This Tuesday’s stage of the 77th edition of the Back to Spain It is a completely flat 30.9 km time trial between Elche and Alicante, which is presumed to be a battle between the two great favorites, the leader, Remco Evenepoeland the dominator of recent years, primoz roglicto relocate the race for its last two weeks.
“I have already been through a lot in my life and this is what I continue to fight and suffer for. Everything I got over two years ago has made me a new person. I did not expect to go into the time trial with this advantage. I am very excited. I have no words for my colleagues, they deserve several days off. This is the best team in the world, really,” Evenepoel said.
key chrono
However, the day offers the added interest of seeing how the Spanish ‘Armada’, led by a reborn Enrique Moresecond overall, 1 min 12 s behind the young Belgian, and the emerging Carlos Rodríguez and Juan Ayuso, fourth and fifth, 2 min 33 s and 2 min 36 s, behind Roglic who has already yielded 1 min 53 yes
A third bullet for the time trial is that of the Portuguese Joao Almeidaspecialist in the modality and still leader of the UAE de Ayuso, seventh, 4 min 32 s behind Evenepoel.
“I am going to sacrifice myself to win the Vuelta, I am aware of the points issue, and the further ahead I am, the more points we will have. We cannot commit suicide for the general or give up the points. I would like to do an all or nothing for the Vuelta”.
Fernando Escartintechnical director of the Vuelta, believes that “the favorites for the general classification should not have too many problems” with the route, but he does consider that “other riders with a more pure climber profile could find themselves in trouble”.
He also warned that “we will have to be aware of the final part, which runs along the Levante coast”, because “it can get very windy”.
And Miguel Angel Lopez?
The route of the stage and, above all, the possibility of there being wind do not favor the options of Miguel Angel ‘Superman’ Lopezwho arrives this second week in eighth place overall, 5 min 3 s behind the leader and with few differences ahead of those who follow him, such as Jai Hindley (33 seconds), Pavel Sivakov (36 seconds), Thymen Arensman (42 seconds), Tao Geoghean Hart (48 seconds), Ben O’Connor and Alejandro Valverde (both 50 seconds).
The normal thing, given that the flat times are not in favor of López, is for him to come out of the top ten in the general classification, for which he will have to focus on the mountain stages, especially on Thursday.
SPORTS
more sports news
#Vuelta #España #time #chrono #define