Stage 14 of the Vuelta a Espana lavished upon us more drama than the previous 13 stages combined. Richard Carapaz of Ineos just sneaked the stage win from the day’s break, while further down the craggy slopes of the Sierra de la Pandera, Remco Evenepoel’s grip on the GC contest proved to be less than rock solid as a Primoz Roglic-inspired attack showed us that the young Belgian didn’t have what it took to keep pace with his closest rivals.
Let’s start with the GC drama
It couldn’t have been signposted any clearer. Roglic had his Jumbo teammates up the pace as the group of favourites headed towards the foot of the final climb. Most teams at the Vuelta are depleted, but Remco looked curiously lonely with only teammate Ilan van Wilder riding ahead of him.
The speed that Jumbo imposed was evident as the gap to the breakaway shrunk faster than Movistar’s trophy cabinet.
Chris Harper doing a GREAT job here…gap is coming down pretty quickly! #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/I4IkJVobhA
— Cycling_Eve (@CyclingEve) September 3, 2022
However, this is a movie we’ve seen before. Countless times in grand tours we’ve seen a team boss it onto the final climb only to melt away when the road goes steep.
And Remco, well… he’s easily absorbed everything thrown at him over the past two weeks and handed out further punishment to those who have tried. Yes, he looked lonely today, but he also looked comfortable.
🇪🇸#LaVuelta22 ¡Van Wilder destroza al lote! pic.twitter.com/jDZSG967y5
— Ciclismo Internacional (@CiclismoInter) September 3, 2022
But it happened! With 4.5km to go to the summit, Roglic got out of his saddle, swung out past the young Quick-Stepper and pressed on.
No Remco reaction.
As Roglic’s rode away, others in the favourite’s group scented blood. One-by-one, they sailed away from Evenepoel. Enric Mas (Movistar), Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) Juan Ayuso (UAE) and Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos) all left him behind with ease.
REMCO DROPPED! IT'S HAPPENING. #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/k4hPkDRLxa
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) September 3, 2022
Still no reaction from Remco.
We’ve all had questions about the wunderkind’s ability to perform over a three-week grand tour, but the further into the race we’ve gone, it seemed like Remco has the answers.
Today he couldn’t cope.
When the going got tough, he couldn’t get going. Was the Belgian just out of gas, or is this a permanent setback?
❤️¡Sufre @EvenepoelRemco que pierde casi un minuto con @rogla!
🥵 Evenepoel suffers and loses nearly a minute to Roglič!#LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/CyLutye1cJ
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 3, 2022
To see his closest rivals ride away from him with ease today won’t have been a great sight for him. There’s still plenty of climbing to do and you can bet they will try to put him to the sword from now on.
REM K.O.#LaVuelta22#FreeNairo
— #FreeNairo (@NairoInGreen) September 3, 2022
He will be buoyed by his ability to dig in and limit his losses. At the time Roglic and his followers set off, it looked like Remco could be shipping minutes on GC. Even if his shoulders rocked, his head didn’t go down. He found a rhythm and ploughed on, finishing the stage 48 seconds behind Primoz. It could have been much, much worse.
We keep fighting 👊#LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/4l0xvzpwnv
— Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team (@qst_alphavinyl) September 3, 2022
Prime Primoz
One guy had the balls to take it to Remco today. Primoz Rogilc. What would it take for this guy to stop trying? In an age where many riders seem so scared of losing that they don’t try to win, the Slovenian never shows that he’s beaten.
His plan all day was to go for the stage win. He didn’t get that, but he’s set up the race beautifully for us fans and opened the chinks in Remco’s armoury.
HE HAS A TUFT OF POWER! pic.twitter.com/jvmYKuovg8
— VeloVoices (@VeloVoices) September 3, 2022
As he rode on up the Sierra de la Pandera, Miguel Angel Lopez and Enric Mas joined him. Those two and others should be thanking Roglic tonight. Not only has Primoz put himself closer to the GC lead, he is the one who has exposed the weaknesses in Quick-Step and Evenepoel that will have ignited ambitions in other riders.
This Vuelta needed someone to spice it up. Today Primoz did just that, with guts, strength and that Primoz attitude that says ‘anything is possible’.
