As it happened: Jumbo-Visma strike again on Vuelta Espana stage 16 summit finish

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of stage 16 of the Vuelta a España!

We're around 50 minutes away from the start of today's short, sharp stage.

Some bad news away from the Vuelta this morning – Jumbo-Visma rider Nathan Van Hooydonck has been involved in a serious car accident and is in hospital in a life-threatening condition

A look at the map of today's stage. The peloton are up north in Cantabria having made the trip west from the Basque Country following stage 15.

It's a short one today, the second-shortest road stage of the Vuelta. But that doesn't mean it's an easy day in the saddle with the steep climb to Bejes set to test the GC men and climbers at the end of the stage.

Here's a reminder of the GC picture heading into today's stage.

There were no major changes on Sunday's stage 15 as the GC favourites crossed the line together 2:52 on breakaway stage winner Rui Costa.

Read our Vuelta a España stage 15 report here.

The Vuelta peloton is down to 152 riders at the moment following the news that Welay Hagos Berhe (Jayco-AlUla) and David de la Cruz (Astana Qazaqstan) won't be starting stage 15.

Vuelta a España abandons – The full list of riders who have left the race

Just under 30 minutes to go until the stage gets underway with a ride through the neutral zone.

Vuelta a España leader Sepp Kuss reluctant to be sole team contender

'I'm a guy who prefers to be in the shadows,' says American

Enric Mas: Jumbo-Visma aren't going to attack each other in this Vuelta a España

Multiple Vuelta runner-up aiming for repeat of 2021 and 2022 podium places

Jumbo-Visma directeur sportif Grischa Niermann has provided the first comment from the team on Nathan Van Hooydonck. The German said that "I don't know much more than what's in the media" but confirmed that the team at the Vuelta have been greatly affected by the news.

Nathan Van Hooydonck in 'life-threatening condition' after car accident

Just over 10 minutes to the stage start now.

Juan Ayuso foresees Angliru challenge to Jumbo-Visma's Vuelta a España dominance

'Having three guys like they did on the Tourmalet isn't so much of an effect because being on the wheel isn't an advantage'

Rolling roads all day today but there are not categorised climbs before the finish. Not a whole lot for the breakaway to battle over, then, though Jumbo-Visma don't have a major reason to chase the break beyond capturing another stage win.

We'll soon see how fierce the battle to make the break of the day is.

Jumbo-Visma have released a statement on Nathan Van Hooydonck.

'I did a Dumoulin' – Jonas Vingegaard suffers through illness at Vuelta a España

Dane reveals that he fought on with stomach bacteria during race's first week

The riders are rolling through the 1.7km neutral zone now.

Confirmation that Berhe and De la Cruz are the only two non-starters today.

How to watch the 2023 Vuelta a España: Live TV and streaming

Find out how to watch Kuss, Roglic, Vingegaard, Ayuso, Mas, Landa battle for the red jersey

It's raining at the start.

Still rolling through the neutral zone.

119km to go

1km missing from the route today with an early roundabout cut from the course. Racing is now underway!

The peloton all together at the moment as several men try to clip off the front on an early downhill run.

Green jersey Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is among the early attackers.

A technical start to the day here in the wet. Plenty of corners and a few roundabouts thrown in.

115km to go

No riders getting away just yet.

Andreas Kron (Lotto-Dstny) at the head of affairs at the moment.

Splits in the peloton at this early stage on the technical roads.

111km to go

A leading group of around 10 riders with 10 seconds or so.

Groves and Kron are in there, as is Romain Bardet.

More attacks coming from behind.

Romaine Grégoire and Samuele Battistella are also out front.

The rain has stopped now. Exactly 10 men at the front.

A large group has split off the front of the peloton in the chase behind.

And now more riders are attempting to bridge across to the leaders.

Groves, Kron, Bardet, Battistella, Grégoire are with Louis Vervaeke, Paul Lapeira, Andrea Piccolo, Matteo Sobrero and Bardet's teammate Max Poole.

