The 2014 Vuelta a España took place between 23 August and 14 September 2014 and was the 69th edition of the race. 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 in Santiago de Compostela. This was the first time in 21 years that the race has finished outside Madrid.
The race was won for the third time by Spanish rider, Alberto Contador, of Tinkoff–Saxo.
Contador went into the race uncertain of his form after crashing out of the Tour 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 stage individual 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 of Team 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 rider Alejandro Valverde of the Movistar 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 to La Zubia, the race’s first mountain stage.
In the race’s other classifications, John Degenkolb of Giant–Shimano won the green jersey for the points classification. Degenkolb took four stage wins, the most by any rider in the race. The blue polka-dot jersey for the mountains classification was taken by Spaniard Luis Leon Sanchez of Caja Rural–Seguros RGA. Aside from taking the red jersey, Contador also won the white jersey for the combination 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 the team classification for accumulating the lowest time from their three best cyclists.
Teams
- Ag2r–La Mondiale
- Astana
- Belkin Pro Cycling
- BMC Racing Team
- Cannondale
- Caja Rural–Seguros RGA†
- Cofidis†
- FDJ.fr
|
- Giant–Shimano
- Garmin–Sharp
- IAM Cycling†
- Lampre–Merida
- Lotto–Belisol
- Movistar Team
- MTN–Qhubeka†
|
- Omega Pharma–Quick-Step
- Orica–GreenEDGE
- Team Europcar
- Team Katusha
- Team Sky
- Tinkoff–Saxo
- Trek Factory Racing
|
Route and stages
Stage results and characteristics
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 – San Fernando |
174.4 km (108.4 mi) |
|
Flat stage |
Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) |
3 |
25 August |
Cádiz – Arcos de la Frontera |
197.8 km (122.9 mi) |
|
Hilly stage |
Michael Matthews (AUS) |
4 |
26 August |
Mairena del Alcor – Córdoba |
164.7 km (102.3 mi) |
|
Medium-mountain stage |
John Degenkolb (GER) |
5 |
27 August |
Priego de Córdoba – Ronda |
180 km (110 mi) |
|
Flat stage |
John Degenkolb (GER) |
6 |
28 August |
Benalmádena – Cumbres Verdes, La Zubia |
167.1 km (103.8 mi) |
|
Mountain stage |
Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
7 |
29 August |
Alhendín – Alcaudete |
169 km (105 mi) |
|
Hilly stage |
Alessandro De Marchi (ITA) |
8 |
30 August |
Baeza – Albacete |
207 km (129 mi) |
|
Flat stage |
Nacer Bouhanni (FRA) |
9 |
31 August |
Carboneras de Guadazaón – Aramón Valdelinares |
185 km (115 mi) |
|
Mountain stage |
Winner Anacona (COL) |
|
1 September |
Rest day |
10 |
2 September |
Monasterio de Santa María de Veruela – Borja |
36.7 km (22.8 mi) |
|
Individual time trial |
Tony Martin (GER) |
11 |
3 September |
Pamplona – Santuario de San Miguel de Aralar |
153.4 km (95.3 mi) |
|
Mountain stage |
Fabio Aru (ITA) |
12 |
4 September |
Logroño – Logroño |
166.4 km (103.4 mi) |
|
Flat stage |
John Degenkolb (GER) |
13 |
5 September |
Belorado – Obregón, Parque de Cabárceno |
188.7 km (117.3 mi) |
|
Medium-mountain stage |
Daniel Navarro (ESP) |
14 |
6 September |
Santander – La Camperona, Valle de Sábero |
200.8 km (124.8 mi) |
|
Mountain stage |
Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) |
15 |
7 September |
Oviedo – Lagos de Covadonga |
152.2 km (94.6 mi) |
|
Mountain stage |
Przemysław Niemiec (POL) |
16 |
8 September |
San Martín del Rey Aurelio – La Farrapona, Lagos de Somiedo |
160.5 km (99.7 mi) |
|
Mountain stage |
Alberto Contador (ESP) |
|
9 September |
Rest day |
17 |
10 September |
Ortigueira – A Coruña |
