In a superb solo number, Britain’s Adam Yates pulled off a big move on the 9e stage of the Tour of Spain, Sunday between Motril and Granada, and is back in a general classification that has been shaken up, but is still dominated by the Australian Ben O’Connor.
Only 27e 9 min 27 from the red jersey before the stage, the UAE rider, who became the sole leader of his team after the withdrawal of Joao Almeida, who tested positive for COVID-19, assumed his new role by taking advantage of the first mountain stage to try his luck in a breakaway.
“I’ve never suffered like that in my life,” the day’s winner told Eurosport. “It was so hard. On the last climb I had cramps everywhere. I’ve had a lot of bad luck in the Grand Tours in recent years and I didn’t think I’d make it.”
Having set off in a breakaway of 26 riders after only around twenty kilometres, and helped initially by his team-mates Marc Soler and Jay Vine, Yates took off on the climb of the Alto de Hazallanas, dropping Frenchman David Gaudu, the last to follow him on the steepest slopes.
Carapaz is back in place
Nearly 58 kilometres and a new climb of the Alto de Hazallanas later, he crossed the finish line alone, 1 min 39 sec ahead of the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, who also had a great stage after having caught up with all the escapees alone, except for the Briton.
Now 7e Overall, 5 min 30 sec behind the leader O’Connor, Yates reasserts himself as a serious contender for the overall victory, on the eve of a welcome day of rest before new excursions in the mountains.
In a very lively stage with three climbs on the programme, the Australian Ben O’Connor, who had lost almost a minute the day before to the Slovenian Primoz Roglic, held on and kept the red jersey by taking third place in the stage.
He even took a few seconds off Roglic, who was not very fit in the stifling Andalusian heat, thanks to the bonuses.
The leader of Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe, triple winner of the Vuelta (2019, 2020, 2021), managed to limit the damage on the descent towards Granada, catching Enric Mas and David Gaudu, even if he lost almost four minutes on Yates and Carapaz, who himself moved up to 3e place in the general.
After a rest day on Monday, the riders will head to Galicia for the 10e stage on Tuesday, with a 160 km stage suitable for adventurers between Ponteareas and Baiona on the programme.