What a sensational Vuelta for the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA team, which ends the tour as one of its clear protagonists.

The team, always combative and searching for escapes, conquers the King of the Mountain Award for the second year in a row, in this occasion with Omar Fraile, whose debut in a grand tour showed his high level of riding. David Arroyo ends the Vuelta in a very commendable 12th place. For his part, José Gonçalves obtains 8th place in the Combined Classification.

Besides the escapes, that total more than 1600 kilometres, the team has been fighting for stage victories, reflected in its 8 Top10 places, particularly in Pello Bilbao’s 2nd place in Stage 8, Jose Gonçalves’ 2nd place in Stage 20 and his 3rd place in Stage 18.

Between King of the Mountain awards and Most Combative Rider awards, the team has made it onto the podium on 25 occasions. The Caja Rural-Seguros RGA team finishes in 6th place in the Team General Classification, a great result.

A great overall result, where the only thing missing is a stage victory. This despite the fact that two of THE strongest riders, Amets Txurruka and Lluis Mas, had to abandon the race due to a fall and illness, respectively. 

“We leave a little disappointed that we didn’t win a stage after being so close on so many occasions, but that is precisely what we should hold on to – that we were so close so many times, this is the year where we have fought for more stage triumphs. That is something positive and a clear symptom of the team’s evolution as it improves every season," sorts director Josemi Fernandez said.

“This year it was not enough to be in the escapes, we have taken a step forward. We have been fighting for stage triumphs but Omar also won the King of the Mountain Award, and to spend so many days on the podium and then make it to Madrid still on top is very important. Also, to be 6th in the Team General Classification is worth mentioning for a team like ours, especially considering the riders that had to abandon the race. We must also value David Arroyo’s 12th place, it is very difficult to be so far forward and it proves that this is our best Vuelta a España classification.

“You always get so close you can almost taste it and that can be frustrating, the key is to keep on fighting.”

Omar Fraile, winner of the King of the Mountain Award in the 2015 Vuelta could not hide his “tremendous joy” on winning the jersey:

“This is my first Vuelta, before you start you never know how your body is going to react. I started very well and was able to keep earning points, the third week was very daunting, I didn’t know how my body would handle it. Also, half-way through the Vuelta I started to come down with a flu, but with the rest day and the time trial I was able to make it through the toughest days. The King of the Mountain jersey was not my goal, but I came face-to-face with it and couldn’t waste the opportunity”.

Both Fraile, as well as the rest of the team, have shown a very commendable level:

“I think the Caja Rural-Seguros RGA’s presence has been very good, not just in the escapes, but also when fighting for stage victories and on the podium. We experienced a leap in our level, and the public that lined the roads made us feel that. The team is evolving, just like the people who follow and support us, and we have to be grateful for that, some days they really give you wings”.

Fraile ends the Vuelta on the podium in Madrid as the King of the Mountain:

“It’s an incredible feeling, when you’re up there it really starts to dawn on you what you’ve achieved, and of all the work behind that podium. I earned a lot of points quickly and eventually became the virtual winner, but I still had to make it to Madrid and had to concentrate on that. I was up on that podium but the entire team should really be up there with me, it’s been a lot of days of working closely together as a group. Thank you to everyone. Of course, I’d also like to thank my friends and family, especially my parents and my girlfriend, without their effort, their dedication and their understanding, none of this would be possible.

"I was in the breakaway, it was a good way to show the jersey, it was important for the team. It’s my first grand tour and I came to learn. To feature in five breakaway and to wear the polka dot jersey in Madrid is amazing. This is my year.”

The GC hope of the team David Arroyo also missed out on a stage win after being in some breakaways:

“My personal results are good, to come 12th in the General Classification is great. We started the race aiming to be among the top 15 places and we did that. I’m very happy, all I’m missing is a stage victory.

“Right now, I think the team’s performance has been great. You always start with the objective of winning a stage, but 200 riders and 20 teams all thought the same thing. We almost did it, we deserved it, but I think we have to go home satisfied with our achievements: the King of the Mountain, the escapes, the fights for stage victories and a good team classification. It’s a shame about Gonçalves, I think he’s the rider who most deserved to win a stage, now he has to hold on to the knowledge that if he got so close now, he can do it again, and I’m sure he’ll get there.

Jose Gonçalves summed up the race:

“My goal for the Vuelta was to win a stage, I got very close, but didn’t make it. It’s my first Vuelta and I think my performance was good. In the end, my legs were already struggling, but we always kept on trying. I leave with a tinge of sadness for not having won, but I got close and I proved that I could do well. Now it’s time to rest and see how I feel for the World Championships, so I can try to do something there”.