Vuelta: Urko Berrade wins stage 18, Ben O’Connor remains leader

Spaniard Urko Berrade won the 18th on Thursday^e stage of the Tour of Spain by winning on home soil and alone in Maeztu where Australian Ben O’Connor kept his red leader’s jersey.

The 26-year-old Pamplona native from the Kern Pharma team won with a four-second lead over the Swiss Mauro Schmid.

In a chasing group far from the front of the race, O’Connor, from the Décathlon-AG2R La Mondiale team, retained the lead in the general classification, still five seconds ahead of the Slovenian Primoz Roglic and on the eve of the 19^e stage whose arrival will be judged at the summit of the Alto De Moncalvillo.

Berrade, who won his first professional victory on Thursday, was part of a first group of around forty riders who broke away in the first few kilometres.

The Navarrese, who proved to be the strongest in the final difficulties, offered the third stage victory to his team Kern Phama (guest) on this Tour of Spain, after a double by his teammate Pablo Castrillo, victorious on the 12^e and the prestigious 15^e stop at the top of Cuitu Negru.

“For our small team, this Vuelta was very important. What is happening to us is a dream,” commented the winner to the organization’s microphone.

Regarding the race, “we were in numbers at the front. I was the one who attacked. I knew I had to be wary of Mauro Schmid who seemed to have very good legs.”

Frenchman David Gaudu joins the top-5 of the general classification, which Mikel Landa leaves. The Spaniard, who suffered a failure on Thursday, now only appears in tenth position, far from the podium he was aiming for at the start of the race three weeks ago in Lisbon.

“I had no strength in my legs. I don’t understand why,” said the leader of the Soudal-Quick Step team, who lost almost three minutes on his main competitors.

Friday’s high-altitude finish at the summit of the demanding Alto de Moncalvillo (8.6 km at 6.9%, with a passage at 16%) gives hope for a new confrontation between the contenders for the red jersey.

Two listed difficulties will be on the program with the Puerto de Pradilla (3rd category, 5.2 km at 4.8%) halfway through before the finish at the summit of the Alto de Moncavillo (1st category, 8.6 km at 8.9%) after 173.5 km of racing.

O’Connor will definitely be in danger but “every day in red is an added bonus,” said the Decathlon runner.

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