Michael Storer (Team DSM) collected his second victory on Stage 10 of the Vuelta a Espana. The young Aussie attacked out of the mahoooosive break on the final climb, held his nerve on the swoooooshing descent and his gap on the run to the line. Odd Christian Eiking turned a virtual rojo into reality for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert – YES REALLY!! His breakaway rival for red Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) takes a huge leap up the standings to second overall – YES REALLY! Behind the break Primoz Roglic rocketed away from everyone on the climb, but took so many risks on the tricksy, dusty descent that he ended on the tarmac and lost all the seconds he gained on the Movistar pitchfork Enric Mas and Miguel Angel Lopez. He now sits in third at+2.17-YES REALLY!!
We start with this pre-stage prediction. #spoileralert it was the latter
🎥 Our Vuelta’s road captain @glbrambilla introduces today’s stage, a day where a lot can happen or nothing at all #LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/gGfdsIh7gv
— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) August 24, 2021
I know the day after a rest day can sometimes been a little crazy, but I don’t think anyone expected what happened on the road to Rincon de la Victoria.
It took 80km of full gas racing for the break to go
🇪🇸 #LaVuelta21
While the attacks keep flying, after 80 kilometres into this crazy stage ten, still no early breakaway has formed.
— Lotto Soudal (@Lotto_Soudal) August 24, 2021
When it did, it was massive. 31 riders including Vuelta stage winners Magnus Cort (EF Education – Nippo), Michael Storer (Team DSM). Former red jersey wearer King Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo), and a whole host of breakaway favourites like Alex Aranburu (Astana-Premier Tech) and Matteo Trentin (UAE – Team Emirates).
that's not a break it's an invasion force https://t.co/Oll0zdbXZD
— tom owen (@tomowencc) August 24, 2021
With Jumbo-Visma’s blessing their gap ballooned out to over 10 minutes which put the red jersey into play with Odd Christian Eiking at +9:10 and Guillaume Martin at +9:39 – more on that later.
The stage winning, red jersey deciding, GC firecracker action came on the only categorised climb of the day – the 2nd Cat Puerto de Almáchar (10.9km at 4.9 per cent) – and on the swooping descent into the finish line.
Let’s hear it for the man from Perth
The breakaway riders threw everything down on the climb. Attack after attack as each tried their luck and the group splintered into pieces as the fierce headwind took it’s toll. However, the man with the form and the strongest legs was Storer. He eased away from his companions and by the time he reached the summit was holding nearly 30 seconds.
💥 Attack @mjstorer_au 💥#LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/4R628o7Ki5
— Team DSM (@TeamDSM) August 24, 2021
The babyface killer, Michael Storer went over the top of the climb with 35 sec advantage. He will do the double today if he stays on the bike. Great form. #LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/WqIx92lpiX
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) August 24, 2021
I have to say, he looked a little edgy on the twisty technical descent and I wondered if he would hold his nerve and his advantage.
this Storer descent is making me very very very nervous
— VeloVoices (@VeloVoices) August 24, 2021
He did both and hammered away into the finish once the SWOOOOSH was over.
This is a fast one! 🚲💨@mjstorer_au keeps pushing on out front for us on the descent. COME ON MICHAEL! 👊🏻#LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/sunzxbYhyA
— Team DSM (@TeamDSM) August 24, 2021
The chasing group hunted him down relentlessly, but he had more than enough seconds in hand to raise his arms in triumph.
🔥 @mjstorer_au is on fire 🔥
The Australian bags his second #LaVuelta21 win with a solo victory on Stage 10 🏆 pic.twitter.com/HjeUxiOj1W
— Velon CC (@VelonCC) August 24, 2021
When keeping it simple is the best plan of action
There was a massive fight for the breakaway. It was one of those epic days where it took more than 80 kilometres before it went. I was happy to get in there and then I was feeling good on the last climb, and I knew exactly what I needed to do on the last climb – I needed to attack.
Chapeau Michael Storer – he is to this year’s Vuelta what ex -teammate Marc Hirschi was to last years Tour.
