MADRID, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- There was controversy at the end of the ninth stage of the Vuelta de Espana (Tour of Spain) cycling race on Thursday after Pasqual Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) was named as the day's winner after Sam Bennett (Deceuninck-Quick Step) was disqualified after crossing the line almost a bike length ahead of the German.
Bennett was denied what would have been the 50th win of his career after bumping shoulders with Emils Liepins (Trek Segafredo) inside the closing kilometer of the race before he outsprinted Ackermann and Gerben Thijssen (Lotto Soudal) at the end of what had been a relatively comfortable stage for the riders.
The 157 kilometers between Castrillo de Val and Aguilar de Campoo was almost completely flat, offering a change for the riders to rest ahead of the weekend's demanding and decisive high mountain stages and also a rare opportunity for a specialist sprinter to win the stage.
The day was dominated by a two-man breakaway from Aritz Bagues (Caja Rural) and Juan Osorio (Burgos BH) who attacked right at the start of the day and it lasted until there were just 22 kilometers left.
After the break had been neutralized, the peloton took its time to wind up for the sprint, which was good news for second-placed Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) who suffered a puncture and had to change bike with just 12 kilometers remaining.
If the peloton had been battling for positions, Roglic could have had problems in reconnecting, but the relatively gentle pace meant he was able to get back into the group with ease.
There was no change to the overall standings and the Slovenian Roglic remains 13 seconds behind Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) in the overall classification. Enditem
