2023 Vuelta a Espana Stage 15 | Highlights

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Well, folks, let’s talk about a triumph that’s got heart written all over it. Rui Costa, the former world champ, put on quite the show at La Vuelta. It was the fifteenth stage, and Costa played his cards just right in a breakaway that turned into a tactical masterclass.

So, here’s the deal. They had a hilly 150-kilometer stretch through the Basque Country, and it wasn’t a walk in the park. They tackled some Puerto de Lizarraga halfway through, then hit the Puerto de Zuarrarrate twice, with the finish line waiting at the end of a nerve-wracking descent.

Costa, a man who’s been part of breakaways not once, not twice, but thrice in this Vuelta, knew what he was doing. He and Remco Evenepoel decided to break away early, about 90 kilometers from the finish line, and they picked up a bunch of pals along the way. Teamwork, you see.

But it was on the second climb of the Puerto de Zuarrarrate where things got interesting. That’s when the real showdown began, and Costa, Santiago Buitrago, and Lennard Kämna found themselves in a league of their own.

Now, here’s where it gets good. Costa, a wily veteran at 36, didn’t blow his load. He played it smart on that final climb and the nerve-racking descent that followed. It all came down to a three-man sprint, and guess who took it? Yep, Rui Costa. The man made it look easy, securing his first-ever stage win at La Vuelta, a decade after his last Grand Tour victory.

But there’s more to this story. It’s not just about Costa; it’s about a team that believed in him. Intermarché-Circus-Wanty had his back from the get-go, and that’s what lit the fire under him. Costa said it himself, “This victory is extremely important for me and for the team. Huge efforts are made behind the scenes, which is not seen by everybody. It is a reward for all this hard work. This victory will bring the whole team a lot of satisfaction, we deserve it!”

Well, folks, that’s the stuff that dreams are made of in the world of cycling. Rui Costa, the veteran, showing that experience and teamwork can conquer even the toughest stages. Bravo, Rui, bravo!

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