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Vuelta finale neutralised after rider safety concerns / Photo: © AFP
Vuelta finale neutralised after rider safety concerns
The closing lap of Sunday's final stage of the Vuelta a Espana will be neutralised after riders raised concerns about the safety of the finishing circuit.
Overall times for the riders will be taken 9.8 kilometres from the finish line of the 112km route that starts and ends in Granada and visits the famous Alhambra palace.
"The organiser in agreement with the UCI commissaires' panel have decided to neutralise the time for the general individual classification in stage 21 starting with the last local lap at 9.8km before the finish," read a statement.
"The bonus seconds at the finish will not be counted. The points for the general points classification will continue to be awarded at the finish."
Home favourite Enric Mas is set to win his first Grand Tour after extending his lead over four-time Vuelta champion Primoz Roglic to two minutes and 15 seconds on Saturday.
The 21st stage is a largely ceremonial procession that concludes with four laps of a city circuit that features a partially cobbled climb.
Overwhelming favourite Tadej Pogacar crashed out in the eighth stage while leading the race.
Tour de France organisers adopted a similar measure on the final stage of the last two editions, after altering the route to include Montmartre.
P. da Silva--JDB
