The Canadian Michael Woods (Israel Premier Tech) won the thirteenth stage this Friday of The return between Lugo and Puerto de Ancares, 176 kilometers. Woods crossed the finish line alone with a time of 4h.19.51, at an average of 40.5 km/hour. At the time of the Canadian’s arrival, the peloton with the favorites was 12 minutes behind. This Saturday, the fourteenth stage takes place between Villafranca del Bierzo and Villablino200.5km.
Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Red Bull BORA Hansgrohe) showed power and recovered 1:55 on the Australian. Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale Team), entered into crisis on the final climb.
The Canadian climber was the smartest of the winning escape and was able to regulate his efforts in the demanding ascent to AncarèsWhile, in the group of favourites, the winner of three editions of the Spanish race, delivered a coup de grace by obtaining a great advantage over the rest of the favourites, and approaching to just 1:21 from the head of the general classification.
The Spanish round will contest its fourteenth stage this Saturday on a medium mountain route between Villafranca del Bierzo and Villablino over 200.5 kilometers, another stage designed for the escape victory, and which will be an aperitif for the decisive day on Sunday, with the dreaded climb to Cuitu Negru, where it is predictable that a change of leader will occur.
This Saturday’s stage
We are approaching the end of the second week of The 2024 Tour of Spainwhich is undoubtedly vibrant for all fans. Stage 14 arrives this Saturday, August 31, of this edition of the Spanish round, which we must remember began last Saturday, August 17, in Lisbon, Portugal. After three days on Portuguese soil, the peloton crossed the border with our country, but this year, on the route, it will not visit some key points in the history of this tournament such as Catalonia, the Valencian Community, Aragon or Murcia.
Roglic aims for the leader
Behind the story was an obvious protagonist, the Slovenian Primoz Roglicwho attacked in the favourites’ sector 4 km from the finish to free his rivals one by one and punish O’Connor harshly, who saved the red jersey by 1.21.
Roglic, a three-time winner of the Vuelta, had no rivals on the terrible climb to Ancares, he distanced all the candidates for the general classification. He was 35 seconds ahead of Mikel Landa, again, 44 seconds ahead of Carlos Rodríguez, 58 seconds ahead of Carapaz y Mas and 1.54 seconds ahead of O’Connor.
The general classification is encouraged, one step behind Cuitu Negru on Saturday. Roglic bites at O’Connor’s heels, Enric Mas also advances at 3.01, Carapaz follows at 3.13 and Mikal Landa aims to discuss the podium at 3.20. Carlos Rodríguez, the best young rider, is sixth with 4.12.
