# 2016 Vuelta a España

The 2016 Vuelta a España was a three-week Grand Tour cycling stage race that took place in Spain between 20 August and 11 September 2016. The race was the 71st edition of the Vuelta a España and the final Grand Tour of the 2016 cycling season.
The race included 21 stages, beginning with a team time trial that started in Ourense. The subsequent stages included 10 summit finishes. The race ended in Madrid.
The overall winner was Nairo Quintana of team Movistar, with Chris Froome (Team Sky) second and Esteban Chaves (Orica–BikeExchange) third.

## Teams

The eighteen UCI WorldTeams were automatically invited and obliged to attend the race. The organiser of the Vuelta, Unipublic, was also able to invite four UCI Professional Continental teams – the second tier of professional cycling teams – as wildcards.
The teams entering the race were:
World Tour teams
* AG2R La Mondiale
* Astana
* BMC Racing Team
* Team Dimension Data
* Etixx–Quick-Step
* FDJ
* Team Giant–Alpecin
* IAM Cycling
* Team Katusha
* Lampre–Merida
* LottoNL–Jumbo
* Lotto–Soudal
* Movistar Team
* Team Sky
* Tinkoff
* Trek–Segafredo
* Cannondale–Drapac
* Orica–BikeExchange
Professional Continental teams
* Bora–Argon 18
* Caja Rural–Seguros RGA
* Cofidis
* Direct Énergie

## Route

The route of the 2016 Vuelta was announced on 9 January 2016. In contrast to the two previous editions of the Vuelta, which had begun in Andalusia, this edition spent its first week in Galicia in the north-west of Spain. The first stage was a team time trial to Castrelo de Miño. The first significant climb of the race was at the end of the third stage, which was the first of ten summit finishes in the race. The route travelled through Asturias before coming to the Basque Country; the fourteenth stage, described by Cyclingnews.com as the hardest of the race, took place mainly just across the border in France. The route continued down the eastern coast of Spain over the next few days, with several mountainous stages, with the race's only individual time trial coming on stage 19. One more mountainous stage followed, finishing on the Alto de Aitana, before the riders travelled to Madrid for the closing stage on a circuit in the city centre.
List of stages :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 20 August | Laias – Parque Náutico Castrelo de Miño | 27.8 km (17 mi) | | Team time trial | Team Sky |
| 2 | 21 August | Ourense – Baiona | 160.8 km (100 mi) | | Flat stage | Gianni Meersman (BEL) |
| 3 | 22 August | Marín – Mirador de Ézaro (Dumbría) | 176.4 km (110 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | Alexandre Geniez (FRA) |
| 4 | 23 August | Betanzos – San Andrés de Teixido | 163.5 km (102 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | Lilian Calmejane (FRA) |
| 5 | 24 August | Viveiro – Lugo | 171.3 km (106 mi) | | Flat stage | Gianni Meersman (BEL) |
| 6 | 25 August | Monforte de Lemos – Ribeira Sacra, Luintra | 163.2 km (101 mi) | | Hilly stage | Simon Yates (GBR) |
| 7 | 26 August | Maceda – Puebla de Sanabria | 158.5 km (98 mi) | | Hilly stage | Jonas van Genechten (BEL) |
| 8 | 27 August | Villalpando – La Camperona, Valle de Sabero | 181.5 km (113 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | Sergey Lagutin (RUS) |
| 9 | 28 August | Cistierna – Alto del Naranco, Oviedo | 164.5 km (102 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | David de la Cruz (ESP) |
| 10 | 29 August | Lugones – Lagos de Covadonga | 188.7 km (117 mi) | | Mountain stage | Nairo Quintana (COL) |
| | 30 August | Oviedo | Oviedo | Oviedo | Rest day | Rest day |
| 11 | 31 August | Jurassic Museum of Asturias, Colunga – Peña Cabarga | 168.6 km (105 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | Chris Froome (GBR) |
| 12 | 1 September | Los Corrales de Buelna – Bilbao | 193.2 km (120 mi) | | Hilly stage | Jens Keukeleire (BEL) |
| 13 | 2 September | Bilbao – Urdax-Dantxarinea | 213.4 km (133 mi) | | Hilly stage | Valerio Conti (ITA) |
| 14 | 3 September | Urdax-Dantxarinea – Col d'Aubisque (Gourette) | 196 km (122 mi) | | Mountain stage | Robert Gesink (NED) |
| 15 | 4 September | Sabiñánigo – Aramon Formigal, Sallent de Gállego | 118.5 km (74 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) |
| 16 | 5 September | Alcañiz – Peñíscola | 156.4 km (97 mi) | | Flat stage | Jempy Drucker (LUX) |
| | 6 September | Castellón de la Plana | Castellón de la Plana | Castellón de la Plana | Rest day | Rest day |
| 17 | 7 September | Castellón de la Plana – Camins del Penyagolosa, Llucena | 177.5 km (110 mi) | | Medium-mountain stage | Mathias Frank (SUI) |
| 18 | 8 September | Requena – Gandia | 200.6 km (125 mi) | | Flat stage | Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN) |
| 19 | 9 September | Xàbia – Calp | 37 km (23 mi) | | Individual time trial | Chris Froome (GBR) |
| 20 | 10 September | Benidorm – Alto de Aitana | 193.2 km (120 mi) | | Mountain stage | Pierre Latour (FRA) |
| 21 | 11 September | Las Rozas – Madrid | 104.8 km (65 mi) | | Flat stage | Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN) |
| | Total | Total | 3,315.4 km (2,060 mi) | 3,315.4 km (2,060 mi) | 3,315.4 km (2,060 mi) | 3,315.4 km (2,060 mi) | 3,315.4 km (2,060 mi) |

