MADRID, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Eddie Dunbar (Pinarello Q36.5) won the 19th stage of the Vuelta a Espana cycle race on Friday after ambushing Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) in the final kilometer of the long climb up the Penas Blancas outside of the town of Estepona.
The 19th stage of the three-week-long race turned into two races in one day, with a group of 16 riders riding off the front of the main peloton, which included the top three of Mas, Primoz Roglic and Felix Gall, who had their own duel further down the road.
The breakaway had a lead of around seven and a half minutes at the bottom of the penultimate climb, with a group of four riders including Dunbar and Buitrago leaving the other 12 behind.
Buitrago launched his attack with two kilometers left to ride and opened a lead of 15 seconds, but Dunbar was able to follow, and with Buitrago tiring, the Irish rider sprinted past him with just over 500 meters left to claim the stage.
In the race for the overall lead, Roglic's Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe team were on the front, keeping the pace high and looking to leave Mas without teammates, but they failed to keep the pace high enough, and Mas' Movistar teammates were able to take up the pace.
There were only two kilometers left when Roglic finally looked to attack, but Mas quickly closed him down and the main favorites crossed the line together.
Saturday's 20th stage is a brutal stage with three first category climbs in the second half of its 186.8 kilometers before ending with a special category climb up to the 1,880-meter Collado del Alguacil.
Mas has consistently shown himself to be the best climber in the race and will be confident of defending his lead of one minute and 37 seconds over Roglic. ■