107km to go

The leaders at 20 seconds up the road.

A mix of teams at the head of the peloton chasing behind the lead 10 riders.

The gap is going up. It's at 35 seconds now.

The leaders...

Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck); Andreas Kron (Lotto-Dstny); Romain Bardet, Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich); Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan); Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ); Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-QuickStep); Paul Lapeira (AG2R Citroën); Andrea Piccolo (EF Education-EasyPost); Matteo Sobrero (Jayco-AlUla)

It's still stretched at the head of the peloton, however. The pace is high.

Ineos Grenadiers among the team pushing on in the chase.

The British team have two riders on the front.

The front group working well together at the moment.

A wet start to the day but it's dry now.

103km to go

Already we're closing in on the 100km to go mark. 

The leaders are 40 seconds up as Ineos Grenadiers continue to chase with three men on the front.

The peloton making no headway into the lead at the moment.

Filippo Ganna riding on the front but the seconds add up – up to 47 now.

100km to go

The riders race into Torrelavega now. The town hosted the stage 16 time trial of the 2018 Vuelta, which saw Rohan Dennis race to victory as eventual race winner Simon Yates spent his second day in the red jersey.

The gap still hangs at 45 seconds.

The elastic not snapping just yet. Ineos Grenadier continue to push the pace behind the 10 leaders.

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty join the pacemaking alongside Ineos Grenadiers.

Still around 40 seconds between the groups.

93km to go

34 seconds for the leaders now. The chase is still on behind.

Ineos Grenadiers have five riders up front and now Jonathan Castroviejo is pushing on up a rise in the road.

The gap going down under 30 seconds with this acceleration.

A look at the 10 men out front.

22 seconds now after Castroviejo's attempt.

Ineos Grenadiers continue to push with Omar Fraile on the front now.

Two other Ineos men with him.

Now the gap is going up again – 27 seconds.

87km to go

Geraint Thomas on the front, one of four Ineos men pushing the pace.

30km done now – a quarter of the stage – and the fight for the break is still on with the leaders just 30 seconds up the road.

One Intermarché rider nestled in among the Ineos men.

Another rise in the road and Fraile is out of the saddle pushing the pace.

Up front, the 10 men of the break are still rolling through and taking their turns.

20 seconds for the move now.

83km to go

A few seconds more shaved off the lead. 17 seconds for the 10 men of the break.

A few more seconds... Can the peloton make the catch?

Attacks from Bahrain Victorious and Lidl-Trek now.

Ineos briefly off the front but now Egan Bernal goes to the front.

Arkéa-Samsic also active at the front. 

80km to go

13 seconds now..

Ineos still fighting as the road heads uphill again.

An uncategorised 2km climb at around 5%.

The peloton finally closing in on the break.

Jumbo-Visma man Jan Tratnik has bridged across the gap.

Lidl-Trek, Caja Rural, Cofidis, Intermarché now leading the peloton across.

78km to go

Now it's all back together.

Some splits between groups of riders towards the front.

No separation at the front for the moment.

75km to go

Groves still on the front and pushing a hard pace.

A 49.7kph average speed so far today.

The rain is falling again now as more attacks flow at the front.

Very heavy rain showers falling.

72km to go

Still no real separation at the front.

Now a small group with a few seconds as the rain eases.

Riders from EF, Intermarché, UAE, AG2R on the attack.

Bora-Hansgrohe now leading the chase.

69km to go

And it comes together at the front again.

Romain Bardet goes once again.

Mattia Cattaneo (Soudal-QuickStep) chases.

The pair now together at the front with a small gap.

66km to go

The riders taking on a twisting descent now and gaps are appearing throughout the peloton.

Wet roads on the way down.

Bardet and Cattaneo only have a handful of seconds.

A grouo of six have split off the front of the peloton behind them.

Kaden Groves once again in there.

