03/09/2023

Lennard Kämna completes his set of Grand Tour stage wins with stunning breakaway success on stage 9 of the Vuelta a Espana

Lennard Kämna has completed the set of Grand Tour stage wins, taking stage 9 of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana from the breakaway on a thrillingly chaotic day.

Stage nine, the final day of the first week, doesn't show any mercy for those who dislike climbing. It is a hilly stage, likely one for the breakaway, as the riders tackle an interesting finale in Caravaca de la Cruz.

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An incredibly dramatic start to the day saw echelons form with a lead group of twelve riders getting a gap including six from Jumbo-Visma, Remco Evenepoel and Aleksandr Vlasov.

Once they had been finally been reeled in however, a counter-attack formed the more traditional breakaway of the day. Eight riders up the road including Lennard Kamna, Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier and Matteo Sobrero.

Although their advantage stretched out to over six minutes at one point, the wind was causing the riders in the peloton to accelerate and that time-gap was being slashed almost accidentally.

Two notable riders who found themselves the wrong side of a split in the peloton were Lenny Martinez and Vlasov.

As the wind abated, the peloton reformed but concerns over the finish line were growing as mud was turning the final climb into more of an extreme cyclocross event.

Due to the calming behind, the break's advantage once again began to expand meaning it was nearly certain they would battle it out for the stage win.

Race organisers then announced, GC times would be taken 2.05km from the finish line due to the mud concerns.

Onto the final climb and the stage win guaranteed for the breakaway, Matteo Sobrero begun to power at the front of the group. Kamna though counter-attacked and managed to break free.

Down the road meanwhile, Soudal - Quick-Step were setting an attacking pace in the peloton.

The victory though, was BORA - hansgrohe's and Lennard Kämna, completing his own personal set of stage wins at each of the three Grand Tours.

Joao Almeida then attacked clear from the GC group, joined by Vlasov. Primoz Roglic countered but all the GC riders came almost to a standstill as they reached the 2.05km marker.