The breakaway prevailed on stage 18 of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana with Remco Evenepoel launching a stunning solo success to claim his 50th professional victory in scintillating style.
Stage 18, another brutal day in the Asturias. A proper high mountain stage with three first-category climbs among others with a finale atop La Cruz de Linares with the riders riding up it on two different occasions with 8.5 kilometres at 8%.
Fourteen riders went clear in the day's breakaway including the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Egan Bernal, Damiano Caruso, Max Poole, Andreas Kron and Andrea Piccolo.
For once, the peloton were actually letting the time gap grow as well. With Evenepoel the closest on the GC at nearly 38 minutes down there was no Red Jersey threat and as they reached the top of the second categorised climb, with 90km to go, the difference between break and peloton was nearing ten minutes.
As has been the case almost every time he's been in the break, Evenepoel took to the front and set the pace for the majority of the climbing with riders dropping out the back.
Cresting the third-categorised climb of the day, Evenepoel once again took maximum points, securing his position as winner of the King of the Mountains competition, just five riders remained in contact with the Belgian.
By the time they reached La Cruz de Linares for the first time, a further two had regained contact. They didn't last long once the road began to ascend however, as Kron accelerated at the foot of the climb.
However, Kron was struggling soon after, as Evenepoel returned to the front, setting a pace only Caruso and Poole could keep up with.
Once Evenepoel attacked properly with 4km to the summit, no one could live with him. Just over 28km to go and the Soudal - Quick-Step was solo out front.
By the time Evenepoel had begun descending, he had already extended his lead over Poole to 1:22. Surely securing himself another stage win despite the fact another ascent of the La Cruz de Linares remained.
After Evenepoel took maximum points at the intermediate sprint, closing the gap on Groves in the Green Jersey classification, the Belgian reached the bottom of the final climb, 2:20 ahead of Poole and Caruso.
Almost 12 minutes back down the road, Aleksandr Vlasov attacked clear from the Red Jersey group in anticipation of the final climb.
With Evenepoel nearing a landmark 50th professional victory aged just 23, the Belgian reached 3km to go over 4 minutes clear of Caruso and Poole.
After Vlasov had been caught and overtaken by a Bahrain - Victorious-led peloton, Mikel Landa decided to try and make a move.
Noticeably, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic seemed to be riding in the service of Sepp Kuss rather than attacking him.
With Kuss responding quickly to late attacks from Juan Ayuso and Enric Mas, the American looks to have secured hims
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NOUVELLE VICTOIRE EN BAROUDEUR DE REMCO EVENEPOEL ! Encore présent dans l'échappée, le Belge (Soudal-QuickStep) s'impose sur la 18e étape du Tour d'Espagne, pour son 3e bouquet sur cette édition et le 13e cette saison. A 23 ans, il s'offre aussi un 50e succès pro ! #LaVuelta23
