2023-09-04 22:18:00
In the extension of a trend more and more rooted in the courses of the Grand Tours, only one individual time trial is on the program for this 78th Vuelta, Tuesday. A solitary effort of 25.8 kilometers traced around Valladolid which will make it possible to clear a still unreadable general classification, and to redraw the hierarchy. World champion in the discipline in Glasgow, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal – Quick Step) might take advantage of the lack of relief to find the red overcoat.
Wearing the gleaming tunic, Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) has a lot to worry regarding, despite a substantial lead over the other leaders. The American, like Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ), will seek above all to limit the damage. Olympic gold medalist in Tokyo, Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) arrives on favorable ground, he who has been showing an ascending form for a few days. There remain the unknowns of this Tour of Spain: Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma), Juan Ayuso, Joao Almeida (UAE Emirates), Enric Mas (Movistar). What to expect from them? Overview of the ambitions of the favorites on the only chrono of the Vuelta 2023.
They have everything to gain: Evenepoel, Roglic
Day following day, everything seems to indicate that we are heading towards an Evenepoel-Roglic duel for the final victory. The supporters of the last four editions know the taste of victory on the Spanish macadam. It is not for nothing that the Belgian and the Slovenian lead the dance – by a short margin – among the favorites, implicitly a two-speed general. On one of the favorite exercises of the two cities, Evenepoel and Roglic will have a great opportunity on Tuesday to isolate themselves from the rest of the pack.
He holds his first victory in “grand tour”: the arrival of Evenepoel
World champion in the discipline less than a month ago, Remco Evenepoel is starting with a head start, especially on such a flat course. The embankment placed at the start of the route is not significant enough to allow the best climbers to limit damage. Last year, on a similar course (30 kilometers), the Belgian stuck 48 seconds to the triple winner of the event, second. A gap which should be reduced in the light of the sparkling condition of the Slovenian, still sharp on the truncated arrival of the 9th stage.
We don’t really know what to expect: Vingegaard, Ayuso, Almeida, Mas
What regarding Jonas Vingegaard? A safe bet in the specialty (two times won this year), the Dane disturbed all the cursors with his unreal victory in the Combloux time trial (16th stage), during the last Tour de France. Tuesday, given the imperfect form of the double holder of the Grande Boucle, it is appropriate to place the Scandinavian a notch below the first two cities. Capable of monumental blows, “Vingo” risks this time being content with a supporting role.
Vingegaard vs Pogacar: how the Dane flew over this duel
At his side, Juan Ayuso, Joao Almeida and Enric Mas have not yet lost all chances of a podium. The leaders stamped UAE Emirates display certain qualities in the solitary effort. Predispositions a priori insufficient to compete with Evenepoel or Roglic, but sufficient to remain within firing range of the two gluttons. Amortizing the disbursement around 1′, 1’30 behind would be a success for these boys, particularly for Mas. The Movistar climber, forced to retire very early on the Tour (1st stage), often wears his best face on his national Grand Tour. Tenth on last year’s time trial (+1’51”), the Majorcan will have a lot to do to repeat such a performance.
They have a lot to lose: Kuss, Martinez
They are far from displaying guarantees in the exercise and might see their Vuelta take a boring turn. They are the featherweight climbers, crushed by the long straight segments. In the front row are Sepp Kuss and Lenny Martinez. The American (Jumbo-Visma), red jersey, is not a trick either. He even hung honorable places on his hunting board, on the Tour de France (14th) and at the Giro (6th) this season. A downside, these performances were made possible by demanding courses, with attic arrivals cut to measure for the tamers of peaks.
The profile of the 10th stage: The only chrono over 25 kilometers
On the very flat inaugural time of the last Tour of Italy, Kuss for example signed an anonymous 68th place. Admittedly, the leader of the Vuelta has probably not fully realized it, but it still demonstrates the limits of the latter on a course for specialists. Apprehension will also be pervasive in Martinez’s mind. The Frenchman, the youngest leader of a Grand Tour in history, lacks experience among professionals in the discipline. Thirteenth in the last French Championships, the adopted Niçois reveals obvious shortcomings in the event. And, this time, no climbs to allow him to save the furniture, as on the chrono of the Tour de Romandie (16th). The note might even quickly quantify beyond 2’30”. What modify the approach and the ambitions of the native of Cannes, moreover always in search of a victory of stage.
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