A. Yates runs alone for 58km and overcomes the threat of leaving Almeida with victory – Vuelta a España 2024 9th stage |

In the 9th stage of the Vuelta a España, which featured three first-class mountains in the second half, Adam Yates (UK, Emirates Team UAE) took a solo victory over 58km. While Kuss lost time, overall leader O’Connor increased his lead by four seconds by finishing third in the division.

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Sunday, August 25th Grade 9
Motril to Granada 178.5 kilometers (mountain)

The first week of the 79th Vuelta a España ends with a mountain stage that crosses three Class 1 mountains in the second half of the course. The athletes started in Motril, overlooking the Alboran Sea, and went north, going near the center of the city of Granada. Then we enter the mountainous region to the west.

We crossed the first Class 1 mountain, Puerto de El Pace (distance 8.9km / average 7.6%), which was placed at equal intervals, and then we reached Alto de Hazaranas, a Class 1 mountain with a gradient of a height of 20% (distance 7.1 km/ 2 around a course that is higher than 9.5% (average 9.5%) twice. The finish point is not at the top of the mountain, but at the end of a steep slope that stretches about 20km.In addition to the layout being suitable for running away, the next day was the first day of rest, so it was expected that there would be a general battle.

Joao Almeida (Portugal, Emirates Team UAE) did not race on this day due to infection with the new coronavirus. Almeida was delayed during the final climb the previous day, complained of feeling ill, and tested positive for coronavirus. This is the second time for Almeida, who was third overall at the start of the race in his home country of Portugal, to withdraw from a Grand Tour due to the coronavirus disease, after the 2022 Giro d’Italia.

The race, which took place in an area used by many athletes for high altitude training camps, started with an attack from Wout van Aert (Belgium, Wisma-Ries-A-Bijk) with Maillot Puntos (points award jersey). Marc Soler (Spain, Emirates Team UAE) and others followed suit, and after several attacks and captures, a large group of 26 people was formed.

David Goddu (France, Groupama FDJ), who is behind in the overall rankings, will be brought in, while the UAE, who lost the overall ace, will add Adam Yates (UK) and Jay Vine (Australia) on Soler. Cofidis also sent three members, including Jesús Herrada (Spain), but the main group was led by Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe, with Primoš Roglič (Slovakia) wearing the Maillot Montaña (mountain prize jersey).

In the first Class 1 hill of the day, Puerto de El Pace (distance 8.9km / average 7.6%), Soler and Vine set the pace for Yates. While van Aert and others were behind that speed, Richard Carapaz (Ecuador, EF Education Easy Post) attacked in the peloton, who started the climb 4 minutes late. Aiming to escape​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ and merge, we ran up the early part of the mountain with an average gradient of 10% in a light dance.

Godu first passed at the top of a Class 1 mountain and entered a steep downhill slope of about 10 km. Carapaz, who was running alone, was joined by Darren Rafferty, 21, (Ireland, EF Education Easy Post), who had fallen behind in the run, and they used team play to close the gap to the leaders. close Finally, we entered the mountain of the first level Alto de Hazaranas (distance 7.1km / average 9.5%), and after Soler finished his post, the group that had fallen behind was reduced to three members: Yates, Vine, and Goddu.

At the same time, in the peloton, Red Bull continued to reduce their numbers at high speed, with only Felix Gall (Austria) helping Ben O’Connor (Australia, Decathlon AG2R La Mondial).

Yates jumped out at the front with 4.4km to go, and took the lead alone with 58.4km to go. Yates passed Alto de Hazaranas in the lead for the first time, followed by Carapaz, who had passed Vine and Godu, and Pablo Castrillo (Spain, Equipo Cologne Farma), who had caught up after for him to run away. However, on the way down, Vine and Godu caught up with Carapaz, and four riders, including Vine, who was closer, passed Yates.

Yates turned the pedal smoothly and entered the first stage mountain Alto de Hazaranas for the second time, 2 and a half minutes behind the running group and 6 and a half minutes behind the peloton. Yates, who controlled his body temperature by dousing fans and himself with water, climbed easily and aimed for the top, which would give him a bonus time. The main group, where Florian Lipowitz (Germany, Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe) replaced Gall as paceman, was further reduced, with Sepp Kuss (USA, Wisma Liesabijk) dropping to – out

Enric Mas (Spain, Movistar) attacked from an elite group led by Gall, O’Connor, Roglič, Mikel Landa (Spain, T-Rex Quick-Step), and Carlos Rodriguez (Spain, Ineos Grenadiers). No one could pull him back, and Yates reached the top ahead of the race. He went through the technical descent with ease and jumped to the finish line to a loud cheer.

Yates took his first victory in the Vuelta in his fifth appearance. “It was very hot and I’ve never been in so much pain. On the last climb my leg went up and I thought I wasn’t going to win. I’ve have been very lucky in Grand Tours for the past few years, but I was able to finally win,” Yates said through tears. I was happy to play.

Although he lost the lead by 1 minute 39 seconds, Carapaz gained time and jumped up to 3rd place overall, taking 2nd place on the stage. In the sprint for third place in the division, O’Connor, who beat Landa, came first and added -4 seconds. He succeeded in extending the time difference with Roglič and others.

Also, Joshua Tarling (Great Britain, Ineos Grenadiers) retired after falling from a car, while Antonio Tiberi (Italy, Bahrain Victorious), wearing the Maillot Blanco (Young Rider Award jersey), suffered a headache caused by heat stroke. leaving the race.

After completing the first week of the Vuelta in the sweltering heat, the athletes will travel around 800km before heading to Vigo, a city in north-west Spain, for their first rest day.