Vuelta a Espana 2022 : Stage 18 – Remco claims his mountain stage

Stage 18 of the Vuelta a Espana has been rather overshadowed by far more significant events, especially here in the UK, but today in Spain, the show did go on. Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) won his second stage win on the final summit finish of the final Grand Tour of the year. You’d think bar accident this all but consolidates his overall victory of this year’s race. There was heartbreak for Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma) who came within 500m of the line only to be pipped to the post by ruthless Remco. Enric Mas (Movistar), who attacked everywhere he could, took second place on the day, with Gesink deservedly rounding out the podium.

Continue reading

Vuelta a Espana 2022 : Stage 17 – Rigoberto Uran takes thriller of a breakaway win

Stage 17 of the Vuelta a Espana started with the sad, though not unexpected, news that Primoz Roglic would take no further part in the race and that everyone on the GC shuffled up one place.  The racing produced a zinger of attackityness from the breakaway on the final climb to Monasterio de Tentudia. Wait for it! EF Education EasyPost’s Rigoberto Uran (YES REALLY!) chased down Jesus Herrada in the closing metres to take his first win an age and climb into the top ten overall. Quentin Pacher  (Groupama-FDJ) pipped Herrada for second. Back in the GC, more surprises awaited as Enric Mas found his Movistar va-va-voom and attacked (I KNOW!) and Team UAE Emirates also channelled Movistar by having Joao Almeida attack and teammate Juan Ayuso cut his advantage.

Continue reading

Vuelta a Espana 2022 : Stage 16 – Mads takes stage, but Rog chaos talk of the day

A stage as flat as a pancake, *they said*. A rare day for the sprinters at La Vuelta, *they said*. An easy day for Remco Evenepoel (QuickStep) to hold on to the Red Jersey, *they said*. An attack with 3km to go from Jumbo Visma’s Primoz “No Risk, No Glory” Roglic, *NOBODY said*.

Stage 16 of the 2022 Vuelta should have come with a health warning. From a Grand Tour with zilcho drama, to essentially the drama of seven seasons (may be exaggerating, may also not be) happening within the final 3km of today’s parcours. In a nutshell, all you need to know is that a sprinter, Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), did win the stage and there was no change to the overall standings… but that is only the tip of a very large iceberg. Let’s start at the very beginning 3km to go.
Continue reading