But it looks like the group is pretty much just dragging the peloton back to the front.

Cattaneo pushes on as Bardet drops back.

63km to go

Cattaneo joined in the lead by fellow Italian Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ).

We're almost at the halfway mark of the stage now.

Groves now up there with Cattaneo and Germani. Two others with them.

60km to go

Groves, Cattaneo, Germani have Otto Vergaerde and Max Poole with them.

But the group only has a handful of seconds and attacks continue to fly behind.

Vergaerde drops back.

Kaden Groves has been well among the moves at the front today.

The peloton lined out behind the move at the front. It's still a very high pace.

Groves, Cattaneo, Poole up front with Nicolas Prodhomme and Joel Nicolau.

The group has a small gap on the peloton.

Julius van den Berg is also in the move.

56km to go

The new move...

Mattia Cattaneo (Soudal-QuickStep); Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck); Julius van den Berg (EF Edcuation-EasyPost); Nicolas Prodhomme (AG2R Citroën); Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich); Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)

Will this finally be the break of the day?

No time gap just yet.

Cattaneo leading the attacking.

40 seconds for the attackers.

Jumbo-Visma now settle in at the head of the peloton.

53km to go

This looks like the break of the day, though it doesn't look like they have much chance today.

Jumbo-Visma not letting the move get too far away. They're holding the gap at just under 50 seconds at the moment.

Nearing the 50km mark now.

50km to go

Dylan Van Baarle and Robert Gesink lead the peloton with the rest of the Jumbo-Visma team behind them.

56 seconds for the break at the moment.

The gap is edging towards the minute mark on these continually rolling roads.

Over a minute for the first time.

45km to go

The Dutch squad controlling the break's advantage at a minute.

The riders still working their way west along the coast.

Still a very high pace and the peloton is lined out.

Gesink and Van Baarle continue to lead the peloton.

41km to go

The gap consistent at the minute-mark at the moment. Jumbo-Visma clearly interested in the stage win today.

The breakaway out front today.

We're two-thirds of the way through the stage now.

More rises and falls in the road. There haven't been many metres of flat road today.

In the breakaway, Groves will be taking aim at the intermediate sprint to bolster his points classification lead. That comes up in just over 10km.

It doesn't look as though Cattaneo, Van den Berg, Prodhomme, Poole, and Nicolau will be getting much out of the stage today, however.

37km to go

Jumbo-Visma race along with a full squad on the front.

It won't be long before the riders head away from the coast and head inland towards the sprint and then the final climb.

34km to go

1:20 for the break at the moment as Jumbo-VIsma give them some more time.

The average speed today is 47.6kph.

Not even two hours covered so far and the riders only have 33km left to tackle.

4km to go until the break hits the day's intermediate sprint.

Jumbo-Visma lead the peloton during today's stage.

30km to go

1:25 for the breakaway.

Green jersey Kaden Groves has 208 points in the points classification. Remco Evenepoel is in second place on 135 points.

20 up for grabs here.

The break race towards the intermediate sprint line.

27km to go

Groves accelerates away from the group with only Van den Berg providing a response.

The Australian takes it quite easily to add 20 points to his tally – now he's up to 228.

1:15 later, Jumbo-Visma lead the peloton across the line with Dylan Van Baarle at the head of the group.

Groves slows, dropping out of the back of the breakaway with his job for the day done.

Cattaneo, Van den Berg, Poole, Nicolau, and Prodhomme continue on out front.

24km to go

Under a minute for the leaders now.

The gap is only going down now.

We're still 18km away from the start of the climb.

35 seconds left for the five men up front.

21km to go

Van den Berg now pushing on at the front of the move.

Cattaneo doesn't respond.

The Italian is happy to drop back to the peloton.

35 seconds from Van den Berg, Prodhomme, Poole, Nicolau to the main group.

