The Vuelta a Espana’s 16th stage ended in a bunch sprint in Peñíscola today after the sprinters’ teams controlled an early group of six. Jean-Pierre Drucker (BMC) won the kick and Nairo Quintana remained the overall leader going into the second rest day tomorrow. 

The six went free soon after the start of the 156-kilometre stage from Alcañiz. "It was a typical sprinter stage with a breakaway and the peloton in control,” said Sports Director Addy Engels.

"It was another hot day and the group averaged 46 kilometres an hour. They raced today! Still, compared to what we had over the weekend, it was a reasonable day.”

“In a stage like today, without a sprinter you don’t have chance. Jos van Emden tried, but could not make any ground. Therefore, we rode to the finish and looked ahead of the coming stages."

Rest day

The race will stop for its second of two rest days tomorrow and re-start on Wednesday for its final five stages.

"The riders will ride a few hours easily,” Engels added. “We are coming off a good weekend with Robert’s stage win. That makes up for the loss of Kruijswijk and Battaglin. After this weekend with the stage win, the atmosphere in the team clearly changed. We are motivated for the final few days. There are definitely opportunities for us."