Vuelta a España Stage Report: Marc Soler (UAE Group Emirates) appeared out of the mist to take his first stage victory within the 2024 Vuelta a España. In moist circumstances, the Spaniard was the strongest of a bunch of escapees on the climb to the Lagos de Covadonga. Among the many favourites; Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) once more misplaced time to the opposite GC males, however the Australian managed to maintain purple jersey (by 5 seconds). In the course of the stage, Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) crashed and needed to abandon the race.
The ultimate kilometre of stage 16
Vuelta race director, Fernando Escartín: “Lagos de Covadonga is a effectively famend climb amongst cyclists. This significantly lengthy stage will characteristic two Class 1 climbs, Fitu and Llomena, the place the riders who handle to flee will play a starring function earlier than the climb as much as Lagos. This can be a doubtlessly harmful stage as it can happen proper after a relaxation day, which may price one of many favourites dearly.”
Stage 16 profile
Stage 16: The sixteenth stage finishes on the Lagos de Covadonga. The beginning of the stage is within the Asturian coastal city of Luanco after which goes by way of the hilly northern Spanish coast previous Gijón to the attractive mountain vary of the Picos de Europa. Earlier than the ultimate HC climb, there are two Cat.1 mountains. The primary is the Mirador del Fito (7km at 8.1%) after 70 kilometres and the second, the Collada Llomenia (7.6km at 9.3%). After the Llomenia there are 40 kilometres to the bottom of the Lagos de Covadonga for 12.5 kilometres to the glacial lakes Lago de Enol and Lago de Ercina. The Lagos de Covadonga (12.5km at 6.9%) and is an extended exhausting climb. Within the first 7 kilometres the highway rises at 10%. The final a part of this part has ramps of greater than 15%. The final kilometres of the climb are a bit flatter and final half to the end is downhill.
The beginning was on the port of Luanco
Wout van Aert mentioned earlier than the beginning that he needed to save lots of himself for the following phases, however the Belgian went on the assault within the first kilometres. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider was one of many first to make a break, however his escape try was rapidly shut down. He additionally crashed, however acquired again to the peloton. Van Aert stored quiet for some time after that. It took a very long time for a break to type as there have been many riders who needed to be a part of it. After many assaults, 17 rider acquired away after greater than 30 kilometres: Jay Vine, Marc Soler and Isaac del Toro (UAE Group Emirates), Marco Frigo and Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Premier Tech), Max Poole (dsm-firmenich-PostNL), Filippo Zana (Jayco AlUla) and… Wout van Aert had been all a part of the escape.
One other robust day forward for the race chief – Ben O’Connor
They had been joined by William Junior Lecerf (T-Rex Fast-Step), Oier Lazkano (Movistar), Darren Rafferty (EF Training-EasyPost), Fran Miholjević (Bahrain Victorious), Felix Engelhardt (Jayco AlUla), Simon Guglielmi (Arkéa-B&B Lodges), Martijn Tusveld (dsm-firmenich-PostNL), Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Dstny) and Ion Izagirre (Cofidis). The lead rapidly elevated. On the foot of the primary climb of the day, the Mirador del Fito (7km at 8.1%), the distinction was 9 minutes. On the climb, the break rode regular and waited for the dash for the KOM factors. Soler and Vine tried to shake off Van Aert, however he nonetheless quick first over the road. Van Aert elevated his lead within the mountain classification to 4 factors. The Belgian didn’t wait on the descent.
What’s going to the stage carry Sepp Kuss and Wout van Aert? Kuss was awarded the ‘Solidarity Jersey’ at first of the stage
The inexperienced jersey had a lead after a quick descent and determined to push on. The Vine group had been now at 1 minute, however there was no panic among the many pursuers. On the flat kilometres to the Collada Llomenia (7.6km at 9.3%), the second climb on the day, the chase group caught Van Aert.
The jerseys at first
Within the GC group, nobody was prepared to push too exhausting, however the males of Decathlon-AG2R, who had been on the entrance for the primary hours, had been changed by Movistar. The Spanish group had plans for his or her chief Enric Mas, the tempo abruptly elevated. The group of favourites was rapidly decreased to about 20 riders, however there have been no assaults but.
The Vuelta leaves the coast for the Lagos
Mas attacked on the penultimate climb. His greatest rivals for the purple jersey: Primoz Roglič, Mikel Landa and general chief, Ben O’Connor, managed to comply with his transfer. Then there was a counter-attack from Landa, however the Soudal Fast-Step chief couldn’t get away both. When Landa was caught, the tempo within the favourites group slowed down and so Valentin Paret-Peintre went again to work for his chief, O’Connor.
That man once more – Pablo Castrillo Pablo (Equipo Kern Pharma)
Within the break, Van Aert additionally received the KOM dash on the Collada Llomenia. The factors hole on Vine was now a bit larger, however Vine may pull that again on the ultimate climb to Lagos de Covadonga. Ultimately, Vine didn’t need to compete with the Belgian as he crashed exhausting on the moist descent of the Collada Llomenia.
The assaults weren’t lengthy in coming
Felix Engelhardt was the primary to crash and Van Aert couldn’t keep away from the Austrian. The Belgian hit a rocky face along side the highway. The badly injured Van Aert acquired again on his bike, however wasn’t capable of pedal correctly. The accidents to his leg had been too severe to proceed and he needed to abandon la Vuelta.