Cattaneo's teammate Remco Evenepoel said at the start of the day that he wouldn't be contesting the finish – instead he'd seek to help his teammates make the breakaway. Will that plan have changed?

18km to go

25 seconds between break and peloton.

Crash in the peloton for Luis León Sánchez (Astana Qazaqstan).

He went down in the middle of the pack and he's lying in the road on his side.

Doctors are quick to tend to him. He's sitting up in the road.

The 39-year-old rider recently announced that he'll be hanging up his wheels at the end of the year. This is his 14th Vuelta participation and his 30th career Grand Tour.

15km to go

UAE Team Emirates join Jumbo-Visma at the head of the peloton now.

Just 15 seconds for the break now.

10km to go until the riders begin the climb to the finish.

Sánchez is reportedly back on his bike. His final Vuelta continues!

Movistar and Groupama-FDJ up front in to the peloton as they head into another rain shower.

Bora-Hansgrohe also move up.

12km to go

The break won't last too much longer now. 10 seconds left for the group.

Jumbo-Visma (the podium trio), UAE Team Emirates (Ayuso, Soler, Almeida), Movistar (Mas), and Bora-Hansgrohe (Vlasov, Uijtdebroeks) all leading the way for their GC men.

11km to go

Nasty weather on the run to the climb.

Just a few seconds left for the breakaway.

A miserable start and finish to the day, with the mid-section of the stage dry and sunny.

Nicolau and Van den Berg with small accelerations at the front to stave off the inevitable.

10km to go

But now it's all over.

On the way to the final climb of Bejes now – it's 4.8km at 8.8% with some very steep ramps.

9km to go

Just over 4km to go before the riders begin the grand finale.

Thankfully the riders heading onto dry roads now.

8km to go

Jumbo-Visma, Bora-Hansgrohe, Movistar and Groupama-FDJ up front.

A 47.5kph average speed so far.

This group is going to explode once they hit those opening slopes.

7km to go

Just over 2km until the climb begins.

The opening kilometre of the climb is a 10.8% gradient with a high of 14%.

6km to go

Not long to go now...

Jumbo, Movistar, Bahrain at the front now.

5.5km to go

700 metres to the start of the climb.

It's a twisting, technical run to the climb.

5km to go

Here we go...

The final climb has begun!

Shocking TV direction as always. Great to see the rear of the peloton start the climb...

Attila Valter leads the way up.

And the peloton has exploded immediately.

Kuss in third wheel.

4.5km to go

A hard pace from Valter.

The three main men from Jumbo behind him.

Mas, Landa, Uijtdebroeks, Vlasov close by.

Hitting the 14% section here and Valter continues to lead.

It's a small group up front.

Ayuso, Soler, Almeida up there too for UAE.

Riders continue to struggle at the rear.

4km to go

All the main men still at the front, though.

Vingegaard attacks!

He jumps 3.8km out.

Buitrago tries to respond but can't.

A small gap here.

3.5km to go

Vingegaard has a handful of seconds.

The riders heading towards a short spell of steadier slopes.

Almeida chasing Vingegaard solo now.

No time gaps just yet.

3km to go

Around 20 seconds from Vingegaard to the main GC group.

It's Finn Fisher-Black chasing Vingegaard, not Almeida.

2.5km to go

Vingegaard on the flatter section now.

Riders continue to clip off the front of the GC group.

No one team controlling the GC group. Ayuso is up there.

2km to go

Fisher-Black chasing at around five seconds down on Vingegaard.

Buitrago at the head of the GC group.

Diego Camargo (EF Education-EasyPost) attacks from the group behind. Bauke Mollema (Lidl-Trek) too.

Vingegaard has a minute on the GC group!

1.5km to go

None of the GC men have put up any resistance here...

Vingegaard now at 1:05.

He's 1:44 down on Kuss in the overall.

On the steep stuff again now. Double-digit gradients to the line.

Now Almeida attacks.

1km to go

Vingegaard is 1:11 up.