## Classification leadership

The race included four principal classifications. The first of these was the general classification, which was calculated by adding up each rider's times on each stage and applying the relevant time bonuses. These were 10 seconds for the stage winner, 6 seconds for the rider in second, and 4 seconds for the rider in third, and 3, 2 and 1 seconds for the first three riders at each intermediate sprint; no bonuses were awarded on the time trial stages. The rider with the lowest cumulative time was the winner of the general classification and was considered the overall winner of the Vuelta. The rider leading the classification wore a red jersey.
Sprint points :
| Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th |
| Finish sprint | 25 | 20 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Intermediate sprint | 4 | 2 | 1 |
The second classification was the points classification. Riders were awarded points for finishing in the top fifteen places on each stage and in the top three at each intermediate sprint. The first rider at each stage finish was awarded 25 points, the second 20 points, the third 16 points, the fourth 14 points, the fifth 12 points, the sixth 10 points, down to 1 point for the rider in fifteenth. At the intermediate sprints, the first three riders won 4, 2 and 1 points respectively. The rider with the most points won the classification and wore a green jersey.
Mountain points :
| Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| Cima Alberto Fernández | 20 | 15 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Special category | 15 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| First category | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Second category | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Third category | 3 | 2 | 1 |
The third classification was the mountains classification. Most stages of the race included one or more categorised climbs. Stages were categorised as third-, second-, first- and special-category, with the more difficult climbs rated higher. The most difficult climb of the race was given its own category as the Cima Alberto Fernández. Points were awarded for the first riders across the summit of each climb; the rider with the most accumulated points won the classification and wore a white jersey with blue polka dots.
The fourth individual classification was the combination classification. This was calculated by adding up each rider's position on the other three individual classifications. The rider with the lowest cumulative score was the winner of the classification and wore a white jersey.
The final classification was a team classification. This was calculated by adding together the times of each team's best three riders on each stage. The team with the lowest cumulative time was the winner of the classification. There was also a combativeness prize awarded on each stage; three riders were chosen on each stage by a race jury to recognise the rider "who displayed the most courageous effort". There was then a public vote to decide which rider would be awarded the prize; the rider wore a red dossard (race number) the following day. An identical procedure took place on the final stage to decide the most combative rider of the whole Vuelta.
Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Combination classification | Team classification | Combativity award |
| 1 | Team Sky | Peter Kennaugh | not awarded | not awarded | not awarded | Team Sky | not awarded |
| 2 | Gianni Meersman | Michał Kwiatkowski | Gianni Meersman | Laurent Pichon | Laurent Pichon | Team Sky | not awarded |
| 3 | Alexandre Geniez | Rubén Fernández | Alexandre Geniez | Alexandre Geniez | Rubén Fernández | Movistar Team | Simon Pellaud |
| 4 | Lilian Calmejane | Darwin Atapuma | Alexandre Geniez | Alexandre Geniez | Darwin Atapuma | Movistar Team | Thomas De Gendt |
| 5 | Gianni Meersman | Darwin Atapuma | Gianni Meersman | Alexandre Geniez | Darwin Atapuma | Movistar Team | Tiago Machado |
