"I'm not scared" - Remco Evenepoel tackles first mountain stage of Vuelta a Espana with no fears
Cycling
The fifth stage of the Vuelta a Espana didn't reveal much in the fight for the overall classification as the GC riders remained conservative, however it has served as a warm-up for today's first summit finish at Pico Jano.
“The goal was to have someone with you in the early break today and not to lose any time yourself,” Evenepoel said at the end of the day. “That worked out perfectly. Due to the extremely fast initial phase, there may have been less action in the final. And besides, Jumbo-Visma did not necessarily want to keep the jersey, I had read". The Dutch team kept a calm pace towards the second half of the stage, having Rudy Molard jump into the yellow.
“A quiet day, or at least at the end, is allowed. The feeling was good on those climbs, those are good signs. I was always well positioned. You have to feel the legs day by day and then we'll see what can be done tomorrow and the day after," Evenepoel added. He arrived safely in the peloton, and is now sitting in ninth position on the GC.
Today won't be a day where the Vuelta will be won, but it can be lost. As the first mountain stage of the race weaknesses can also be exposed. “I don't know that climb, but I'm not scared either. I didn't know Tuesday's course either," he admitted. "And apart from the time trial, I haven't explored a single stage, so there are still a lot of presents waiting for me."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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First summit finish of #LaVuelta22, Ascensión al Pico Jano (12.6km, 6.5%). The gradients, kicking up to 10%, are expected to widen the gaps between the general classification contenders.
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