclisme crédible (MPCC) which forbids cyclists from racing when cortisol concentrations drop below a specified threshold.[7] On stage 11, Nairo Quintana withdrew from the race after crashing twice in two days.[8]
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type[10] | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 August | Jerez de la Frontera | 12.6 km (7.8 mi) |  | Team time trial |  Movistar Team |
| 2 | 24 August | Algeciras toSan Fernando | 174.4 km (108.4 mi) |  | Flat stage |  Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) |
| 3 | 25 August | Cádiz toArcos de la Frontera | 197.8 km (122.9 mi) |  | Hilly stage |  Michael Matthews (AUS) |
| 4 | 26 August | Mairena del Alcor toCórdoba | 164.7 km (102.3 mi) |  | Medium-mountain stage |  John Degenkolb (GER) |
| 5 | 27 August | Priego de Córdoba toRonda | 180 km (110 mi) | | Flat stage | John Degenkolb (GER) |
| 6 | 28 August | Benalmádena toCumbres Verdes, La Zubia | 167.1 km (103.8 mi) |  | Mountain stage | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
| 7 | 29 August | Alhendín toAlcaudete | 169 km (105 mi) | | Hilly stage |  Alessandro De Marchi (ITA) |
| 8 | 30 August | Baeza toAlbacete | 207 km (129 mi) | | Flat stage | Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) |
| 9 | 31 August | Carboneras de Guadazaón toAramón Valdelinares | 185 km (115 mi) | | Mountain stage |  Winner Anacona (COL) |
| 1 September | Rest day | |||||
| 10 | 2 September | Monasterio de Santa María de Veruela toBorja | 36.7 km (22.8 mi) | | Individual time trial | Tony Martin (GER) |
| 11 | 3 September | Pamplona toSantuario de San Miguel de Aralar | 153.4 km (95.3 mi) | | Mountain stage | Fabio Aru (ITA) |
| 12 | 4 September | Logroño toLogroño | 166.4 km (103.4 mi) | | Flat stage | John Degenkolb (GER) |
| 13 | 5 September | Belorado toObregón, Parque de Cabárceno | 188.7 km (117.3 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | Daniel Navarro (ESP) |
| 14 | 6 September | Santander toLa Camperona,Valle de Sábero | 200.8 km (124.8 mi) | | Mountain stage |  Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) |
| 15 | 7 September | Oviedo toLagos de Covadonga | 152.2 km (94.6 mi) | | Mountain stage |  Przemysław Niemiec (POL) |
| 16 | 8 September | San Martín del Rey Aurelio toLa Farrapona, Lagos de Somiedo | 160.5 km (99.7 mi) | | Mountain stage | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
| 9 September | Rest day | |||||
| 17 | 10 September | Ortigueira toA Coruña | 190.7 km (118.5 mi) | | Flat stage | John Degenkolb (GER) |
| 18 | 11 September | A Estrada toMont Castrove, Meis | 157 km (98 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | Fabio Aru (ITA) |
| 19 | 12 September | Salvaterra de Miño toCangas do Morrazo | 180.5 km (112.2 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | Adam Hansen (AUS) |
| 20 | 13 September | Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil toPuerto de Ancares | 185.7 km (115.4 mi) | | Mountain stage | Alberto Contador (ESP) |
| 21 | 14 September | Santiago de Compostela | 9.7 km (6.0 mi) | | Individual time trial | Adriano Malori (ITA) |
| Total | 3,181.5 km (1,976.9 mi) | |||||
There were four main classifications contested in the 2014 Vuelta a España, with the most important being thegeneral classification. The general classification was calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage. The cyclist with the least accumulated time was the race leader, identified by the red jersey; the winner of this classification was considered the winner of the Vuelta. In 2014, there were time bonuses given on mass-start stages; ten seconds were awarded to the stage winner, with six for second and four for third.
Additionally, there was apoints classification, which awards a green jersey. In the points classification, cyclists get points for finishing among the best in a stage finish, or in intermediate sprints. The cyclist with the most points led the classification, and is identified with a green jersey. There was also amountains classification. The organisation categorised some climbs as either Categoria Especial, first, second or third category; points for this classification were won by the first cyclists that reach the top of these climbs, with more points available for the higher-categorised climbs. The cyclist with the most points led the classification, and was identified with a blue polka dot jersey.
The fourth individual classification was thecombination classification, marked by the white jersey. This classification is calculated by adding the numeral ranks of each cyclist in the general, points and mountains classifications – a rider must have a score in all classifications possible to qualify for the combination classification – with the lowest cumulative total signifying the winner of this competition.
For theteam classification, the times of the best three cyclists per team on each stage were added; the leading team is the team with the lowest total time. For thecombativity award, a jury gives points after each stage to the cyclists they considered most combative. The cyclist with the most votes in all stages leads the classification. For the daily combative winner, the rider in question donned a dossard with a red background, on the following stage.
| Legend | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Denotes the leader of theGeneral classification |  | Denotes the leader of theMountains classification |
 | Denotes the leader of thePoints classification |  | Denotes the leader of theCombination rider classification |
| Rider | Team | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alberto Contador (ESP)  | Tinkoff–Saxo | 81h 25' 05" |
| 2 |  Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | + 1' 10" |
| 3 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 1' 50" |
| 4 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | + 3' 25" |
| 5 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | + 4' 48" |
| 6 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | BMC Racing Team | + 9' 30" |
| 7 |  Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Sharp | + 10' 38" |
| 8 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Giant–Shimano | + 11' 50" |
| 9 | Damiano Caruso (ITA) | Cannondale | + 12' 50" |
| 10 | Daniel Navarro (ESP) | Cofidis | + 13' 02" |
| Rider | Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | John Degenkolb (GER) | Giant–Shimano | 169 |
| 2 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 146 |
| 3 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff–Saxo | 145 |
| 4 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | 139 |
| 5 | Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) | Team Katusha | 117 |
| 6 | Michael Matthews (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | 105 |
| 7 | Fabio Aru (ITA) | Astana | 103 |
| 8 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Garmin–Sharp | 85 |
| 9 |  Jasper Stuyven (BEL) | Trek Factory Racing | 71 |
| 10 | Damiano Caruso (ITA) | Cannondale | 61 |
| Pos. | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Team Katusha | 244h 19' 36" |
| 2 | Movistar Team | + 38' 54" |
| 3 | Tinkoff–Saxo | + 40' 16" |
| 4 | Cofidis | + 52' 33" |
| 5 | Team Sky | + 1h 06' 31" |
| 6 |  Astana | + 1h 08' 09" |
| 7 |  Garmin–Sharp | + 1h 17' 06" |
| 8 | BMC Racing Team | + 1h 17' 32" |
| 9 |  Belkin Pro Cycling | + 2h 13' 06" |
| 10 | Lotto–Belisol | + 2h 54' 48" |
| By year men |
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| By year women | |||||||||||||
| Classifications ("jerseys") |
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