It was a route that favoured a breakaway: Two Cat. 2 and two Cat. 3 climbs placed evenly along Wednesday’s 166.5 km. The Cat. 2 ascents were, in fact, the same climb twice. The final one, Cat. 3 Puerto Cruxeiras, would be a battleground at 2.8 km of 9 percent. It wasn’t terribly hot in northwest Spain.
On paper, a stage for the breakaway, but don’t be surprised if some of the GC favourites of #LaVuelta24 will try something on that last climb of the day. pic.twitter.com/AD5T69887N
— Soudal Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (@soudalquickstep) August 28, 2024
Despite numerous attempts, nothing could really stick before and on the first climb. Between Cat. 3 Puerto San Xusto and the first passage of Puerto Aguasantas, Victor Campenaerts was out in a break all by himself barely ahead of the peloton. Chaps starting dashing out of the peloton to link up with the Belgian. With 98 km to go, Campenaerts crossed the finish line in Padron with a mob at his heels. Soon he had 37 new friends about to climb 1:30 ahead of the peloton.
Xandro Meurisse crested Puerto Aguasantas I first, his breakmates 40 seconds behind and the red jersey group 5:00 in arrears. Both gaps increased.
The Alpecin-Deceuninck Belgian hit the foot of Puerto Aguasantas II with 1:30 on the chase and 6:30 over the Decathlon-AG2R-led peloton. Again he scored maximum KOM points at the peak, but his pals found him again. With 39 km to go, 33 riders headed towards Puerto Cruxeiras with a 5:00 gap. One of them, Rusty Woods’ teammate George Bennett, was rocketing up the GC; he is now 10th.
Puerto Cruxeiras, 2.8 km of 9 percent
The lower slopes immediately chopped the breakaway into pieces.
Nico Denz led his man Roglič onto the foot of the ascent. The Slovenian and Mas took off and hit the peak 30 seconds ahead of the red jersey.
At the front, Carlos Verona, Max Poole and Urko Berrade descended with minds on the day’s flowers. Their numbers swelled from 2 to 1.5 km to go.
Roglič and Mas received reinforcements–GC men who weren’t O’Connor.
The fugitives started to attack each other. Dunbar went early and reaped the rewards.
Heading into the second half of the year’s final Grand Tour, Thursday is brief at 137 km and holds a single categorized climb, the long, mild Cat. 1 summit finish on Estacion De Montana De Manzaneda.
2024 Vuelta a España Stage 11
1) Eddie Dunbar…
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