Almeida leads the group up to Mollema.

Vinegegaard has under 1,000 metres to ride.

He's riding into second overall here.

1:15 now.

Now Roglič attacks!

Ayuso leads the chase.

Mas comes past to chase the Slovenian.

750m to go

Vingegaard closing in on the finish.

1:05 for him now.

Roglič chased by Mas, Ayuso, Kuss.

The chasers pass the 1km mark.

500m to go

Vingegaard at 1:05 up.

Roglič, Mas, Ayuso together as Kuss drops back!

Vingegaard on the way to a second stage win of the Vuelta!

He's riding solo into the final metres.

A very interesting situation for Jumbo-Visma...

Roglič led the attacks behind his teammate Vingegaard!

The final metres now for the Tour de France champion.

Finish

Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) wins stage 16 of the Vuelta a España!

Fisher-Black will take second place.

Ayuso, Mas, Roglič, Kuss, Vlasov all together.

Mas leads the group to the line.

Fisher-Black finished 41 seconds down.

Poels next.

Roglič, Mas, Ayuso, Vlasov together at just over a minute down.

Kuss loses an extra seven seconds or so.

1:01 for Ayuso, Mas, Roglič, Vlasov. 1:05 for Landa and Kuss.

An emotional win for Vingegaard after what happened to Van Hooydonck this morning.

The Dane hugs Kuss and Valter as the pair ride up to him.

Vingegaard gained a total of 1:15 on Kuss today. He's now 29 seconds down on the American. Roglič is third at 1:33.

Another big win for Vingegaard, but it was bizarre to see no reaction behind. 

It was also strange to see Roglič take the initiative with the attacks in the final 2km.

A very fast stage follow by a strange climb.

Why did UAE send Fisher-Black (40th overall) up the road instead of working for Ayuso, Soler, and Almeida? Why did Roglič lead the attacks behind his own teammate? Why didn't any of the major GC men respond when Vingegaard went?

Jonas Vingegaard on the road to victory.

Attila Valter and Jonas Vingegaard have both confirmed that Nathan Van Hooydonck's condition has improved. Valter said that he's awake and "pretty OK".

Vuelta a España: Vingegaard attacks to win stage 16 in uphill finish to Bejes

Kuss briefly loses contact on steep slopes but keeps race lead by 29 seconds

Here's what Jonas Vinegegaard had to say after his stage win...

"I'm just happy to win today. We had some terrible news this morning and I wanted to win for my best friend today. Luckily now there is good news about his condition, so that's a big relief for me and the team. I hope he will recover soon.

"Now I just want to enjoy this moment and don't think about that [tomorrow]"

The current GC standings at the 2023 Vuelta a España

Jonas Vingegaard strikes with stage 16 win to move closer to GC lead, held by Jumbo-Visma teammate Sepp Kuss with more mountains looming in final week

The shot of Vingegaard launching his attack to win the stage just as Valter (on the left) slowed from his turn on the front.

We'll have news on Van Hooydonck as well as reaction from Kuss and Vingegaard coming this evening, plus a preview of tomorrow's stage 17 to the Altu de L'Angliru.

The biggest question following Jumbo-Visma's dominant 'double 1-2-3' on the Col du Tourmalet on Friday was how would they work things out among themselves going into the final week – who can attack? who is the leader? who protects Kuss in red?

Those questions aren't really that close to being answered yet. Does Vingegaard have free reign to attack? Will the team work to protect Kuss' chance of the overall win? Or will it just be a free-for-all on Angliru and La Cruz de Linares?

'Nathan is awake and he's pretty OK' – Van Hooydonck improving after car accident

Valter and Vingegaard confirm improvement in teammate's condition after Vuelta a España stage

That'll be all from us today on the live coverage of stage 16. Stay tuned for all the news and reaction from stage 16 and come back tomorrow for more live reporting on the epicallly steep slopes of the fearsome Altu de L'Angliru.