Wout van Aert needed as many factors as he may get for each jerseys – Inexperienced and KOM, till…
Van Aert was visibly in ache as he sat at the back of the group automobile. The Vuelta misplaced the chief of the factors and KOM classification and one of many stars of the race. The main group now consisted of 12 riders, with Del Toro, Vine, Soler, Lecerf, Frigo, Riccitello, Miholjevič, Zana, Poole, Tusveld, Izagirre and Guglielmi. Moniquet and Engelhardt, who was capable of proceed after the crash, didn’t see the entrance of the race once more.
Purple jersey, Ben O’Connor had his males on the entrance of the peloton
The remaining escapees had been very evenly matched on the ultimate climb. Vine, Poole, Soler, Zana and Del Toro determined it was time for assaults, however there was no actual splits. Poole needed to make his mark and put the stress on. Solely two riders had been capable of comply with: Soler and Zana. Vine, Riccitello, Del Toro and Frigo couldn’t maintain on.
The damp roads within the mountains had been treacherous
The following to assault was Soler, this put Zana in bother, however the Italian rode at his personal tempo and managed to return. This turned out to be short-lived, as a result of one other assault by Soler was deadly for Zana. Poole was additionally in bother and Soler prolonged his lead within the final uphill kilometres. Soler received his first stage within the 2024 Vuelta after three third locations. Zana crossed the end line in 2nd place, Poole was third.
Wout van Aert hit the rocky face along side the highway, he tried to journey on, however his accidents had been an excessive amount of and he needed to abandon
The Vuelta was over for Wout van Aert
Within the favourites group, Landa determined to check the competitors. The Spaniard rode away from his rivals. The distinction remained very small because of the exhausting work of O’Connor’s teammate, Paret-Peintre. Landa was an excellent springboard for a counter-attack by one of many others.
Decathlon-AG2R managed the peloton and pulled the break again to six minutes at first of the climb to the Lagos de Covadonga
Mas crossed to Landa, with Roglič, Richard Carapaz and David Gaudu on his wheel. O’Connor was not going to surrender, however needed to watch the others get additional away. Roglič, Mas, Carapaz and a shocking Gaudu noticed O’Connor was in bother and pushed exhausting. With simply over 4 kilometres to go, the hole to the Roglič group had elevated to 50 seconds.
Marc Soler went solo for the win
O’Connor noticed his purple chief’s jersey slipping away, however he managed to restrict the hole within the last kilometres. The Decathlon-AG2R chief gave it every little thing he had and on the end line he nonetheless had 5 seconds on Roglič. The Slovenian is now within the good place for the general win with the exhausting phases and the time trial to come back, however as we all know, something can occur in la Vuelta, ask Wout van Aert.
All Primoz Roglič needed to do was stick with Mas and Carapaz
Stage winner, Marc Soler (UAE Group Emirates): “I narrowly missed on victory a number of instances and eventually I made it. I attempted to speed up a number of instances [on the climb to the Lagos de Covadonga], Max Poole additionally tried it a number of instances and in the long run I used to be capable of take this benefit. It’s at all times excessive degree breakaways however, effectively, I knew I had one or two assaults and that’s all. I attempted it as soon as. Then [Poole] additionally maintained a powerful tempo and eventually I set off and didn’t look behind. I dedicate this victory to my spouse, my youngsters and I’m very pleased. It’s a really particular victory as a result of I haven’t received lots with this group and after two years, successful right here in La Vuelta is particular.”
Eventually – Marc Soler will get a stage win
General chief, Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale): “Really I didn’t suppose it was gonna be that unhealthy at present however in the long run I saved the jersey so I assume it’s a pleasant silver lining going to the following two phases. So I simply gotta get pleasure from it to the max as a result of I’m unsure I’ll be having it in Madrid. Aussie biking is at all times producing the products and it’s cool to see us preventing off on the entrance.”
Ben O’Connor saved his purple jersey by 5 seconds
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Vuelta a España Stage 16 Consequence:
1. Marc Soler (Spa) UAE Group Emirates in 4:44:46
2. Filippo Zana (Ita) Jayco AlUla at 0:18
3. Max Poole (GB) dsm-firmenich-PostNL at 0:23
4. Jay Vine (Aus) UAE Group Emirates at 0:57
5. Ion Izagirre Insausti (Spa) Cofidis at 1:02
6. Isaac Del Toro Romero (Mex) UAE Group Emirates at 1:29
7. Marco Frigo (Ita) Israel-Premier Tech at 1:35
8. Matthew Riccitello (USA) Israel-Premier Tech at 1:47
9. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 3:54
10. Richard Carapaz (Col) EF Training-EasyPost
11. Primož Roglič (Slo) Purple Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.
Vuelta a España General After Stage 16:
1. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale in 65:09:00
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Purple Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 0:05
3. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 1:25
4. Richard Carapaz (European) EF Training-EasyPost at 1:46
5. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Fast-Step at 2:18
6. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 3:48
7. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 3:53
8. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Lidl-Trek at 4:00
9. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Purple Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 4:27
10. Pavel Sivakov (Fra) UAE Group Emirates at 5:19.
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