The day after reigning titlist Remco Evenepoel suffered a terrible day and dropped out of 78th La Vuelta Ciclista a España GC contention, the world time trial champion attacked from the gun and won Saturday’s 14th stage solo, earning the KOM lead in the process. Remco won Stage 3 in the first week. The top of the GC table took it easy and Sepp Kuss kept his red jersey.
The Course
The second day in the Pyrenees offered up three tough climbs and one easy one over 156 km. HC-rated Col Hourcère arrived at the 55 km point. Its HC fellow, Puerto de Larrau, came next followed by Cat. 3 Puerto de Laza. The summit finish was Cat. 1 Puerto de Belagua, 9.4 km of 6.3 percent.
Another hard day looms on the horizon at #LaVuelta23!
Today we are travelling from Sauveterre-de-Béarn to Larra-Belagua – a course featuring three classified climbs. pic.twitter.com/dp2leKfKC0
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) September 9, 2023
Evenepoel was determined to recover something from this Grand Tour, and he kept on attacking in the early going. Eventually he headed up a 24-strong breakaway that contained Romain Bardet. Jumbo-Visma and UAE-Emirates had no one up the road, but they pulled the peloton, dropping Geraint Thomas and Egan Bernal to add to Ineos Grenadiers’ misery.
On HC Col Hourcère, Evenepoel was first over, moving him close to KOM leader Jonas Vingegaard. Evenepoel and Bardet slipped the leash on the descent. Twelve former breakmates survived to make up the closest chase and the rest went back to the peloton.
Onto the long descent now, and @EvenepoelRemco moves clear together with Romain Bardet, putting 20 seconds into the 20-odd #LaVuelta23 chasers.
Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/qX5xw3w9uf
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) September 9, 2023
By the foot of Puerto de Larrau, the Belgian-French alliance was 50 seconds ahead of the chase that contained stage winner Lennard Kämna, Damiano Caruso and Michael Storer, who has momentarily the KOM leader on Friday. The peloton was +4:20. Storer lit out after the duo.
Down the slopes fourth place Juan Ayuso attacked after his teammate Finn Fisher-Black wound up the pace. Kuss, Vingegaard, Primož Roglič, Enric Mas and a couple of others responded. Bora-Hansgrohe brought the red jersey group back together. Evenepoel took over the KOM lead by tipping over first. Storer was still 2:00 behind the leading duo.
As Evenepoel took…
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