Gougeard, AG2R-La Mondiale, debuts with victory in his first Vuelta

USPA NEWS - His 22 years have not prevented him from becoming one of the most active and feisty throughout the three-week Vuelta of Spain cycling. Alexis Gougeard (Ag2r-La Mondiale) noted in Avila his first big success in a career that promises stellar.

The French defeated in stage 19 of the Vuelta a large flight of more than 20 units on the ramps of the Paramera, an outstretched rise that most runners choked in this final stretch of the race. Gougeard thus left his mark on his debut in a Grand Tour by stages. This time it was allowed early that day did the escapees difference, particularly in the 6 kilometer stage. 24 runners put through land shortly after taking the actual output in Medina del Campo: Christian Knees (Sky), Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Amael Moinard (BMC), David Arroyo and Ricardo Vilela (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA).

Also Cyril Lemoine (Cofidis), Fabio Duarte, Leonardo Duque and Juan Pablo Valencia (Team Colombia), Maxime Bouet (Etixx-Quick Step), Mickael Delage (FDJ), Jerome Coppel (IAM Cycling), Nelson Oliveira (Lampre-Merida also fled ), Maxime Monfort and Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto-Soudal), Andrei Amador and Fran Ventoso (Movistar), Natnael Berhane (MTN-QHUBEKA), Ben King (Cannondale-Garmin), Jimmy Engoulvent (Europcar), Tiago Machado and Eduard Vorganov (Katusha), Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Markel Irizar (Trek). None disturbed the team leader, as the first overall was David Arroyo, more than half an hour Tom Dumoulin.

A fall at kilometer 70 broke the calm of a platoon, then already lost more than 13 minutes with the escapees. Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) and Fabio Aru (Astana) they were involved in the accident. The Italian needed the assistance of medical career in a couple of occasions, although initially without consequences. The group took a break to enable all those affected by the coup safely return the package. This slowdown increased the gap to the escapees, who finished in 16 minutes.

Among the favorites, Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin) showed his excellent form attacking ramps paved entrance to Avila. They were only 3 seconds more about Fabio Aru (Astana) but assume another moral blow for the Dutch before the decisive stage on Saturday in the Sierra de Madrid, the day to decide the outcome of the Vuelta of Spain. The Spanish race will finish Sunday in Madrid.