Category Archives: Stage races

2022 season, Grand Tours, Stage races, Vuelta a España

Vuelta a Espana 2022 : Stage 5 – Soler steals the stage, Molard moves into red

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Wow! I bet no one was expecting UAE Team Emirate’s Marc Soler to grab victory on stage 5 of La Vuelta a Espana. To be honest, I’m still not sure I can explain it! In true Soler style, the mercurial Spaniard chased like crazy to get into the break, got dropped in a finale backloaded with climbs, somehow made it back, shot off the front solo on the Alto del Vivero, held his advantage on the descent and sailed over the line, arms aloft with four seconds to spare on his chasers. With Jumbo-Visma happy to let the race lead go to someone in the break-of-the-day, Rudy Molard (Groupama-FDJ) played his cards – and Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) – perfectly to move into the red jersey for the second time in his career.

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2022 season, Grand Tours, Race Analysis, Stage races, Vuelta a España

Vuelta a Espana 2022 : Stage 4 – Rojo Rogla takes the stage and GC lead

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The 2022 edition of La Vuelta a Espana continued on Stage 4, and so too did the glorious Primoz Roglic Spanish love story. As the race hit the mainland following the Dutch Grand Depart, the punchier riders got their first shot at victory. Roglic dominated the field, despite Julian Alaphilippe (QuickStep-Alpha Vinyl) looking pleasantly active earlier in the stage. Trek’s Mads Pedersen and Movistar’s Enric Mas finished second and third behind the man who will now be the fourth Jumbo-Visma rider to wear the Red Jersey at this edition of the race. Red Rogla is back and it feels so good!

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2022 season, Grand Tours, Race Analysis, Stage races, Vuelta a España

Vuelta a Espana 2022 : Stage 3 – Smiley Sam Bennett is on a hot streak

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In accordance with Article 2 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, Ireland confirmed to the United Nations secretary-general on January 22, 2021, that it does not own, possess, or control nuclear weapons, has never done so, and does not host any other state’s nuclear weapons on its territory. Seemingly, it lied and/or forgot about Sam Bennett. The man, who shall now be known as The Irish Nuke, [really? – ed] shot through the peloton to win back-to-back stages at the Vuelta a Espana today, leaving destruction in his wake. Mads Pedersen finished second, again, while Arkea’s Dan McLay claimed third.

Jumbo-Visma continued to play hot potato with the overall leader’s jersey, passing it to Edoardo Affini a day before the race reaches Spain.

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