Richard Carapaz sole survivor of the early breakaway
The first mountainous stage in Andalusia kept all its promises. On arid roads, Richard Carapaz went for his second victory of the week. The Olympic champion left early in the day with nine other riders including Kenny Elissonde, Mads Pedersen, Alex Lutsenko, Filippo Conca, Luis Leon Sanchez and Bruno Armirail.
The Ecuadorian, not very lively during the initial week, confirmed his rise to power. In the Sierra de la Pandera, he got rid of his last three breakaway companions: Sanchez, Champoussin and Conca. The former Giro winner managed to maintain a slight lead over the duo Miguel Angel Lopez-Primoz Roglic.
Roglic places a good attack
The Slovenian, who we know better and better as the days go by, launched an attack halfway through the final ascent. Remco Evenepoel, who had driven his teammates at the head of the peloton to the foot of this first category difficulty (8.4 km at 7.8%), was unable to react. Worse, following maintaining a gap of a few seconds behind the three-time winner of the Vuelta, the red jersey had to let its other rivals slip away.
The young Brabançon showed the first signs of weakness since the start of this event. After losing almost a minute to Roglic and Mas, he regained his health and managed to regain some time in the last three kilometers. In the end, Remco Evenepoel gave up 48 seconds to Roglic – to which must be added 4 bonus seconds – and 20 to Mas.
He still leads the dance in the general classification but his viaticum is only 1:49 on the Slovenian and 2:43 on the Spaniard.
This Sunday awaits the queen stage of this Vuelta with the final climb to Sierra Nevada (19.5 km at 7.9%).
