Remco Evenepoel was unable to follow the best climbers on Friday during the only mountain stage of the Tour de San Juan, the Argentinian stage race which animates this very beginning of the season. The stage victory, the 5th of this Tour of San Juan, went to the Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez who seizes at the same time the overall leader’s jersey.
Daring, Evenepoel had attempted an attack 10 km from the finish on the long and rolling ascent of the Alto del Colorado (18.8km at 4.4%). A pass culminating at 2623m altitude on which he stumbled, alone once morest the wind. Three kilometers following his dazzling attack, which was not followed by any of his opponents, the world champion got up suddenly.
Miguel Angel Lopez took advantage of this slack to place a first banderilla, taking in particular Egan Bernal, Sergio Higuita, Einer Rubio et Philip Ganna in its wheel. Left without teammates, Evenepoel might not follow.
A second acceleration from the Colombian 5 km from the finish allowed him to take off alone towards victory to beat an astonishing and very powerful Filippo Ganna by around thirty seconds and the Colombian trio Higuita-Bernal-Rubio, d forty seconds.
Evenepoel meanwhile crossed the line in 7th place with 1:09 from the winner of the day,
Fired by Astana for his alleged links to the controversial doctor Marcos MaynarMiguel Angel Lopez signs his 23rd professional victory, the first for the continental team (D3) Colombian Medellin.
The way is therefore clear for Lopez with a view to a final victory in the Tour of San Juan. The last two stages do not present any major difficulty likely to rock the event.