With seven categorized climbs, ramps up to thirty percent, and an entire day in the mountains, there was little respite for the peloton during this tedious stage at the Vuelta a Espana. Though as selective as expected, this sixteenth stage of the race did not quite provide the type of battle ground that could separate the contenders for the overall. 

Largely worn down by the repeated climbs and difficulties since the start of the Vuelta, the favorites were content to save themselves until the last portion of the final climb, the Alto Ermita de Alba, to commence their battle. Taking advantage of the relative passivity of the leaders, the day’s breakaway once again was allowed to ride off with the spoils of the stage.

This is not to displease IAM Cycling. Although the victory for the stage eventually went to a resurgent Frank Schleck (Trek Factory) who won solo, IAM Cycling’s Larry Warbasse put on a valiant performance. As a member of the ten man group that escaped, the American rider gave his best effort to ride away with the stage. Though the passages of 30% gradients proved to be too much for Warbasse to win the stage, he did cross the line in 8th place, around two minutes ahead of the overall contenders.

But unfortunately that was not the full story for IAM Cycling at the end of the day. Sylvain Chavanel crashed hard on a downhill having been taken down by another rider’s mistake. Though the multiple time trial champion of France courageously made it to the finish in the gruppetto, the first diagnosis by team doctors at the finish line was that Chavanel suffered bruised ribs, as well as contusions to his shoulder, hip, and knee. Additional test will be performed depending on how his injuries evolve.

In spite of his day at the front of the race, Larry Warbasse appeared disappointed. His eyes slightly teary, he certainly had bigger ambitions for the day. 

“I would like to say that I am happy with my result, but quite honestly, I wanted to win this stage,” Warbasse sincerely declared. “Or at least I wanted to be in the top three. Now it’s over, and I’ll try not to dwell on it too much. I am happy with my race because I gave everything I had. The second to last climb was just incredibly hard. Frank Schleck set a super hard pace, and I just couldn’t follow it anymore. I tried to stay right on his wheel, but I literally exploded. I was exhausted. I have no regrets because I gave it 100%, and at least as far as that goes, I can be proud of myself.”