Cycling: Primoz Roglic will win the Vuelta a Espana 2020. On today's 17th stage, the Slovenian saved a wafer-thin lead over Richard Carapaz to the finish. The day's win went to breakaway David Gaudu.
A large and strong breakaway group
Day of decision at the Vuelta a Espana! The 17th and penultimate stage of the Tour of Spain should manifest the overall classification. She led the professionals over 178,2 kilometers from Sequeros to Alto de la Covatilla. A final endurance test over six climbs before the riders reach Madrid tomorrow and end the 2020 cycling season. 34 men were able to break away from the main field right at the beginning of the section, including the Germans Jasha Sutterlin (Sunweb), Michael Schwarzman (Bora – hansgrohe) and Pascal Ackermann (Bora – hansgrohe), as well as the Swiss Gino Mader (NTT). However, they were not the focus, because in the person of William Martin (Cofidis) was also the wearer of the mountain jersey. Also snuck along David of the Cross (UAE) and david gaudu (Groupama – FDJ) the tenth and eleventh in the escape group. The Dutch team Jumbo – Visma held for the overall leader Primois Roglic however, everything is under control.
Gaudu confidently gets the day's victory
As on the previous days, the Spanish team Movistar eventually took command of the peloton. Although they placed two riders in the leading group, they probably had bigger plans. They then revealed this to us on the penultimate climb. Attacked up the Alto de la Garganta (11,4 km at 5,1%). Marc Soler (Movistar). With a show of strength, the Spaniard drove forward to the breakaway group with the help of his relay stations. This should account for the day's victory among themselves, since after the Soler attack the pace in the main field dropped and Jumbo - Visma started a leisurely pace. Then went on the Alto de la Covatilla (11,7 km at 6,9 %). david gaudu (Groupama – FDJ) on the offensive. The Frenchman was clearly the strongest in the leading group and did not let the deserved victory of the day - his second at this year's Vuelta a Espana - be disputed. Incredibly strong: The Swiss Gino Mader (NTT) drove up Jon Izagirre (Astana) in second place.
Carapaz makes Roglic sweat
The group of favorites was in the Alto de la Covatilla by Ide Schelling (Bora – hansgrohe) listed. The Dutchman worked for his captain Felix Grossschartner (Bora – hansgrohe) because the Austrian was in danger of losing his seventh place overall due to the dangerous riders in the breakaway group. A little over three kilometers from the finish opened Hugh Carthy (EF) the big fight of the favorites. After initially all top drivers stayed together, switched Richard Carapaz (Ineos) one more gear up. The Ecuadorian was able to break away and drove out second by second. But it shouldn't be enough. Primois Roglic (Jumbo – Visma) saves himself and his red jersey over the finish line and wins the Vuelta a Espana with a lead of 24 seconds - after almost 3.000 kilometers. Hugh Carthy (EF) will complete the podium tomorrow in Madrid. The Briton is also just 47 seconds behind Primoz Roglic.
#LaVuelta | 📺🚴♂️🇫🇷 David Gaudu VENCEDOR of the 17th stage of the Vuelta a España en La Covatilla (FC) 🚴♂️🇫🇷🏆💪👏
📺 @Eurosport_UK pic.twitter.com/cfLEfluS3L
– Cycling World (@mundociclistico) November 7, 2020