Less than 24 hours after losing the Tour of Spain 2023, Remco Evenepoel he reacts with the character of the great champion that he is and wins at the top of the Puerto de Belagua. The Soudal-QuickStep captain, who burst into tears after the arrival, completed an escape centered with strength and heart in the early stages of the stage and then interpreted to perfection. Second place for Romain Bardet (DSM-firmenich), with whom he had taken the advantage on the descent about 90 km from the finish, before the Frenchman raised the white flag 4 km from the finish. Third place, at 6’33”, for Lennert Van Eeetvelt (Lotto Dstny), while the big ones don’t force and Sep kiss remains firmly in the red jersey.
THE RACE – Ready, go, and Remco Evenepoel, wounded in pride, begins to sprint left and right to make an escape. He succeeds after 45 km, when 24 of them leave: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), Jonathan Castroviejo (Ineos Grenadiers), Damiano Caruso, Kamil Gradek (Bahrain Victorious), Juanpe Lopez, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl Trek), Clément Davy, Michael Storer (Groupama-FDJ), Lennard Kämna (Bora-hansgrohe), Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny), Stefan Bissegger, Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost), Rui Costa, Julius Johansen, Simone Petilli (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), Ruben Fernandez, Andre Carvalho (Cofidis), Romain Bardet, Alberto Dainese (DSM-Firmenich), Kevin Vauquelin, Kevin Ledanois (Arkéa-Samsic), Joel Nicolau ( Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), which will later include Mattia Cattaneo (Soudal-QuickStep), Chris Hamilton (DSM-Firmenich) and José Manuel Diaz (Burgos-BH).
The possibility of fighting for the general is gone, Remco puts the polka dot shirt in its sights, passes first on the Col Hourcère and attacks downhill together with Bardet, about 90 km from the finish. The two quickly gain a minute on the rest of the fugitives, increasingly reduced, and the Belgian champion also conquers the Puerto de Larrau and the Puerto de Laza, with Bardet giving him practically no change.
In a group Juan Ayuso he tries to test his adversaries with a couple of accelerations, but once the unbreakable supremacy of Jumbo-Visma has been certified he decides to calmly set off again.
Evenepoel and Bardet, unreachable, come to fight for the victory on the final climb of the Belagua Port, where the French expert, however, had to give up the wheel of the former world champion just under 4 km from the finish line. Remco flies towards the finish line, enjoys the last meters and bursts into tears even before crossing the finish line. He may not yet be at the super top level in the Grand Tours, but he remains an absolute champion.
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ORDER OF ARRIVAL
1. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) in 4h13’38”
2. Romain Bardet (DSM-firmenich) +1’12”
3. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) +6’33”
4. Jonathan Castroviejo (Ineos Grenadiers) +6’35”
5. Michael Storer (Groupama-FDJ) +7’24”
6. David De La Cruz (Astana Qazaqstan) +8’21”
7. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-hansgrohe) +8’22”
8. Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) st
9. Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) s.t.
10. John Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) st
GENERAL RANKING
1. Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) in 51h0
2. Primoz Roglič (Jumbo-Visma) +1’37”
3. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) +1’44”
4. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) +2
5. Enric Mas (Movistar) +3’06”
6. Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) +3’10”
7. Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) +4’12”
8. Aleksandr Vlasov (Bora-hansgrohe) +5’02”
9. Cian Uijtdebroecks (Bora-hansgrohe) +5’30”
10. João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +8’39”
2023-09-09 15:09:00
#VUELTA #EVENEPOEL #REACTION #CHAMPION #WINS #PUERTO #BELAGUA #JUMBOVISMA #CONTROL
