2023 Vuelta a Espana Stage 18 | Highlights

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Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve witnessed something truly remarkable today at La Vuelta. Remco Evenepoel, the 23-year-old Belgian wunderkind, just notched his 50th pro win. That’s right, 50 victories! And he did it in style with his third stage win at this year’s Spanish Grand Tour.

Now, let’s set the stage. It was a brutal day, folks, with five classified climbs. And one of these climbs, the Puerto de la Cruz Linares, was a real monster, almost ten kilometers long with an average gradient that could make even the toughest cyclists tremble. But not Remco.

The defending champion had a couple of goals in mind. First, he wanted that KOM jersey, and second, he was hungry for a third stage win in this Vuelta. And boy, did he go for it. As soon as the flag dropped, he was off like a rocket, forming a breakaway group with some fellow riders. And the peloton? Well, they seemed to be more interested in a leisurely Sunday ride.

This breakaway bunch built a lead that at one point stretched to a whopping twelve minutes. And who was the engine driving this train? You guessed it, Evenepoel. He was like the Energizer Bunny out there, taking ridiculously long pulls on flats and climbs alike. And when it came to those mountain summits, he was like a kid in a candy store, snatching up those KOM points like they were going out of style.

The defining moment came on the Puerto de la Cruz Linares. About four kilometers from the summit, Remco unleashed a ferocious acceleration that dropped everyone else like a bad habit. It was a move that set him on a path to what would be his third mountain victory in this Vuelta.

As he descended down the mountainside, you could tell he wasn’t taking any unnecessary risks. He knew he had this one in the bag. And as he crossed that finish line, he pointed to his head, signifying his mental fortitude, before making a heart shape with his hands. A dedication to his wife, he said.

Now, let’s put this in perspective. Evenepoel just became the first Belgian rider in 41 years to pull off a hat-trick of victories at the Vuelta. That’s like winning three jackpots in a row, folks. And with that, he’s mathematically sealed the deal on that KOM jersey.

So, in the end, it wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Even when the GC plans didn’t quite pan out, this young Belgian showed us that he’s a force to be reckoned with. What a race it’s been, and what a ride by Remco Evenepoel. Cheers to the next 50 wins!

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