Vuelta Skelter: Final frontier for Trek's Schleck

On Sunday it was Haimar Zubeldia, on Monday it was Frank Schleck… What next for Trek – Yaroslav Popovych leading the rest-day spinning class live on Eurosport’s Vuelta Extra?

With that alluring prospect in mind, let’s take a look back at who was hot and who was not during the seven-climb behemoth that was stage 16.

Eyebrows were raised when the elder (and unretired) of the Schleck siblings found himself in the day’s main break – especially given team-mate Zubeldia’s rare TV appearance less than 24 hours earlier.

The gentle ribbing on social media was entirely understandable given Schleck’s most recent pro win came back in 2011 – years before he tested positive for the banned diuretic Xipamide and came clean about his previous payments to the infamous Dr Fuentes, the off-season Spanish gynaecologist.

All things considered, Schleck presence in the break was not taken seriously by many commentators – who were made to eat their words when the Luxembourgeois whippet rolled back the years for the Star Trek Factory Racing team in the Undiscovered Country of the Asturias.

Schleck cut an ecstatic figure on the podium while celebrating his first Grand Tour stage win since 2009 – although it was a shame he binned the magnum of Cava after just one sip…

When the Schleck-led break broke the 22-minute barrier you knew that the unexpected was on the cards on another sweltering day in Spain.

Some people had their theories about this apparent go-slow…

While others raised some interesting questions…

Besides Schleck’s stellar win the big story of the day was Fabio Aru handing over his red jersey to bullish Spanish veteran Rodriguez after a two-second swing atop the overall standings.

Although it was perhaps a bittersweet moment for the 36-year-old, with many predicting it would all end in tears for the man still in search of that elusive Grand Tour overall win.

A certain Russian billionaire owner of a rival team was unconvinced of Rodriguez’s ability to end his run of near-misses.

As for the man himself, he remained delightfully upbeat about the whole thing.

The reason why Purito’s Vuelta-winning credentials are under the spotlight is very much because of the looming threat posed by towering Dutchman Dumoulin, who put in yet another gritting display of climbing to stay within reach of the race summit ahead of Wednesday’s all-important time trial.

Mr Tinkov is certain convinced that the time trial specialist can overturn his 1:51 deficit in the ITT after the rest day to move back into the red jersey ahead of the fun run into Madrid.

With his square jaw and steely persistence, there is something of the Terminator about Dumoulin…

One rider who should not be discounted is the Polish climber from Tinkoff-Saxo, who finished shortly after Rodriguez and Aru to keep his podium dream alive.

And the start of the final climb had seen Tinkoff-Saxo – through the impressive Pawel Poljanski and Majka – really take the fight to Aru’s Astana army.

It was not a good day for veterans Sylvain Chavanel (IAM) and Leonardo Duque (Team Colombia), who crashed heavily on the final descent before the finish.

Both riders thankfully got back on their bikes and finished the stage within the top 150. Bravo! See you after the rest day...