190.7 km (118.5 mi) |
|
Flat stage |
John Degenkolb (GER) |
18 |
11 September |
A Estrada – Mont Castrove, Meis |
157 km (98 mi) |
|
Medium-mountain stage |
Fabio Aru (ITA) |
19 |
12 September |
Salvaterra de Miño – Cangas do Morrazo |
180.5 km (112.2 mi) |
|
Medium-mountain stage |
Adam Hansen (AUS) |
20 |
13 September |
Santo Estevo de Ribas de Sil – Puerto 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) |
Classification leadership table
Stage |
Winner |
General classification
|
Points classification
|
Mountains classification
|
Combination classification
|
Team classification |
Combativity award |
1 |
Movistar Team |
Jonathan Castroviejo |
not awarded |
not awarded |
not awarded |
Movistar Team |
not awarded |
2 |
Nacer Bouhanni |
Alejandro Valverde |
Nacer Bouhanni |
Nathan Haas |
Valerio Conti |
Javier Aramendia |
3 |
Michael Matthews |
Michael Matthews |
Lluís Mas |
Lluís Mas |
Belkin Pro Cycling |
Lluís Mas |
4 |
John Degenkolb |
Michael Matthews |
Valerio Conti |
Amets Txurruka |
5 |
John Degenkolb |
John Degenkolb |
Sergio Pardilla |
Pim Ligthart |
6 |
Alejandro Valverde |
Alejandro Valverde |
Alejandro Valverde |
Pim Ligthart |
7 |
Alessandro De Marchi |
Ryder Hesjedal |
8 |
Nacer Bouhanni |
Javier Aramendia |
9 |
Winner Anacona |
Nairo Quintana |
Movistar Team |
Lluís Mas |
10 |
Tony Martin |
Alberto Contador |
Tony Martin |
11 |
Fabio Aru |
Vasil Kiryienka |
12 |
John Degenkolb |
Matthias Krizek |
13 |
Daniel Navarro |
Luis León Sánchez |
14 |
Ryder Hesjedal |
Luis León Sánchez |
Luis León Sánchez |
15 |
Przemysław Niemiec |
Alejandro Valverde |
Team Katusha |
Javier Aramendia |
16 |
Alberto Contador |
Luis León Sánchez |
Luis León Sánchez |
17 |
John Degenkolb |
Bob Jungels |
18 |
Fabio Aru |
Alberto Contador |
Luis León Sánchez |
19 |
Adam Hansen |
Pim Ligthart |
20 |
Alberto Contador |
Jérôme Coppel |
21 |
Adriano Malori |
Adriano Malori |
Final |
Alberto Contador |
John Degenkolb |
Luis León Sánchez |
Alberto Contador |
Team Katusha |
Chris Froome |
Classification standings
Legend |
|
Denotes the leader of the General classification |
|
Denotes the leader of the Mountains classification |
|
Denotes the leader of the Points classification |
|
Denotes the leader of the Combination rider classification |
General 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″ |
Points classification
|
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 |
King of the Mountains classification
|
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Luis León Sánchez (ESP) |
Caja Rural–Seguros RGA |
58 |
2 |
Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Tinkoff–Saxo |
45 |
3 |
Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
Movistar Team |
40 |
4 |
Przemysław Niemiec (POL) |
Lampre–Merida |
33 |
5 |
Chris Froome (GBR) |
Team Sky |
33 |
6 |
Lluís Mas (ESP) |
Caja Rural–Seguros RGA |
20 |
7 |
Fabio Aru (ITA) |
Astana |
19 |
8 |
Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) |
Team Katusha |
19 |
9 |
Winner Anacona (COL) |
Lampre–Merida |
18 |
10 |
Alessandro De Marchi (ITA) |
Cannondale |
18 |
Combination classification
|
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Alberto Contador (ESP) |
Tinkoff–Saxo |
6 |
2 |
Alejandro Valverde (ESP) |
Movistar Team |
8 |
3 |
Chris Froome (GBR) |
Team Sky |
11 |
4 |
Joaquim Rodríguez (ESP) |
Team Katusha |
17 |
5 |
Fabio Aru (ITA) |
Astana |
19 |
6 |
Ryder Hesjedal (CAN) |
Garmin–Sharp |
48 |
7 |
Przemysław Niemiec (POL) |
Lampre–Merida |
49 |
8 |
Winner Anacona (COL) |
Lampre–Merida |
62 |
9 |
Warren Barguil (FRA) |
Giant–Shimano |
63 |
10 |
Samuel Sánchez (ESP) |
BMC Racing Team |
64 |
Team classification
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″ |