Trek Factory Racing tried to foil the sprinters by launching Julian Arredondo into the break in yesterday's hilly final stage of the Vuelta a Andalucia. As it has been the case all race, Movistar proved to be unbeatable, and the American team was full of praise of the performance from their Spanish rivals.

On the first category one rated climb at the 27 kilometers mark a group of nine riders established itself as the key break of the day: Adrian Honkisz (CCC-Polsat), Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural-RGA), Laurens ten Dam (Belkin), Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Shimano), Jakob Fuglsang (Astana), Linus Gerdemann (MTN-Qhubeka), Tim Wellens (Lotto), Javier Megías (Novo Nordisk) and Trek Factory Racing’s Julián Arredondo rode away on the lower slopes.

With Txurruka only 2:50 back in the GC, Movistar kept tight on the reins, controlling the pace, and never letting the nine riders establish more than a few minutes lead.  A tough headwind, plus a breakaway that began attacking each other 40-kilometers from the finish, made life easier for Movistar, which saw Tom Dumoulin slip out of the break to make a solo bid for victory. Arredondo made an effort to chase back the Giant Shimano rider, as the breakaway fell apart.

Behind the Belkin team moved to the front to help Movistar in the chase.  The breakaway riders were soon absorbed and Dumoulin was also nabbed inside seven kilometers to go.  Belkin’s Moreno Hofland won the resulting bunch sprint to pay back his team’s effort in the chase. Trek Factory Racing's Fabio Silvestre was the highest placed finisher for the team in 13th place after a roundabout miscue foiled the their efforts in the final dash to the line.

“It was a really great job by Movistar and we could do nothing,” explained director Josu Larrazabal just after the race had concluded. “They controlled it well. There was also a headwind all day and there was not a good collaboration in the breakaway. 

“Markel [Irzar] and Danilo [Hondo] were with Fabio [Silvestre] at the end but they missed the last roundabout.  It was not very clear and the peloton split at the roundabout and you can see that with the result: Topsport Vlaanderen took positions three, four and five.

“Overall Fabio did a good job yesterday and today he was feeling strong. We have seen a big progression from San Luis where he is able to arrive to the final kilometres with more energy.  And Arredondo, too, did a great job today - it was a breakaway of very strong riders and he was able to be there. After his disastrous start on the first day [where he suffered from cramps] he has showed he is in a good way now.”

Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) proved he was the strongest all race and never relinquished his lead from the first day to win the overall of the Vuelta a Andalucia. Team Sky’s Richie Porte and Luis León Sánchez (Caja Rural) rounded out the final podium.