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The Best of the 2014 La Vuelta

By Adam Ulrich

The 2014 La Vuelta is over. Again, it was full of dramatic and beautiful moments. Here’s a selection of the most interesting ones!

1. This is how happiness looks like. Australian Adam Hansen of Lotto – Belisol celebrates after winning the 19th stage.

News - Sept. 12, 2014
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

2. The bitter end of a fight: Italian Gianluca Brambilla (pictured) and Russia’s Ivan Rovny were disqualified from the race after a fight in the peloton. Both men landed punches and elbowed each other whilst continuing to cycle.

Cycling: 69th Tour of Spain 2014 / Stage 16
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

3. After winning the Giro d’Italia and skipping the Tour de France, Nairo Quintana was a hot favourite. He had an excellent opportunity to win his second grand tour of the season. But after his second crash he wasn’t able to continue in the race.

Cycling: 69th Tour of Spain 2014 / Stage 11
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

4. In the middle of the race, the peloton faced extreme Africa-like heat. The average temperature was as high as 36 deg Celsius and the riders were exhausted.

Cycling: 69th Tour of Spain 2014 / Stage 13
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

5. The podium hostesses are almost always models or aspiring models.

Cycling: 69th Tour of Spain 2014 / Stage 10
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

6. Sheriff Alberto. Having recovered from the injury which ended his Tour de France challenge,  Alberto Contador decided he would ride the Vuelta a Espana after all. And he finished the Spanish Grand Tour in red jersey. What a surprise!

Cycling: 69th Tour of Spain 2014 / Stage 18
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

7. Another punch? One day after fisticuffs between Brambilla and Rovny, Philip Deignan announced that Joaquin Rodriguez had punched him in the face and split his lip. “I am surprised to hear about this two days after it happened. There was nothing to it,” said Rodriguez, winner of 18th Stage.

Cycling: 69th Tour of Spain 2014 / Stage 18
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

8. Alberto Contador (nicknamed El Pistolero de Pinto) celebrates as he crosses the finish line. He  won Spanish Grand Tour for the 3rd time.

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(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

9. British cyclist Christopher Froome fought with Contador to his last breath. “Emptied the tank out there today, what a battle! Thank you for all the support,” wrote the second man of the 2014 La Vuelta on his Twitter.

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(Photo: Profimedia.cz)

10. Exhaustion: French racing talent Barguil Warren after Stage 20.

Cycling: 69th Tour of Spain 2014 / Stage 20
(Photo: Profimedia.cz)