| 6 | Simon Yates | Darwin Atapuma | Gianni Meersman | Alexandre Geniez | Darwin Atapuma | Movistar Team | Omar Fraile |
| 7 | Jonas van Genechten | Darwin Atapuma | Gianni Meersman | Alexandre Geniez | Darwin Atapuma | Movistar Team | Luis Ángel Maté |
| 8 | Sergey Lagutin | Nairo Quintana | Gianni Meersman | Sergey Lagutin | Alejandro Valverde | Etixx–Quick-Step | Jhonatan Restrepo |
| 9 | David de la Cruz | David de la Cruz | Gianni Meersman | Thomas De Gendt | David de la Cruz | Etixx–Quick-Step | Luis León Sánchez |
| 10 | Nairo Quintana | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Omar Fraile | Nairo Quintana | Movistar Team | Luis Ángel Maté |
| 11 | Chris Froome | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Nairo Quintana | Nairo Quintana | Movistar Team | Tiago Machado |
| 12 | Jens Keukeleire | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Nairo Quintana | Nairo Quintana | Movistar Team | David López |
| 13 | Valerio Conti | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Sergey Lagutin | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | Gatis Smukulis |
| 14 | Robert Gesink | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Kenny Elissonde | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | Simon Gerrans |
| 15 | Gianluca Brambilla | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Kenny Elissonde | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | Alberto Contador |
| 16 | Jempy Drucker | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Kenny Elissonde | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | Luis Ángel Maté |
| 17 | Mathias Frank | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Kenny Elissonde | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | Jaime Rosón |
| 18 | Magnus Cort | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Kenny Elissonde | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | Fumiyuki Beppu |
| 19 | Chris Froome | Nairo Quintana | Alejandro Valverde | Kenny Elissonde | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | Chris Froome |
| 20 | Pierre Latour | Nairo Quintana | Fabio Felline | Omar Fraile | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | Luis León Sánchez |
| 21 | Magnus Cort | Nairo Quintana | Fabio Felline | Omar Fraile | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | not awarded |
| Final | Final | Nairo Quintana | Fabio Felline | Omar Fraile | Nairo Quintana | BMC Racing Team | Alberto Contador |
* In stage three, Bryan Nauleau, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Laurent Pichon wore the polka-dot jersey as leader of the mountains classification.
* In stage four, Simon Pellaud, who was second in the mountains classification, wore the polka-dot jersey, because first-placed Alexandre Geniez wore the green jersey as leader of the points classification. Alejandro Valverde, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Rubén Fernández wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
* In stage five, Thomas De Gendt, who was second in the mountains classification, wore the polka-dot jersey, because first-placed Alexandre Geniez wore the green jersey as leader of the points classification. Lilian Calmejane, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Darwin Atapuma wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
* In stages 6–8, Alejandro Valverde, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Darwin Atapuma wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
* In stage ten, Alejandro Valverde, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed David de la Cruz wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
* In stages 11–21, Chris Froome, who was second in the combination classification, wore the white jersey, because first-placed Nairo Quintana wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.
* In stages twelve and thirteen, Omar Fraile, who was second in the mountains classification, wore the polka-dot jersey, because first-placed Nairo Quintana wore the red jersey as the leader of the overall classification.

