Report
At the end of a long breakaway, Louis Meintjes rode to a solo victory in the ninth stage of the Tour of Spain, which finished on the particularly steep climb Las Praeres after four other climbs in Asturias. The South-African rider was accompanied by eight riders in the breakaway, which was formed after a battle of more than one hour. Meintjes was also the best placed rider in the general classification.
The escapees benefited from a five-minute advantage during most of the stage and started the final climb with a gap of more than three minutes. So, it was the breakaway battling for the stage win on the slopes averaging 13% of the final climb.
Louis Meintjes distanced his competitors one by one and finished solo, as the winner–his first World Tour win.
Behind him, World Champion Julian Alaphilippe guided Remco Evenepoel onto Las Praeres, sprinting out of the saddle and setting an insane tempo that split the bunch, leaving only a handful of riders in the newly-formed select group. Evenepoel didn’t stay too long there, turning on the afterburners and dropping his opponents one by one on the steep gradients which kicked up to 24%. The leader of La Vuelta pressed on unfazed by the gruelling slopes, catching and passing many of the breakaway riders on his way to another impressive result.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s 22-year-old became the youngest rider since Miguel Indurain, in 1985, to amass four stages in the leader’s jersey at La Vuelta and will head into the rest day with more than a minute over his nearest rival after his massive show of strength on the Asturian mountainous weekend.
“The team was outstanding again. I am impressed by these incredible riders on our squad, of how they selflessly work for me and how they give their best. They make me emotional and they deserve all the praise for their effort,” Remco said straight after the stage. “I felt that I had the legs to try something on the last climb, so I just did it. I am satisfied with the way things panned out and happy with having the red jersey at the start of next week. I didn’t expect to go into the time trial with this lead, but at the same time I know the Vuelta is far from being over, so we’ll remain motivated and focused.”
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