At Saturday dawned in Spain, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) regarded on observe to seize one other stage win within the 2023 vuelta a espana, however on the finish of the day, it was Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) who in the end had the legs after a gruelling day of racing within the Sierra de Guadarrama. This is Poels second stage win within the Vuelta, and the stage win comes simply two months after a win within the Tour de France as nicely.

All of the GC contenders fought it out on the Alto de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, the ultimate important climb of the race, however Sep kuss (Jumbo-Visma) was in a position to management his rivals to all however seal the general victory on the eve of the ultimate stage in Madrid. He is about to be the primary winner of a Grand Tour from the USA since Chris Horner gained right here in 2013.

With greater than 4,000m of elevation and ten categorized climbs within the Sierra de Guadarrama over 207.8km of racing on faucet at present, it was a remaining probability for a GC contender to make waves.

An Impressive Breakaway

Attackers had been impressed from the beginning and a giant battle ensued on the primary ascent of the day, Collado del Portazgo (summit at km 12.8). Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) cleared the path to the summit forward of Evenepoel and 29 extra attackers, together with former stage winners like Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious), Lennard Kämna (Bora-Hansgrohe), Andreas Kron (Lotto Dstny), Hugh carthy (EF Education-EasyPost), Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) and Romain Bardet (DSM-Firmenich).

Dylan van Baarle and Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma) set the tempo within the bunch, as they’ve for a lot of the race. The attackers labored nicely collectively and had been 6 minutes forward of the pelotoo going into the final 100 kilometres.

Evenepoel’s Teammates Control

The breakaway riders began attacking one another on the second ascent of the Alto de Santa Maria, with a bit greater than 70 kilometres to go. But with three teammates on the entrance (Cattaneo, Knox and Vervaeke), Evenepoel managed the scenario in the direction of the final two ascents of the day, contained in the final 35 kilometres. Meanwhile, the hole to the bunch elevated to over 10 minutes.

On the ultimate and steepest ascent of the day, the Alto de San Lorenzo de El Escorial (4.6km at 6.6%), Wout Poels put the hammer down. The Dutch rider cleared the path to the summit, adopted by Evenepoel, Soler, Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) and Pelayo sanchez (burgos-BH).

Poels and Kuss have fun

After a speedy downhill, the 5 of them labored collectively on the flat. Poels shocked his rivals as he launched the dash from far-off. Evenepoel nearly obtained again to him however the Dutch climber resisted the Belgian star on the road.

In the GC group, Enric Mas (Movistar) and Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) attacked. Primoz Roglic managed for Jumbo-Visma. The Slovenian star, a 3-time winner of la Vuelta, crossed the road alongside Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss because the trio had been learn to have fun their accomplishments forward of the ultimate stage in Madrid.

Stage 20 Brief Results:

1. Wout Poels (Bahrain Victorious) @ 4h 59’29”
2. Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step) s.t.
3. Pelayo Sanchez Mayo (Burgos – BH) s.t.
4. Lennert van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny) s.t.
5. Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) @ 4″

General Classification After Stage 20:

Sepp Kuss (Team Jumbo Visma) @ 74h 23’42”
Jonas Vingegaard (Team Jumbo Visma) @ 17″
Primoz Roglic (Team Jumbo Visma) @ 1’08”
Juan Ayoso (UAE Team Emirates) @ 3’44”
Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) @ 4’03”

Ron is the chief cook dinner and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing every little thing from web site design to bike critiques.

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