MADRID (Reuters) -Denmark’s Mads Pedersen has dominated a bunch sprint to win stage 19 of the Vuelta a Espana in style— his third victory at this year’s race.
Overall race leader Remco Evenepoel of Belgium finished safely in the peloton maintaining his two minutes seven seconds advantage over Spaniard Enric Mas with two days remaining.
Former world champion Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) already held a huge lead in the points category and showed his finishing prowess again to win by a bike length at the end of the 138km stage that started and finished in Talavera de la Reina.
The stage featured two ascents of the category two Puerto del Pielago but was not tough enough to have an impact on the battle for the red jersey, and predictably finished with a bunch sprint through the town.
Miles Scottson (Groupama-FDJ) was the first to make his move but Pedersen, set up perfectly by team mate Julien Bernard, roared around the final corner and hit the front with 150 meters remaining and never looked like being beaten.
Briton Fred Wright (Bahrain Victorious) finished strongly for second place with Belgian Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck) third.
Pedersen has 379 points ahead of Wright’s 174 and will take the green jersey barring anything untoward over the weekend.
Olympic champion Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) bolstered his lead in the climber’s category with victory on the day’s second climb.
Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) looks unshakeable in the overall standings, although Saturday’s stage features three first category climbs and will offer Mas a final opportunity to try and close the deficit.