Vuelta a España Stage Report: The eighth stage of the 2024 Vuelta a España was received in Cazorla by Primoz Roglič (Purple Bull-BORA-hansgrohe). The Slovenian was the strongest on the brief, steep last climb. Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R) was trying sturdy in his chief’s pink jersey firstly of the climb, however finally misplaced virtually a minute to Roglič. Enric Mas (Movistar) and Mikel Landa (T-Rex Fast-Step) had been second and third.
Stage 8 highlights
Vuelta race director, Fernando Escartín: “The mountains of Jaén would be the star of a rugged stage, more likely to finish in a dash to the finish-line. The Mirador de las Palomas mountain cross would be the day’s largest problem, earlier than finishing a last lap as much as Cazorla in a Class 3 climb that’s unlikely to mark any vital variations among the many race favourites.”
Stage 8: The eighth stage begins in Úbeda and finishes in Cazorla after 159 kilometres. From Úbeda, the primary 70 kilometres go northeast to the Guadalquivir river. After 105 kilometres, the primary climb of the day is the Puerto Mirador de la Palomas (7.3km at 5.9%), a Cat.2. After the Puerto Mirador de la Palomas, there’s a lengthy descent to Peal de Becerro, from the place the finale actually begins. From an altitude of 500 metres, the climb goes to an altitude of 900 metres. After a brief descent, the ultimate climb to Cazorla begins. It’s 4.2 kilometres lengthy with a median gradient of 8.2%. The GC males ought to trigger a while variations right here. In 2015, Esteban Chaves received forward of general chief Tom Dumoulin and took over his chief’s jersey.
Stage 8 will get on its approach
There have been assaults from the beginning and a big group acquired away, together with Wout van Aert, however they weren’t given any area. Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla), Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan) and Gijs Leemreize (dsm-firmenich-PostNL) managed to make an even bigger hole. 5 riders joined them: Ion Izagirre (Cofidis), Oier Lazkano (Movistar), Mathis Le Berre (Arkéa-B&B Lodges), Luca Vergallito (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Sam Oomen (Lidl-Trek).
One other sizzling day within the south of Spain
The peloton allow them to go. The eight had a most lead of 5 minutes. Within the peloton, Decathlon-AG2R, GC chief Ben O’Connor, managed the race, with some assist from Israel-Premier Tech. On the Puerto Mirador de las Palomas (7.3km at 5.6%), a Cat.2 climb, the Israeli staff decreased the hole to three:30. On that climb, Leemreize was dropped.
There hasn’t been a lot rain in these half these days
Simply earlier than the highest, Schmid attacked. He wasn’t solely going for the KOM factors, because the Swiss rider gave it all the things on the descent. Tejada joined him, after which the 2 continued collectively. Not a lot later, the others additionally returned. Then Lazkano made an assault, however there was no shock. The seven then labored effectively collectively once more. The distinction to the peloton, the place Israel-Premier Tech nonetheless did the work, remained steady.
The centre of Spain’s olive manufacturing
In the direction of the ultimate climb, the escapees began to lose a few of their lead. With fourteen kilometres to go, they nonetheless had somewhat over 1:30. Lazkano and Tejada made an assault, Vergallito managed to carry them, however solely simply. On the foot of the ultimate climb to Cazorla, the main three nonetheless had a lead of simply over 1 minute on the peloton.
Luca Vergallito (Alpecin-Deceuninck) wished to be within the ‘break of the day’
When turning onto the climb, Tejada attacked. Lazkano managed to bridge to him, Vergallito tried to carry on. Behind them there was a crash within the peloton, proper on the entrance of the group. João Almeida and Lennert Van Eetvelt and a few others, ended up on the bottom. Daniel Felipe Martínez was in entrance of the crash and put the facility on for Primoz Roglič. The Slovenian rapidly took over, however he couldn’t eliminate the pink jersey, Ben O’Connor.
Oier Lazkano (Movistar) was one other man for the escape
Roglič then held again, after which EF Schooling-EasyPost took the lead for Richard Carapaz. Many riders had been capable of return, however not Almeida. The Portuguese rider didn’t appear to have the perfect legs, as a result of he misplaced extra floor. Roglič put in a second and third assault and on that final assault, O’Connor was in bother. Felix Gall tried to tow him again, but it surely was clear that the Australian was going to lose time.
Swiss champ Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) and Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan) additionally made it
Enric Mas was capable of comply with Roglič. The 2 flew previous the early escapees simply after the beginning of the ultimate kilometre. The stage victory was going to be a battle between the Slonvenian and the Spaniard. Mas got here to the entrance within the last kilometre and seemed like he might maintain off Roglič within the final bends, however the Slovenian was too sturdy and got here previous him to take his second stage victory of this Vuelta. Mas was second and Mikel Landa third at 14 seconds.
The peloton gave the break 5 minutes
Might the break go all the best way? They solely had 1:35 with 13 kilometres to go…
O’Connor needed to let his teammate, Gall, go. The Australian completed 45 seconds behind Roglič, however due to the ten bonus seconds, O’Connor misplaced virtually a minute on the Slovenian.
Primoz Roglič didn’t seemed too harassed on the end
Stage winner and 2nd general, Primoz Roglic (Purple Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): “Truly, I used to be fairly struggling, it was sizzling immediately. However on the finish the chance was there and I went for it. I simply went for it and I used to be fortunate I had the legs to take it immediately. For certain, it’s good to open gaps on Ben O’Connor. Possibly tomorrow I lose time once more. I attempt to do my greatest. Day by day, it’s full on racing and we’ll see how I reply to all of those calls for for my physique after a tough interval with my harm. We’ll see.”
Stage win and time again on O’Connor for Roglič
Total chief, Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale): “It was a extremely exhausting begin, after which Israel wished to convey it again and make it actually exhausting. I’m a bit upset with the way it went ultimately. We had all the things managed and it was Primoz [Roglic], Almeida and another guys who had been dropped [early in the stage]. I used to be at all times in entrance. [Losing 45 seconds] is greater than I wished immediately, it positively wasn’t my greatest day so hopefully there’s higher days to come back. Tomorrow may be very completely different. I don’t thoughts these climbs in Sierra Nevada. Hopefully I’ve an excellent day and preserve this pink jersey.”
Ben O’Connor misplaced time, however nonetheless has the pink jersey
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Vuelta a España Stage 8 End result:
1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Purple Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 3:38:34
2. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar
3. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Fast-Step at 0:14
4. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious at 0:17
5. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Lidl-Trek at 0:21
6. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers
7. Harold Alfonso Tejada Canacue (Col) Astana Qazaqstan at 0:24
8. Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Jayco AlUla at 0:26
9. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 0:29
10. Jack Haig (Aus) Bahrain Victorious.
Vuelta a España Total After Stage 8:
1. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale in 31:23:27
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Purple Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 3:49
3. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 4:31
4. Antonio Tiberi (Ita) Bahrain Victorious at 5:00
5. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Fast-Step at 5:13
6. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 5:15
7. Cristian Rodriguez Martin (Spa) Arkéa-Bamp;&B Lodges at 5:19
8. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Lidl-Trek at 5:24
9. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Purple Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 5:25
10. Felix Gall (Aust) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale at 5:26.
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