Stage 15 was another day for the breakaway as the Vuelta a España galloped towards its second and last rest day. With two hilly laps local to the finish in Lekunberri and Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) in the day’s move for the second time this weekend, the Belgian’s breakaway companions were motivated to attack on the final second-category ascent. Among the three strongest was Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), the wily veteran calculating when to make his moves and when to hold back, making no friends but managing his efforts just enough to have the beating of Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe) – who crashed while leading down the descent – and Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) in the sprint for the line.
How it happened:
- It seems that Evenepoel has well and truly put Friday’s misfortune behind him, now resolutely committed to the polka-dot mission, and more stage victories wouldn’t go amiss either. It took a while – not least because Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) among others tried to add some GC spice to the proceedings with attacks in the first half of the day – but with the help of the Belgian’s relentless drive, and Jumbo-Visma’s efforts to shut down GC drama, eventually 15 riders went clear to form the day’s move after another very aggressive start.
- The break was reduced to nine on the first ascent of the Puerto de Zuarrarrate (6.3 km at 5.1%), mostly thanks to Evenepoel who maximised his KOM points over the top, then the attacks began in earnest on the second time up. Buitrago seemed most determined to find a gap, drawing out Costa and, briefly, Nico Denz (Bora-Hansgrohe). The pair crested the climb together with a 25-second lead, but were about ready for divorce as they began the descent.
- Stage 9 winner Kämna caught and soon passed the jostling duo on the fast downhill back into Lekunberri, but as Buitrago and Costa debated who could/should/would chase, Kämna overcooked a sweeping left turn and landed in the grassy ditch, and the other two flew past. However, Kämna remounted quickly and the continued lack of cohesion up ahead meant the German was able to regain contact in the last 1,500 metres.
- Evenepoel had seemed to flag in the last few kilometres of the climb, but was back on the front of the chase group on the descent. A combination of his world champs TT-winning form, superior descending and the in-fighting up ahead reduced the gap from over 30 seconds to almost nothing by the finishing straight. But Costa’s cunning came to bear one last time as he somehow manipulated Kämna into leading out, and the 36-year-old had the beating of his rivals to the line. Evenepoel led the surviving five chasers home just two seconds later.
Brief results:
Quote of the day
Sepp Kuss is still comfortable in red atop a Jumbo-Visma stacked podium, and he delivered an ominous statement ahead of the Vuelta’s final week, albeit in his usual cheery tone.
“It’s been a very intense second week, but it’s mostly been in terrain that I like, so that’s not been as hard as the first one. I came into the second week with better feelings, and I’m feeling better than in the first week, so I’m getting better.”
Sepp Kuss after stage 15
What’s next?
First things first, rest day. But after a well-needed and much-deserved day off the bike, the Vuelta continues its journey to Madrid via a curious, mostly coastal route from Liencres Playa, only tilting up in any significant fashion after the bonus sprint, then finishing up a second-category climb to Bejes. The whole climb is 4.9 kilometres in length, average 8.6%, but it’s being described as two ramps, the first 1.6 km at 10.7%, the second 2.7 km at 9.2%. It’s a relatively short day out at 120 km, and with opportunities running out, this is somewhere Juan Ayuso may seek to take time and the bonus seconds won with the stage, which will draw out one or more Jumbo-Visma leaders, perhaps Primož Roglič who likes an explosive effort. We’ll throw in Remco Evenepoel for good measure.
Social media highlights
The red jersey had a very important member of support crew at the start this morning.
Chapeau, Rui Costa.
In an era of youth, the veteran (at 36 *gulp*) did it.
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