2023 Vuelta a Espana Stage 20 | Highlights

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Well, folks, on the penultimate day of the Vuelta, we witnessed something that’s rarer than a unicorn riding a bicycle – Wout Poels beating Remco Evenepoel. Now, if you’ve been following this race, you know Evenepoel’s been on fire, so this victory for Poels is like beating Usain Bolt in a footrace, or me finally winning at Scrabble against my buddy Bob.

The course was no picnic; it was like a Belgian classic, with more ups and downs than a rollercoaster. And these guys, they’re not out for a leisurely Sunday ride, no sir. Poels, along with his buddy Antonio Tiberi, broke away from the pack and went all-in. They had some big names with them, including Evenepoel, Geraint Thomas, and Marc Soler. You know, just a casual bike ride with the buddies.

As they approached the finish line, Poels decided it was time to make his move. With 300 meters to go, he hit the turbo button, took the perfect line around the last corner, and sprinted like his bike had a rocket engine. Evenepoel tried to catch him, but Poels held on by a hair’s breadth. It’s like watching a Hollywood thriller, but on two wheels.

Poels, when asked how he pulled it off, said he had a feeling, that racing instinct. He saw that corner, second-guessed his plan, and went for it earlier. And it worked! Sometimes, you just gotta trust your gut, like when you think that extra slice of pizza won’t hurt.

And for Team Bahrain-Victorious, this was their last chance to snag a stage win, and boy, did they seize it. Their sports director, Neil Stephens, was over the moon, and who wouldn’t be? They played it smart, put the right guys in the breakaway, and Poels executed it to perfection.

So, there you have it, a day for the underdog, the unexpected victor, Wout Poels, who did what few thought possible by out-sprinting Evenepoel. It’s a reminder that in cycling, just like in life, you never know when your moment will come, and when it does, you grab it with both hands and pedal like crazy.

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