The day of truth for Remco Evenepoel starts – as expected – at a very high pace. Behind the breakaways (including Xandro Meurisse), the attacks fuse in the Puerto de Navacerrada. Movistar missed the good shot and obviously wants to put a man in front and the teammates by Enric Mas multiply the accelerations.
The Wolfpack tracks movement and controls. Finally, a large counter group emerges. Movistar (Valverde, Mühlberger), UAE (Polanc) or Astana (From the cross, Nibali), the teammates of the opponents of the red jersey are present. Quick Step lets it go. Proof of his serenity, Evenepoel even allows himself a short sanitary break in the plain. The Bora-Hansgrohe formation comes to lend a hand to protect 10th place from Hindley. The presence of Louis Meintjes11th at 13’53”, worried.
The Puerto Navafria allows Pinot, girls et Mülhlberger to get out of the counter group. The trio joins the lead as they approach Puerto Canencia, 3rd of the 5 climbs of the day. The peloton sails at 5 minutes. For Remco, this is the ideal scenario. Everything regroups at the front, the gap is closing with the peloton (4 minutes).
As expected, Movistar takes things in hand in the Puerto de la Morcuera before the last ascent of this 77th Vuelta. Enric Mas stands on the pedals 40 kilometers from the finish. His acceleration shakes up the peloton and gives quite a bit of ballet. Remco Evenepoel, John Ayuso, Thymen Arensman et Ben O’Connor are the only ones to follow. Joao Almeida et Miguel Angel Lopez pick up with a little delay. Carapaz, Higuita and Meintjes top this 1st category pass. They begin the last climb of this Tour of Spain with 1’23” on a peloton where Van Wilder et Vervaecke returned alongside Evenepoel.
Carapaz and Higuita isolate themselves in the lead. “Superman” Lopez starts the fight in the Puerto de Cotos. The other candidates for the podium react, closely followed by a placid Remco. These attacks melt the advantage of the Higuita-Carapaz duo. But the Olympic champion finds the energy to boost the pace once more and go for his 3rd stage.
