Ahead of the second rest day, the peloton tackles the last of three consecutive arduous mountain stages. Join The Roar from 11:00pm (AEST) for coverage of all the action from the 2014 Tour of Spain.
Beginning in San Martin del Rey Aurelio, the 160.5 kilometre-long stage seeks out every climb it can possibly find en-route to our summit finish at La Farrapona.
Featuring five categorised climbs, with the first category Alto de la Colladona beginning just ten kilometres in, the riders will be stretched to their limits.
Approximately 40 kilometres separate the Alto de la Colladona from the other categorised climbs, with this about the only chance the peloton will have to catch their breath.
Once the riders reach the foot of the Alto del Cordal there will be no time to recover with each categorised climb’s decent leading straight in to the beginning of the next climb’s ascent.
After successfully overcoming the Alto del Cordal (7.6km at 5.5%), Alto de la Cobertoria (10km at 8.8%) and Puerto de San Lorenzo (10.1km at 8.5%) just the La Farrapona stands between the peloton and the finishing line.
With the peloton having to climb for five kilometres before they even reach the official beginning of the first category La Farrapona.
Officially 16.5 kilometres-long at an average gradient of 6.2 per cent, the La Farrapona’s irregular slopes cap out at a maximum gradient of 12.5 per cent.
In a distinct contrast to the early sections of the climb, the last five kilometres of the La Farrapona are consistent slope up to the summit, with the gradient starting out modestly at five percent and gradually ramping up to 11-12 per cent.
The final kilometre of the stage takes slight pity on the exhausted riders and lessens from around 11.5 per cent down to about eight per cent.
With three of the four general classification favourites evenly matched at the moment in terms of strength, any time gains today could once again be decided by one last all-out explosive attack for the finishing line.
However, with Joaquim Rodriguez and Alejandro Valverde not eager to help Alberto Contador boot Chris Froome out of the equation the three Spaniards might burn themselves out attacking each other to the advantage of the others. Which could once again let Froome’s uninspiring but carefully calculated riding style emerge victorious.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Thank you for joining me for an exciting seventeenth stage of the 2014 Vuelta a Espana won by Alberto Contador ahead of Chris Froome and Alessandro De Marchi. Stay tuned to The Roar for further news and analysis from the 2014 Vuelta a Espana. We hope to see you for the home stretch to the finish in Santiago de Compstela.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Just a reminder that tomorrow is the second rest day, so Stage 17 of the 2014 Vuelta a Espana does not begin until Wednesday.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Meanwhile, Team Katusha continue to lead the Team Classification as the best team overall ahead of Team Movistar.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alejandro Valverde still holds the Malliot Blanco (White Jersey) of the Combined Classification, which Joaquim Rodriguez was wearing today due to Valverde wearing the polka dot jersey for Stage 16.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
The Combativity Award for the day appears to have been awarded to Luis Leon Sanchez for his gutsy effort to regain the polka dot jersey from Alejandro Valverde.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
(Provisional) The blue-and-white polka dot jersey of the King of the Mountains classification has been regained by Caja Rural's Luis Leon Sanchez. While the Green jersey of the Points Classification has been retained by John Degenkolb for another stage.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
2014 Vuelta a Espana - General Classification Top 10 after Stage 16: 01. Alberto Contador of Tinkoff - Saxo... (63:25:00) 02. Alejandro Valverde of Team Movistar... (+1'36") 03. Chris Froome of Team Sky... (+1'39") 04. Joaquim Rodriguez of Team Katusha... (+2'29") 05. Fabio Aru of Astana Pro Team... (+3'38") 06. Daniel Martin of Garmin Sharp... (+6'17") 07. Robert Gesink of Belkin Pro Cycling... (+6'43") 08. Samuel Sanchez of BMC Racing... (+6'55") 09. Warren Barguil of Giant - Shimano... (+8'37") 10. Damiano Caruso of Team Cannondale... (+9'12")
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
2014 Vuelta a Espana - Top 10 for Stage 16: (Provisional) 01. Alberto Contador of Tinkoff - Saxo... (4:53:35) 02. Chris Froome of Team Sky... (+15") 03. Alessandro De Marchi of Team Cannondale... (+50") 04. Alejandro Valverde of Team Movistar... (+55") 05. Joaquim Rodriguez of Team Katusha... (+59) 06. Fabio Aru of Astana Pro Team... (+1'06") 07. Daniel Martin of Garmin - Sharp... (+1'12") 08. Robert Gesink of Belkin Pro Cycling... (+1'22") 09. Samuel Sanchez of BMC Racing... (+1'43") 10. Ryder Hesjedal of Garmin - Sharp... (+1'46")
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Riders continue to cross the finishing line in dribs and drabs after the tempo set by Team Sky, amplified by the attack of Chris Froome later on in the climb.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
He comes Samuel Sanchez of BMC Racing, he finishes about 1'40" down on Alberto Contador and ahead of some of his rivals in the General Classification.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alejandro Valverde misses out on third and the four bonus seconds due to Alessandro De Marchi holding on for third place!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alejandro Valverde attacks Joaquim Rodriguez!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Chris Froome finishes second and about 13-14 seconds behind Alberto Contador, grabbing himself the six bonus seconds on offer to second.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alberto Contador of Tinkoff Saxo wins Stage 16 of the 2014 Vuelta a Espana!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Chris Froome continues to fight as Contador has just 200 metres remaining!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alberto Contador continues his attack as he looks for the stage victory, more time and the ten bonus seconds on offer to first place.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Chris Froome will continue to pace himself however and look to try and move himself in to second position in the general classification.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Alberto Contador attacks now! Chris Froome cannot respond!
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
The gap back to Valverde, Rodriguez and Aru is back out to 45" now.
Matthew Boulden
Roar Guru
Contador still content to sit in the wheel of Froome ahead of the finishing line and the bonus seconds on offer to the first three finishers.