Wout Poels outsprints Remco Evenepoel to win final mountain stage at Vuelta a Espana, Sepp Kuss conserves race lead

The final mountain stage of the Vuelta a Espana did not deliver fireworks when it came to the GC fight, but the battle for the stage win was quite lively. Wout Poels triumphed ahead of Remco Evenepoel.

The final day of competitive racing was a very hard one, with over 200 kilometers and 4000 meters of climbing, a full roller-coaster day from start to finish. The uphill start and lack of interest for Jumbo-Visma to chase led to a large group going off the front.

In there Remco Evenepoel, alongside three Soudal - Quick-Step teammates. The likes of Wilco Kelderman, Marc Soler, Romain Bardet, Wout Poels, Rui Costa, Lenny Martínez and Geraint Thomas. As Jumbo-Visma did not try to close the gap, it grew consistently throughout the day, stabilizing in just over 10 minutes.

A few early attacks in the group tried to create a bit of chaos, but with around 65 kilometers to go the Soudal - Quick-Step riders began to guide the group, trying to keep the race under control. The race situation hence continued just like that until the final climb of the day, all fireworks were saved for the final climb of the race.

Everything seemed set for Evenepoel to attack, but that was not the case. Within the cobbled and very steep streets of San Lorenzo de Escorial Wout Poels attacked and right away created differences. Lennert van Eetvelt followed him as the Belgian struggled and the remainder of the group split to bits. Marc Soler managed to join the duo before the summit, but the gaps were still small to several riders.

Poels attacked once again close to the summit, matched by Soler only. Van Eetvelt, Pelayo Sánchez and Evenepoel followed just a few seconds behind. The five riders came together in the descent and Evenepoel attacked straight away, but Soler was alive to the occasion and did not let the KOM classification leader ride off by himself.

The five riders collaborated towards the finish to prevent other riders from getting back. In the sprint which proved inevitable, Wout Poels launched early and surprised. The Dutchman nailed the final kick perfectly, sprinting with 300 meters to go and holding off Remco Evenepoel who finished a very close second. Pelayo Sánchez rode to third.

In the peloton Enric Mas and Mikel Landa attacked on the final climb and tried to surprise, but Juan Ayuso was alive to the occasion. Jumbo-Visma controlled the race comfortably, and the trio crossed the line together just behind the GC group, an image that will