Ben O'Connor is likely to wear the red jersey of the Vuelta until Friday evening. After Tuesday's mountain stage, the Australian still has five seconds left of his once ample cushion.
Tour favorite Primoz Roglic again rode in a tactically controlled manner and did not take any major risks on the final climb to the Lagos de Covadonga in the rainy weather, which was interrupted by several short descents. The Slovenian finished together with Enric Mas and Richard Carapaz, who also have ambitions for a Vuelta podium place.
O'Connor had to abandon around 8 km before the finish and was no longer the virtual leader of the stage race. As Roglic and Co. did not push themselves to the limit without the prospect of a stage win, the Australian made a comeback. Marc Soler was the day's winner. The Spaniard was the strongest of a breakaway group and triumphed for the third time in the Vuelta.
After Tuesday's performance, Roglic is heading for his fourth victory in the Tour of Spain after 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Olympic time trial champion from Tokyo 2021 and Giro winner 2023 will find the terrain favorable to him on Friday and Saturday with two mountain stages and a time trial on Sunday.
The stage was overshadowed by Wout van Aert's withdrawal due to injury. The Belgian as well as Felix Engelhardt and Isaac del Toro crashed heavily on the descent from Collada Llomena. While Del Toro and Engelhardt were able to continue the race, Van Aert sat in the team car afterwards, dazed and drawn. His right knee is causing him problems.
SDA