Team DSM has won only 7 races this year. @mjstorer_au won 4 of the 7.
— Xylon van Eyck (@XylonVE) August 24, 2021
Eiking vs Martin
My beloved Wanty have the red Jersey for the second time and this time with a VIKING on the top step. Slap my thighs and call me Betty!!
As if that wasn’t enough excitement for VeloVoices Towers, Euan’s beloved Cofidis have leapt to second overall with Guillaume Martin. FULL DISCLOSURE Monsieur Martin is a firm #Midgefav too. Honestly, if our weekly Grand Tour podcast was tonight, I’m pretty certain we would both be afroth with giddiness.
Odd Christian Eiking now virtual red jersey wearing. Come in @pariswheels
(Guillaume is 2nd… take that Mas)— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) August 24, 2021
If Martin was going to climb to the top of the GC, he needed to find 29seconds on Eiking. The Frenchman is the more assured climber and had to make his move on the climb. But the Norwegian was wise to it. The pair watched each other like hawks on the ascent, barely a bike length between them at all times.
Eiking and G.Martin will follow each other everywhere today. #LaVuelta21
— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) August 24, 2021
They passed the summit together – Martin mercifully having zipped up his jersey to the relief of all his fans- and the advantage swung to Eiking.
Guillaume baby. Zip up the jersey. Remember the Tour.
— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) August 24, 2021
We didn’t see the moment Eiking lost his shadow. We cut back to action in the groups behind and when the TV showed them again, they were in separate groups with Eiking riding like fury into the finish.
Wanty and Cofidis have two of the best social media accounts. LOVE this exchange
Behind lone leader Storer, @Oddeiking and @GuilmMartin are battling for the red jersey!
🏁 16km pic.twitter.com/ski7hzkwd4
— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) August 24, 2021
Odd Christian TheKing (Wait Primoz is coming)😅 pic.twitter.com/LRN0TPNzCM
— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) August 24, 2021
As if it all wasn’t spicy enough Roglic attacked from the GC group to add extra piquancy – until the unfortunate incident that is.
#LaVuelta21
Roglic: *attacks*
Martin and Eiking: pic.twitter.com/SZPDdzYb9K— 311 days to TDF 🍀✨ (@Chmura212) August 24, 2021
The moment Odd Christian Eiking claimed red
#LaVuelta21 @Oddeiking finishes 5⃣th in Rincón de la Victoria!! pic.twitter.com/CkTXGdRDqg
— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) August 24, 2021
Well deserved 👌🏼 pic.twitter.com/GotRvzwNDT
— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) August 24, 2021
I’m thrilled for Wanty and Odd. He’s a real scrappy-do rider – always attack with fierceness and heart and is lethal on this sort of terrain. I’ve always thought him a good match for the ‘little Belgian team that could’. His racing at the Arctic Tour showed he was on top form and this is a just reward.
Sometimes miracles happen 🤩
Read more 👉 https://t.co/TamPWK2jL1 pic.twitter.com/37qEdMSFhS
— Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert (@IntermarcheWG) August 24, 2021
Cofidis have every right to be cock-a-hoop tonight. Guillaume’s bravery in taking the break today has paid dividends once again.
Meanwhile, at the Vuelta, Guillaume Martin is doing almost exactly what Guillaume Martin did at the Tour de France. It’s the Guillaume Martin move.
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) August 24, 2021
They may not have their man in red but their leader is only 58secs behind Eiking, with his favoured terrain to come. He also holds a healthy +1.19 on Roglic. Could we see Cofidis in extra red by the end of the week. #IAMEXCITE
Les grands Tours se suivent et se ressemblent! Remontée à la 2è place du général, à la faveur d'une longue échappée 👍
Like in the Tour, I jump to a 2nd spot in GC thanks to a long breakaway. I'll keep fighting in the coming days to get the best results possible!@TeamCOFIDIS pic.twitter.com/Nc198LOOd0
— Guillaume Martin (@GuilmMartin) August 24, 2021
No risk, no glory
It’s not easy being a fan of Jumbo Bee leader Primoz Roglic. One minute you’re riding the crest of a wave as he lights the blue touch paper and leaves his GC rivals for dead – or 20 seconds behind him at least.
