Photo: Marca (marca.com)

Havana, September 6 (RHC)-- Colombian cyclist Jhoan Esteban Chaves abandoned today the Vuelta a España 2022, before the start of stage 16.

The Swiss formation EF Education did not explain the reason for the absence of the South American, who was third in the 2016 Vuelta and second in the Giro of the same year.

Nor did Belgian Maxim van Gils take the start in the sixteenth stage, in this case for Covid-19.

With these two new withdrawals, 142 riders remain in competition, 42 less than the 184 who did so at the start of the race in Utrech, Netherlands.

The fight for the lead remains tight between Belgian Remco Evenpoel, Slovenian Primoz Roglic and Spaniard Enric Mas.

For Latin America the best placed is the Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez, who appears sixth, more than five minutes behind the leader.