It was stage 9 of Vuelta 2022 and with a demonic final climb that had nasty double-digit inclines, it was hoped at VeloVoices Towers that this would finally ignite our imaginations by setting up rivalries all over the road, handlebar to handlebar, to give us a second week of ‘what will happen today’ anticipation. Did it, hell. We did get a popular Wanty breakaway winner in the form of Louis Meintjes, that was good. And although Remco Evenepoel‘s display of grit and power on the final climb was impressive, it didn’t half make our hearts sink to see him stretch out his lead in red even further.
