The last truly mountainous stage of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana saw the breakaway prevail with Remco Evenepoel on supreme form, taking victory by nearly five minutes from the nearest of his challengers.
Attacking clear on the penultimate climb of the day, Evenepoel did what he has done so often in the past and rode to the line solo for a landmark 50th professional victory. Further down the road, the heavy criticism seemed to have had an effect on Jumbo-Visma as both Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard were making very visible demonstrations of support for Sepp Kuss with the American now looking set for a first individual Grand Tour success.