2023-09-14 01:07:08
It was the penultimate opportunity to explain between favorites. With the terrible Angliru as the final justice of the peace, the riders aiming for the general classification knew they had to be there this Wednesday. And like Tuesday, it was Jumbo-Visma who put on the show.
Starting three to two kilometers from the finish, causing the Bahrain-Victorious to give up who were nevertheless setting a hellish pace from the foot of the climb, the three riders of the Dutch team achieved a new hat-trick. Without attacking each other, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Sepp Kuss fought for victory.
Kuss lets his teammates slip away
The American, wearing the Red Jersey, was the first to give up. Less strong than his teammates, he visibly encouraged them to continue without him by slipping a few words into their earpiece. The Dane and the Slovenian did not need to be asked and continued to push on the accelerator.
The two men finally presented themselves together at the finish line. After keeping pace throughout the climb, Primoz Roglic offered himself a victory that was in no way discussed by Jonas Vingegaard. Staying a few seconds behind, Sepp Kuss took third place ahead of Mikel Landa.
This third place, 19 seconds behind the winner of the day, allows the American to maintain his position as leader of the general classification. But the gap is now narrow. There are only eight seconds separating Kuss and Vingegaard. Roglic is at 1′08″, while the first runner from another team, Juan Ayuso, is already 4 minutes behind.
Evenepoel tried, without success
Voluntarily dropped yesterday, in a stage that was largely within his reach, Remco Evenepoel had made this 17th stage a major objective since his failure at the Col du Tourmalet, which made him lose all hope of ranking well in the general classification. The Belgian therefore gave everything to be part of the breakaway, but could only count on the help of his teammate Mattia Cattaneo and Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ). Too short to hope to win. The world time trial champion was finally caught by the peloton on the final climb.
The last mountainous stage of this Tour of Spain will take place this Thursday. Five difficulties are on the program for the runners, with a finish judged at the top of the Puerto de La Cruz de Linares. One last opportunity for the three kings of Jumbo-Visma to explain themselves.
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