11 Aug 2018

De la Cruz climbs onto final podium at Burgos

Related riders

David de la Cruz

An attacking team ride on the final day at Vuelta a Burgos saw David de la Cruz claim third place overall and four Team Sky riders make the top 10 in northern Spain.

De la Cruz dug deep on the final climb of the race and attacked with two kilometres remaining, but he was overhauled by Ivan Sosa (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) and Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana).

It was Sosa who pushed clear to take the stage and overall victory, with De la Cruz rallying to take fourth on the day and jump up one place on the general classification to seal his first stage race podium appearance in Team Sky colours.

Tao Geoghegan Hart, Sebastian Henao and Kenny Elissonde all rode hard to seal fifth, eighth and 10th overall respectively.

At just 141 kilometres the final stage was the shortest of the race, but the final climb up to Lagunas de Neila was one of the toughest.

Vasil Kiryienka and Henao infiltrated the day’s first break but, sensing danger, the peloton rode hard behind to pull it back.

Then it was over to Diego Rosa, who jumped into the break which would go deep into the race. Rosa and his companions were only caught midway up the final climb, at which point Henao hit out again, 8km from home.

The young Colombian became the perfect launchpad for De la Cruz’s attack six kilometres later and the Spaniard bridged across to his teammate with 1km to race.

The pair worked together but behind race leader Lopez and Sosa were working together to bring it all back together.

Sosa attacked with 500 metres to go, passing De la Cruz and distancing Lopez, to seal a fine win. Henao, Geoghegan Hart and Elissonde came in as a trio in sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, sealing their top 10 finishes.

Oli Cookson

We came with the aim of building for La Vuelta... Of course we still wanted to perform well, and we did as best as we could.

Sport Director Oli Cookson spoke to TeamSky.com after the race and reflected on an encouraging week.

He said: "We came with the aim of building to La Vuelta. For example De la Cruz has been managing his workload to be good for La Vuelta, not for Burgos. Of course we still wanted to perform well, and we did as best as we could. The race’s climbs were really suited to the two Colombians [Sosa and Lopez] but both David and Tao are really on track for La Vuelta.

"The whole team rode really well. For example, for four days Kiryienka was outstanding — literally one of the strongest riders in the race. Sebastian really showed today too. He was in the early break, with Kiry and [David] Lopez. We ripped the race apart in the first 70km, it took so long for the break to go, Astana lost around three of their guys, we wounded the whole peloton, and when that came back, Diego managed to get in a move. Then Sebastian went up the road late on — it was the perfect scenario.

"For Sebastian to still be there at the end and perform that role, it was exactly what he needed to do to show himself for La Vuelta - although of course it’s going to be difficult [to make selection].

"De la Cruz was close, he got on the podium. It was always going to be tough with that super steep climb up against Sosa, who we’ve known for a while, and Miguel Angel Lopez who is, as they say, Superman.

"We won the team prize and even yesterday - Tao was up there, sprinting for the win. It’s not often that’s happened and part of this is a learning experience, it’s about judging your efforts. It’s easy to be disappointed when you’re ambitious, but the guys should also be realistic and happy with their work this week."

Stage five result

1. Ivan Sosa (Androni Giocattoli-Sidemec) 3:26:37
2. Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) +19"
3. Sergio Pardilla (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) +21"
4. David de la Cruz (Team Sky) s.t.
5. Igor Anton (Dimension Data) +32"

Overall standings:

1. Ivan Sosa (Androni Giocattoli-Sidemec) 19:00:37
2. Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) +17"
3. David de la Cruz (Team Sky) +53"
4. Igor Anton (Dimension Data) +1:04"
5. Tao Geoghegan Hart (Team Sky) +1:25"