Groves was the fastest at the end of the walk

Vuelta: van Poppel runs to second place

By Kevin Kemp

08/31/2022 | (rsn) – Stage without mountain classification – accordingly, the 11th section is considered in advance for the runners in the Tour of Spain. And the fast people did not allow this opportunity to be taken away. In the end, Kaden Groves (BikeExchange – Jayco) won after 191.2 kilometers from ElPozo to Cabo de Gata in a mass run ahead of Danny van Poppel (Bora – hansgrohe) and Tim Merlier (Alpecin – Deceuninck). John Degenkolb (DSM) finished seventh, Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) finished in the peloton and defended the red jersey.

The field just drives a real race in the last ten kilometers. Before that, the stage through the region of Murcia started at a comfortable pace and the finish line was about 15 minutes after the slowest average calculation – an average speed of just 37.8 km/h.

The Australian team was rewarded for their work over the last ten kilometers by winning the stage. After the intermediate race in Ruescas, which Mads Pedersen (Trek – Segafredo) won, BikeExchange – Jayco was in the lead.

e and kept Groves in the best position until the end. “I have to say thank you to all of you. Luke [Durbridge] Driving all day. We were patient with the wind at the beginning but there was none until the last four kilometers. The guys did a great job and put me at the front, said Groves at the finish, adding: “In the last 50 to 100 meters I was fresher than the other riders, which required a lot of energy to get ahead. Luckily I was in the right position and had a gap to run my run.

However, his team had to face a sensitive difficulty before starting the stage: Simon Yates had to leave the tour due to a positive corona test. He is 5th in the classification. Pavel Sivakov (Ineos), ninth overall, is still unable to compete due to Corona infection.

“This morning when the news came that Simon tested positive for COVID-19 everyone was disappointed. It was the best way to bounce back after such bad news. I’m really happy to celebrate the victory but it will be. Good if Simon is there,” said Groves at the finish.

Substitute Bennett van Poppel just missed the win

For the German team Bora – hansgrohe, Danny van Poppel has been promoted from the start as sprint captain after Sam Bennett left Corona’s. The Dutchman was the fastest in the last few meters, but was unable to advance to the top and, coming in second, just missed out on the day’s success. Pedersen, the man in the jersey, ended up fifth in the sprint. Degenkolb was in seventh place as the best German, Pascal Ackermann (Team UAE) did not enter the position and finished in 15th place.

Evenepoel hurt Alaphilippe fell

Evenepoel spent a quiet day in the leader’s shirt. However, the Belgian had to deal with the end of his teammate Julian Alaphilippe, the world champion had to cancel the tour after a fall. “Because of the fall of Julian, it was a less good day than we expected. I really don’t know what happened. His departure is definitely a big loss for the team. Especially in such a quiet stage. It’s a stupid loss, but I believe that my other teammates will do well in the coming days,” said Evenepoel, who continued to lead the overall standings by 2:41 minutes ahead of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo – Visma).

Jay Vine (Alpecin – Deceuninck) defends the mountain jersey, Pedersen continues to advance in the points classification. In addition to the overall lead, Evenepoel also holds first place in the youth classification. Ineos Grenadiers remain at the top of the team classification.

Here’s how the contest goes:

After 5 riders could not start again due to a positive corona test, 151 athletes continue to run in ElPozo Alimentacion. With Votek Repa (Ken-Fama), Jon Bou (Yuskaten-Eskadi) and Jetse Ball (Burgos-Bis), all three of them pulled out of the field immediately after the official opening. Although the three were more than an hour behind in the classification, the peloton did not let them go by more than three minutes.

63 kilometers before the finish, Repa fell at the roundabout. 1:43 minutes later Julian Alaphilippe (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) collapsed on the field in what appeared to be the same spot. As the world champion was being taken away in an ambulance, the Czech got up and took the lead again.

However, the situation changed again when Bol went too late with 52 kilometers to go. The Dutch attacked his comrades and hanged them. As a soloist, he extended his lead to about two minutes. With 26 kilometers to go, his adventure off the field was over.

All 150 drivers made it to the championship together without putting in too much effort. With a distance of 9.8 kilometers, Pedersen received 20 points in the intermediate run with a short start. Then the final pace increased, several trains formed, with no one able to assert themselves in the last kilometer. Degenkolb took off too early, and Juan Sebastian Molano (UAE Emirates Team), who was behind him, went into the wind too early. In the end, Groves passed everyone and was able to keep Poppel and Merlier behind him.

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