ROGLA ATTACKS! #LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/5hsw9b6wAb
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) August 24, 2021
Primoz Roglic is doing his best to kill the Vuelta GC battle dead. Movistar needs time on him before the final time trial, but he doesn't look like he's ready to give it to them. #LaVuelta21
— Sadhbh O'Shea (@SadhbhOS) August 24, 2021
The next he’s hurtling down the SWOOOSHING descent as if the very dogs of hell were upon is heels! All the risks taken as he looked for more seconds. One misjudgement at a corner and …
This could be huge!
Primoz Roglic has 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍 on the descent… but manages to get back on his bike 💥😱#LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/OHXyrhEAvW
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) August 24, 2021
He was quickly back on his back bearing the usual rips to his lycra
yes, I think I could identify the bib-less haunches of Roglic in one of those 'who is this' quizzes https://t.co/6pka3zazt5
— VeloVoices (@VeloVoices) August 24, 2021
and came over the line with his rivals – all those seconds his attack gained, lost in a single high-speed moment.
Roglic arrived together with Lopez, Mas, Haig, Kuss, Grossschartner and Vlasov. He doesn't seem injured, just some road rash. They gained another 37 sec on Bernal and Yates today. #LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/s4qlgshKV3
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) August 24, 2021
Of course there was debate about the way he chose to descend, the risk he took. Was it too much for so little a time gain? Eurosport commentator Sean ‘King’ Kelly wasn’t alone in his feeling that Roglic had been stupid to ride as he did.
I was expecting that for Rog. Foolhardy.
— John Galloway (@VelocastJohn) August 24, 2021
The man himself had no such doubts. I LOVE HIM. This is why we love his style of style of racing. He puts it all out there sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But he rides with his heart on sleeve ALWAYS.
Roglič on his attack today: "no risk, no glory", says he's ok after his crash #lavuelta21
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) August 24, 2021
"No risk, no glory" 🤷@nicholasroche had no complaints about GC rider Primoz Roglic launching a risky attack on Stage 10#LaVuelta21 pic.twitter.com/Jiyt3FwU3h
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) August 24, 2021
Oh Roglic..
.
He captures our hearts and we pull for him with all of it…and pull for his team who pulls for him with all heart…
…which is why it hurts so much when it goes sideways/hits the tarmac (I suppose it isn't sideways just yet but it still hurts).
— Stacy Snyder (@snyderceramics) August 24, 2021
And least we forget, he may not have taken time on Mas, Miguel Angel Lopez or Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious). But the INEOS threat from Adam Yates and a faltering Egan Bernal was pushed further away, they sit at +4:46 and +5:01 respectively.
The final word
Have I mentioned that I ❤️ #LaVuelta21?
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) August 24, 2021
All the results
Stage results
1 Michael Storer (Team DSM) 4:09:21
2 Mauri Vansavenant (Deceuninck-Quick Step) +0:22
3 Clement Champoussin (AG2R Citroen) same time
4 Dylan Van Baarle (Bahrain-Victorious) s/t
5 Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) s/t
GC Top 10
1 Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux) 38:37:46
2 Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) +0:58
3 Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +2:17
4 Enric Mas (Movistar Team) +2:45
5 Miguel Angel Lopez (Movistar Team) +3:38
6 Jack Haig (Bahrain-Victorious) +3:59
7 Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers) +4:46
8 Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) +4:57
9 Adam Yates (INEOS Grenadiers) +5:01
10 Felis Grosschartner (BORA-hansgrohe) +5:42
All the jerseys
All the jerseys and quite a few #VueltaSwimmingPools after quite the finish to Stage 10 #LaVuelta pic.twitter.com/eelo1YIkAe
— Felix Lowe (@saddleblaze) August 24, 2021
Leader’s jersey : Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux)
Points jersey : Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quick Step)
King of the Mountains: Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious)
Best young rider : Egan Bernal (INEOS Grenadiers)
Best team : Movistar (of course they are!)
For full race results, go to CyclingNews