Kristof Vandewalle

Kristof Vandewalle of Trek Factory Racing slipped back from his Stage 15 placement to land in the Point d’Appui general classification after Stage 16 of the 2014 Vuelta a España.

Vandewalle had been in 184th place early in the race but has slowly climbed in the standings, reaching 79th on Sunday but falling back to 87th just as the fulcrum moved forward to the same spot.

Alberto Contador remains the GC leader of the tour, and Carlos Alberto Betancur of AG2R La Mondiale still holds the Lanterne Rouge.

Three riders fell out of the race on Stage 15: Oscar Gatto of Cannondale had to abandon. Then Gianluca Brambilla of Omega Pharma-Quick-Step and Ivan Rovny of Tinkoff-Saxo were disqualified after trading jabs while they were in the break, a “slap-match” as one commentator called it. The fisticuffs were flung in front of a race official’s car and with cameras rolling.