Finally something happing in Spain 🥰
Thank you Primoš#Vuelta2022
— Elena Kolumna (@reathina) September 3, 2022
Oh … and the winner
Two wins in three stages. Not bad for Richard “Billy” Carapaz. In fact, more than not bad. If the GC battle hadn’t kicked off, I’d be writing about how the Ecuadorian rode a beautiful race that was smart, strong and determined.
It's @RichardCarapazM and LL Sanchez that have attacked the break and have a small advantage as they take on Sierra de la Pandera.
Fuerza Richie 👊 pic.twitter.com/P2hHjFGwr9
— INEOS Grenadiers (@INEOSGrenadiers) September 3, 2022
Today’s break of the day didn’t get together until after an hour of feisty break forming battles. The EF-bound Carapaz found himself in good company with riders like Luis Leon Sanchez (Bahrain) and Kenny Elissonde (Trek). As his break mates dropped away, Carapaz soloed on. The GC rampage behind him cut his advantage, but never threatened Billy’s stage win.
🏆 𝑆𝑖𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑎 𝑑𝑒 𝑙𝑎 𝑃𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑎
⛰️ 𝐂
⛰️⛰️ 𝐀
⛰️⛰️⛰️ 𝐑
⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️ 𝐀
⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️ 𝐏
⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️ 𝐀
⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️⛰️ 𝐙
🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨🇪🇨@RichardCarapazM – @INEOSGrenadiers📸 @charlylopezph #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/3mxrVLEtt5
— La Vuelta (@lavuelta) September 3, 2022
After the stage, Carapaz says he quite fancies tomorrow’s stage as well. Such ambition will never fit in at EF, will it?
Bits and Bobs
This is why I never make predictions
Stage 14. Time for La Pandera! Another mountain top finish at the end of another easy to control stage for Quick-Step. Meh. Unless Movistar chases for Mas, it will be again a successful day for the breakaway. My picks: Valverde, Padun and Roglic. #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/RuIp6Aitxi
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) September 3, 2022
Is it even a VeloVoices stage write up if it doesn’t feature a bromance? [it is not – ed]
#LaVuelta22
The break has established – 10 men – and we have the incredible @Mads__Pedersen and 👑 @KennyElissonde repping. pic.twitter.com/rgwta5Wmbd— Trek-Segafredo (@TrekSegafredo) September 3, 2022
Stage 13: Winner 🏆
Stage 14: Helping his teammate 👏Mads Pedersen, take a bow! He's in today's breakaway working to help Kenny Elissonde 💚
📸 @GettyImages
_______
🇪🇸 #LaVuelta22 pic.twitter.com/5SbF38kSj9— Velon CC (@VelonCC) September 3, 2022
You mean Godriguez? 😏😅
— Arrière du peloton – Tom (@reardupeloton) September 3, 2022
What is on the way?
It’s only the Queen Stage. The Sierra Nevada beckons, it’s not very long, but it goes very high. How well will Remco sleep tonight?
For those wondering, tomorrow is worse for Stage 15. La Vuelta goes up to more than 8,000 feet.
— Chris Wassel (@ChrisWasselDFS) September 3, 2022
Results
Stage 14 results
1 Richard Carapaz (Ineos StageHunters) 4:09:27
2 Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Coattails Team) +08
3 Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Awesomeness) +08
4 Joao Almeida (UAE Team Invisibleness) +27
5 Carlos Rodriguez (Ineos BadNicknames) +36
6 Enric Mas (Movistar RelegationLooms) +36
7 Thymen Arensman (Team BDSM) +51
8 Remco Evenepoel (Notso Quick-Step) +56
9 Juan Aysuso (UAE NeutralServiceBike) +56
10 Wilco Kelderman (Bora-HansUpWhoKnewHeWasAtThisRace) +1:24
GC Top 10
1 Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl ) 52:21:33
2 Primož Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) +1:49
3 Enric Mas (Movistar) +2:43
4 Carlos Rodriguez (INEOS Grenadiers) +3:46
5 Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) +4:53
6 Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana Qazaqstan) +6:92
7 João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) +6:49
8 Wilco Kelderman (BORA Hansgrohe) +6:56
9 Tao Geoghegan Hart (INEOS Grenadiers) +8:49
10 Ben O’Connor (AG2R Citroen Team) +9:12
All the Jerseys
Leader’s jersey : Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl)
Points jersey : Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo)
King of the Mountains jersey : Jay Vine (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Young Rider Jersey : Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl)
Team competition : UAE Team Emirates
For the full stage review, go to cyclingnews
Go here for the official La Vuelta website