09/09/2023

Remco Evenepoel bursts back to the top with breakaway comeback victory at Vuelta a Espana

In the space of 24 hours Remco Evenepoel's Vuelta a Espana has been turned on it's head twice. The Soudal - Quick-Step rider has jumped into the breakaway on stage 14 and soared to a solo victory on the Pyrenees.

A day after dropping out of GC contention, Remco Evenepoel was lively right from the start. The flat beginning to stage 14 didn't particularly favour the climbers, but after many attempts the Belgian headlined a large group which included quality climbers such as Romain Bardet, Michael Storer, Jonathan Castroviejo, Lennert van Eetvelt, Lennard Kämna.

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It was a group of 24 riders, firstly chased by UAE Team Emirates, but in the first ascent of the day the front group began to split as the climbers took to the front, whilst the gap to the peloton grew, despite UAE's efforts to occasionally reduce the gap.

Evenepoel sprinted to win the first KOM point, and together with Romain Bardet the two set down the descent very quickly, with the rest of the group uncapable of following. The winning move was made here, in the Port de Larrau Michael Storer attacked from the chasing group but couldn't close the gap on the front duo who collaborated well and would go on to race into the final climb still together.

In the peloton UAE kept the pace high and prepared an attack for Juan Ayuso. The Spaniard was fearless and made two punchy accelerations with 52 kilometers to go. However Jumbo-Visma promptly answered with no sign of weakness, and soon enough the group was back in order with Jumbo-Visma and BORA - hansgrohe pacing the peloton.

The stage win was in front and the gap grew to over 8 minutes with the duo in front on the final ascent. Evenepoel did not need a sharp attack. The vicious pace ridden throughout the afternoon burned through Bardet who still put in a strong performance, with 3.8 kilometers to go the Belgian champion rode off the front alone and into a brilliant comeback and stage victory in Belagua. Bardet rode to second place.

All the main GC contenders have arrived together over 8 minutes back on the stage winner, no attacks took place in the final climb except for that of David de la Cruz, and into stage 15 the fight for the red jersey remains virtually the same.