Australian sprinter Michael Matthews of Orica-GreenEdge won the last stage of the 2013 Vuelta a España ahead of Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Sharp) and Nikias Arndt (Argos-Shimano), while Chris Horner (RadioShack-Leopard) enjoyed his first Grand Tour overall victory at the age of almost 42.

Vincenzo Nibali, Chris Horner, Alejandro Valverde

Following a quiet parade in the outskirts of Madrid through Pinto, the home of Alberto Contador who was busy contesting the GP of Montreal in Canada, the winners of the teams classification Euskaltel entered the capital at the front of the bunch as a symbolic “adios” from the folding Basque squad. Javier Aramendia (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) attacked at km 69. He was rejoined by Alessandro Vanotti (Astana) with 32km to go.
The leading duo was reeled in during the final lap while sprinters’ teams Sky, Argos-Shimano and Orica-GreenEdge geared up for the inevitable bunch gallop. In a contrasted Vuelta marked by an old overall winner and young stage winners, Matthews, 22, scored his second victory after stage 5 to Lagos de Sanabria.
In 2014, the 69th Vuelta will kick off from Cadix, Andalucia, in the far south of Spain.

Ergebnisse 21. Etappe:

Leganés – Madrid 109,6 kms. 15/09/2013 17:43:01
1º 178 MATTHEWS, Michael AUS OGE 2:44:00 10″
2º 113 FARRAR, Tyler USA GRS m.t. 6″
3º 21 ARNDT, Nikias GER ARG m.t. 4″
4º 164 MEERSMAN, Gianni BEL OPQ m.t.
5º 137 RICHEZE, Maximiliano Ariel ARG LAM m.t.
6º 212 BOLE, Grega SLO VCD m.t.
7º 86 PETIT, Adrien FRA COF m.t.
8º 25 JANSE VAN RENSBURG, RSA ARG m.t.
9º 66 LASCA, Francesco ITA CJR m.t.
10º 49 WAGNER, Robert GER BEL m.t.
11º 74 HAEDO, Lucas Sebastián ARG CAN m.t.
12º 77 RATTO, Daniele ITA CAN m.t.
13º 192 BOASSON HAGEN, Edvald NOR SKY m.t.
14º 198 URAN, Rigoberto COL SKY m.t.
15º 55 LODEWYCK, Klaas BEL BMC m.t.
16º 155 DEMPSTER, Zakkari AUS TNE m.t.
17º 147 VAN DER SANDE, Tosh BEL LTB m.t.
18º 107 ROUX, Anthony FRA FDJ m.t.
19º 124 ISAICHEV, Vladimir RUS KAT a 3
20º 203 MORKOV, Michael DEN TST a 3
21º 17 MONDORY, Lloyd FRA ALM a 3
22º 168 VAN KEIRSBULCK, Guillaume BEL OPQ a 3
23º 193 CATALDO, Dario ITA SKY a 3
24º 31 NIBALI, Vincenzo ITA AST a 3
25º 56 NERZ, Dominik GER BMC a 3
26º 99 VERDUGO, Gorka ESP EUS a 3 2″
27º 143 HANSEN, Adam AUS LTB a 3
28º 127 MORENO, Daniel ESP KAT a 3
29º 3 ERVITI, Imanol ESP MOV a 3
30º 165 PAUWELS, Serge BEL OPQ

Ergebnisse Endclassement:

Leganés – Madrid 109,6 kms.
3326,6 kms.
15/09/2013 17:43:21
1º 184 HORNER, Christopher USA RLT 84:36:04 85 30″
2º 31 NIBALI, Vincenzo ITA AST a 37 64 12″
3º 1 VALVERDE, Alejandro ESP MOV a 1:36 12 23″
4º 121 RODRIGUEZ, Joaquin ESP KAT a 3:22 51 18″
5º 205 ROCHE, Nicolas IRL TST a 7:11 62 20″
6º 11 POZZOVIVO, Domenico ITA ALM a 8:00 66 4″
7º 101 PINOT, Thibaut FRA FDJ a 8:41 62
8º 91 SÁNCHEZ, Samuel ESP EUS a 9:51 69
9º 151 KONIG, Leopold CZE TNE a 10:11 6 10″
10º 127 MORENO, Daniel ESP KAT a 13:11 97 36″
11º 36 KANGERT, Tanel EST AST a 14:05 80
12º 5 HERRADA, José ESP MOV a 16:48 33 1″
13º 61 ARROYO, David ESP CJR a 17:34 97 1″
14º 56 NERZ, Dominik GER BMC a 19:26 24 2″
15º 131 SCARPONI, Michele ITA LAM a 22:04 96 9″
16º 63 CARDOSO, Andre POR CJR a 25:03 21 4″
17º 186 KISERLOVSKI, Robert CRO RLT a 25:06 28
18º 206 SÖRENSEN, Chris Anker DEN TST a 27:02 90 13″
19º 202 MAJKA, Rafal POL TST a 32:52 14
20º 92 ANTON, Igor ESP EUS a 33:05 37
21º 82 BAGOT, Yohann FRA COF a 35:22 26
22º 157 MENDES, José Joao POR TNE a 39:25 95
23º 96 NIEVE, Mikel ESP EUS a 49:36 71
24º 2 CAPECCHI, Eros ITA MOV a 50:23 66
25º 68 TXURRUKA, Amets ESP CJR a 51:17 4 2″
26º 32 BRAJKOVIC, Janez SLO AST a 57:32 85
27º 198 URAN, Rigoberto COL SKY a 57:49 1 6″
28º 191 HENAO, Sergio Luis COL SKY a 59:55 97
29º 33 FUGLSANG, Jacob DEN AST a 1:01:08 42
30º 95 MARTÍNEZ, Egoi ESP EUS a 1:12:18 6 2″

Christopher Horner sprich:

Christopher Horner’s quotes

« I want to race for another two seasons »

«  It’s been a fantastic Vuelta. I came here super motivated and the organizers gave a tailor-made course for my style of racing with only a short time trial. I don’t know if I believed I could win the Vuelta but I believed I could make the podium. It’s a lifetime of memories and hard work to get here. Every year of my 19-year long career, I’ve tried to be a better cyclist. Every victory is amazing and all Grand Tours have a special place in the memories of the riders, but this one will last for ever. It’s so complicated to get to this level. My daughters are 16 and 14, my son is 11, at the difference of most children of Grand Tour winners, they understand what they’re watching. Coming back home will be amazing too. Spain is always special to me. My character fits well with Spanish lifestyle. I particularly feel at home in the Basque country. I hope that people have enjoyed the show. There’s a possibility that I won’t continue with the same team-mates. I don’t know where I’m gonna be next year, I can’t talk about the Tour de France as long as I don’t know which team I’ll ride for but I want to race for another two seasons at least because my legs are feeling well and I’m psychologically very strong. »

Michael Mattews der Etappensieger

Madrid

Nicholas Edet

Euskaltel