## Final standings

Legend :
| Denotes the leader of the general classification | Denotes the leader of the points classification |
| Denotes the leader of the mountains classification | Denotes the leader of the combination rider classification |

### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | 83h 31' 28" |
| 2 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | + 1' 23" |
| 3 | Esteban Chaves (COL) | Orica–BikeExchange | + 4' 08" |
| 4 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff | + 4' 21" |
| 5 | Andrew Talansky (USA) | Cannondale–Drapac | + 7' 43" |
| 6 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Orica–BikeExchange | + 8' 33" |
| 7 | David de la Cruz (ESP) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 11' 18" |
| 8 | Daniel Moreno (ESP) | Movistar Team | + 13' 04" |
| 9 | Davide Formolo (ITA) | Cannondale–Drapac | + 13' 17" |
| 10 | George Bennett (NZL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | + 14' 07" |

### Points classification

Final points classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Fabio Felline (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | 100 |
| 2 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | 97 |
| 3 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 93 |
| 4 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | 92 |
| 5 | Luis León Sánchez (ESP) | Astana | 75 |
| 6 | Gianni Meersman (BEL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 73 |
| 7 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Orica–BikeExchange | 56 |
| 8 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff | 56 |
| 9 | Esteban Chaves (COL) | Orica–BikeExchange | 54 |
| 10 | Daniele Bennati (ITA) | Tinkoff | 54 |

### Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Omar Fraile (ESP) | Team Dimension Data | 58 |
| 2 | Kenny Elissonde (FRA) | FDJ | 57 |
| 3 | Robert Gesink (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | 37 |
| 4 | Alexandre Geniez (FRA) | FDJ | 28 |
| 5 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | 27 |
| 6 | Egor Silin (RUS) | Team Katusha | 23 |
| 7 | Sergey Lagutin (RUS) | Team Katusha | 22 |
| 8 | Thomas De Gendt (BEL) | Lotto–Soudal | 19 |
| 9 | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 18 |
| 10 | Luis Ángel Maté (ESP) | Cofidis | 18 |

### Combination classification

Final combination classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | 8 |
| 2 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | 17 |
| 3 | Kenny Elissonde (FRA) | FDJ | 34 |
| 4 | David de la Cruz (ESP) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 39 |
| 5 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 41 |
| 6 | Fabio Felline (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | 43 |
| 7 | Simon Yates (GBR) | Orica–BikeExchange | 46 |
| 8 | Gianluca Brambilla (ITA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 48 |
| 9 | Robert Gesink (NED) | LottoNL–Jumbo | 48 |
| 10 | Egor Silin (RUS) | Team Katusha | 49 |

### Team classification

Final teams classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Team | Time |
| 1 | BMC Racing Team | 249h 48' 23" |
| 2 | Movistar Team | + 4' 43" |
| 3 | Cannondale–Drapac | + 22' 44" |
| 4 | Team Katusha | + 35' 19" |
| 5 | AG2R La Mondiale | + 35' 30" |
| 6 | Astana | + 56' 22" |
| 7 | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 1h 04' 57" |
| 8 | IAM Cycling | + 1h 08' 38" |
| 9 | Tinkoff | + 1h 23' 50" |
| 10 | Orica–BikeExchange | + 1h 33' 00" |

## Controversy

In stage 15, more than 90 riders were 10 km/h slower than the winner and finished far outside of the time cut. They were, nevertheless, allowed to stay in the race. Of the six remaining stages, five were won by riders from that grupetto (Drucker, Frank, 2x Cort Nielsen, Latour), Froome being the only exception after winning the time trial (stage 19).