Friday, August 23rd Grade 7
Alcidona ~ Cordoba 180.5km (hills)
The seventh stage of the Vuelta a España, which runs through the Andalusian desert, is a hilly plateau with only one second stage mountain in the final stage. Leaving Alcidona, we went on a flat road for 140km, then climbed up the hard mountain Alto del of the second level with a maximum gradient of 16% and 14% (distance 7.4km / average 5.6%) . After that, the race goes through several ups and downs, then a steep descent and then a flat road of about 12km towards the finish point.
The sprinters are expected to drop out in the mountain second stage, and most expect a group sprint including punchers. The stage, which left all the possibility of running away or running alone, was held in the intense heat of the day, with the athletes once again using water and ice to cool themselves. .
The race started very quietly, with a complete reversal from the previous day when Xavier Isaza (Spain, Euskaltel Euskadi) made a solo run. 22-year-old Isasa, who ran away in the third stage, extended his lead to a maximum of 9 minutes, while the leading group behind him was led by the Decathlon AG2R Ramondial management team, with Wisma Lies-Avaig and Alpecin Deceuninck also strong.
Yesterday’s winner is Ben O’Connor (Australia, Decathlon AG2R La Mondial) riding a bike with red logos on the front of the frame, pedals and wheels, worn by Mayorrojo. In addition to his first Grand Tour leader’s jersey, he was also the first Majorojo wearer for Decathlon, which was founded in 1992 and has a long history in the world of cycling. This memorial race for Decathlon went on at an average speed faster than the 5th stage, which was a sprint, and before 50km were left, the gap with the racer had decreased to 3 minutes.
Isasa, who is having a good time to showcase his time on the Grand Tour, which he won in his third year as a professional, passes the intermediate sprint set with 39.2km remaining. In the peloton, just 30 seconds behind, Kaden Groves (Australia, Alpecin Deceuninck) overtook Wout van Aert (Belgium, Wisma Ries-A-Bijk), wearing the Puntos Maillot (points award jersey), for second place. Groves closed the gap on Van Aert with two points, and soon after the pack swallowed up Isaza.
Heiss Reimreise (Netherlands, DSM Firmenich Post NL), who had finished 6th in the category after running away the day before, was delayed by a mechanical truck, but got bonus time up to -6 seconds on the second mountain class Alto del 14% (speed 7.4). Entering the second class mountain, Visma Edoardo Affini (Italy) sent out splitting rival sprinters. By the time the lead changed from Affini to Red Bull again, not only the sprinters but also athletes who were good at climbing, such as Jay Vine (Australia, Emirates Team UAE), were falling on last.
With 1.5km left to the summit and 27km to the finish, Aleksandr Vlasov (Russia, Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe) completed his task and Primoš Roglič (Slovakia) accelerated. That pace was followed by Richard Carapaz (Ecuador, EF Education Easy Post), Sepp Kuss (USA, Visma Riesabijk), and O’Connor, Van Aert pushing hard at the back of the pack. Then, once the slope became gentle and the pace of the group slowed, Lennart van Ietveldt (Belgium, Lotto Destiny) took advantage of the opportunity to make a move.
However, this did not have the decisive factor, and Roglič made a second attack after a blow. While Mayor Rojo’s O’Connor was behind, Roglič passed the front and got a bonus time (-6 seconds). Kuss (-4 seconds) passed in second place, and Carapaz (-2 seconds) passed in third place, taking it back from O’Connor.
As the running group fell behind on the climb, Kaden Groves (Australia, Alpecin Deceuninck) spun around and hit the rear wheel of the rider in front of him, causing him to fall. Van Aert, who had his biggest rival out, grabbed the lead group in an up and down division, and Kuss, who won last year, started to lead the way. With 21km remaining, Marc Soler (Spain, Emirates Team UAE) jumped out and took the lead on his own.
The race consisted of a group of about 20 runners after Sorel in the lead. Kuss continued with Decathlon, and Van Aert jumped out at 11km remaining after finishing the descent and entering a flat section. However, Van Aert stopped pushing and returned to the pack, and Kuss again showed a quick pull and caught Soler with 3.5km to go.
As Kuss finished his position and settled his legs, the group’s pace suddenly slowed. As a result, David Goddu (France, Groupama FDJ), Van Ietveldt, Pavel Sivakov (Russia, Emirates Team UAE) and others continued to attack. Vlasov, who had returned to lead the pack, caught a glimpse of Sivakov with 500 meters remaining, and the race became a general sprint.
Van Aert started his long sprint first, and the other non-sprinters couldn’t even keep up. As a result, Van Aert, wearing the Maillot Puntos, easily crossed the finish line and took his second victory in the championship.
Van Aert stood up to the high speed of the second stage mountain and took the sprint victory thanks to good support from Kuss. “I expected a group sprint with a larger number of people. I knew that the last mountain would be difficult, but I did not expect it to be so intense. Me and Sep (Kuss) joined the group at the top. , so it was difficult to get around.
Matias Vacek (Czech Republic, Riddle Trek), who was second in the individual TT on day one, came second in the category, while Pau Mikel (Ekipo Kernfarma), from Spain, came 3rd place Antonio Tiberi (Italy, Bahrain Victorious), who was unable to use his natural speed and finished 12th, received the maillot Blanco (Young Rider Award jersey).
2024-08-23 23:30:00
#Kuss #shows #big #support #day #Van #Aert #survives #uphill #climb #claim #victory #Vuelta #España #7th #stage #cyclowired
