Vuelta a España Stage Report: The robust stage 15 had a brutal summit end on Cuitu Negru and was received by Pablo Castrillo of the Kern Pharma workforce. After 143 kilometres, the Spanish rider fought by the mist to cross the end line first. He dropped his break companions, Aleksandr Vlasov (Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Pavel Sivakov (UAE Crew Emirates) on the steep finale with ramps of as much as 24%. GC chief Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale) misplaced time to Primož Roglič (Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Enric Mas (Movistar), however the Australian nonetheless holds the general lead.
The final loopy kilometre of stage 15
Vuelta race director, Fernando Escartín: “The second week of competing will conclude with a troublesome Asturian mountain stage. The double climb of Colladiella will add problem to a stage that may culminate on the Cuitu Negru – a real Asturian colossus whose hardest kilometres are discovered past Pajares Ski Resort, with ramps of 23%. This will likely be an vital day for the overall classification favourites.”
Stage 15 profile
Stage 15: This stage is an actual terror for all of the riders. A stage of 142 kilometres, with the end line on high of the Cuitu Negru in Valgrande-Pajares. An actual Asturian climb. The asphalt highway to the highest was constructed particularly for the Vuelta fifteen years in the past. From Infiesto, the peloton has a rolling highway to the three climbs earlier than the Cuitu Negru. After 28 kilometres, they begin the Alto de la Colladiella (7.8km at 7.1%), after which the Alto de Santo Emiliano (5.4km at 5.6%) rapidly follows. As a warm-up, the peloton tackles the Alto de la Colladiella once more after 80 kilometres. There are nonetheless about 37 kilometres to go to the foot of the Cuitu Negru. After a protracted descent, there may be the Puente de Fierros, the place the 19 kilometre ultimate, the Cuitu Negru (19.5km at 5.2%) begins. The common gradient provides a false image of the climb as the primary 7 kilometres will not be too taxing, however after that it turns into very tough. Eight kilometres from the highest, the highway rises at 11%, and after that the climb turns into an increasing number of tough. The final 2.5 kilometres rise at greater than 12% and simply earlier than the highest it goes as much as 24%.
The jerseys in the beginning – Will they modify shoulders right now?
The stage began with out Cian Uijtdebroeks, attributable to a optimistic covid take a look at. There have been a number of assaults from the beginning and the peloton was forward of the quickest race schedule. Jay Vine, Marc Soler and stage winner Pablo Castrillo had been energetic early within the stage, as was inexperienced jersey Wout van Aert. Pink jersey Ben O’Connor was briefly behind a cut up within the peloton, however he was capable of get again to the bunch.
The early break didn’t stand an opportunity
Most of the GC riders needed to make the race very robust. Movistar and UAE Crew Emirates rode laborious the primary time up the Alto de la Colladiella. There was no actual assaults from a podium candidate, however the main group was caught. Then a brand new escape group was shaped on the Alto de Santo Emiliano. There have been 21 riders who escaped earlier than the second time up Colladiella. The hole was 2 minutes for some time, however Soudal Fast-Step took the lead for Mikel Landa. With Pavel Sivakov (at 6:31 general) and George Bennett (at 6.29), two harmful prospects had been within the group, as had been Steven Kruijswijk, Daniel Felipe Martinez, Aleksandr Vlasov, Vine, Soler and Castrillo. That group cut up on the Colladiella, as a result of UAE Crew Emirates rode laborious for Sivakov.
Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) and Marc Soler (UAE Crew Emirates)
A gaggle with Sivakov, Vine (who was now on the identical KOM factors as Van Aert), Vlasov, Castrillo, Oscar Rodriguez, Bruno Armirail, Quentin Pacher and Ion Izagirre began the descent to the valley that led to the foot of the ultimate climb. The lead elevated to over 3 minutes. Roglič selected to alter bikes simply earlier than the ultimate climb, with simpler gear for the steep sections. On the ultimate climb, the main group cut up because of the work of Sivakov, who took Vlasov and Castrillo with him, and the favorite’s group additionally misplaced many riders attributable to Landa’s males. All of O’Connor’s teammates had been dropped nicely earlier than the end, which meant that it was man-against-man within the final 8 kilometres on the very steep sections.
T-Rex Fast-Step did a number of the chase work right now
After Soudal Fast-Step had run out of males, Mikel Landa instantly launched an assault with 6 kilometres to go. Roglič, Mas, O’Connor, Carapaz, Gaudu, Kuss and Lipowitz had been in a position to stick with him, though some had been having a tough time. Sivakov, Vlasov and Castrillo had a 2 minute lead at that time. Within the favourites’ group, the tempo slowed for some time on a flatter part, which meant that all the pieces would come all the way down to the robust ultimate kilometres.
Sunday and the followers had been out roadside
On the primary steep part, slightly below 3 kilometres from the end, Equipo Kern Pharma star-man Castrillo shocked the main group with a giant leap. He rapidly created a niche of 15 seconds on Sivakov and Vlasov. Behind them, it was Lipowitz who accelerated with Roglič on his wheel. Solely O’Connor struggled for some time, however selected his personal tempo. Roglič continued alone with greater than 2 kilometres to go, in pursuit of claiming the purple jersey.
Bike change for Primoz Roglič to a single chainring
There was now a battle on two fronts: Castrillo had Vlasov progressively closing in, however the Spaniard didn’t let the Russian be a part of him. Within the final kilometre Vlasov obtained on his wheel, though it was tough. With 500 metres to go, the robust Castrillo put in a brand new assault and once more rode away from Vlasov. Castrillo fought his solution to a stunning second Vuelta stage win, forward of Vlasov and Sivakov.
May Sivakov, Vlasov and Castrillo maintain off the favourites?
Among the many favourites Roglič was unable to get away from the others. Mas accelerated to hitch the Slovenian, whereas a gaggle with O’Connor and Landa was not far behind. Within the ultimate kilometre, Mas put much more stress on Roglič, however the two nonetheless crossed the road collectively. Mattias Skjelmose and Richard Carapaz managed to restrict the injury.
And Castrillo assaults!
Behind them, the hole to Sepp Kuss, Mikel Landa and David Gaudu was a lot larger. Pink jersey Ben O’Connor finally crossed the end line in eleventh place, 38 seconds behind Mas and Roglič. The Australian stays within the general lead, however it has shrink to 43 seconds (Roglič was penalised 20 seconds for drafting, so now 1:03). Mas is third, 2:23 behind the chief.
Roglič couldn’t do away with Mas, however took time from O’Connor
Stage winner, Pablo Castrillo (Kern Pharma): “The reality is I didn’t count on it. This morning, I got here with the intention to make the break and see how it could go however I didn’t count on to get there ready to win. The primary victory was unbelievable however to get a second one is a dream. I believe it’s the very best Vuelta attainable. I don’t know what else to say.”
Stage win No.2 for Pablo Castrillo
Total chief, Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale): “Sure I used to be optimistic right now. I suppose I’ve confirmed incorrect the individuals who anticipated me to lose the jersey. I had a fairly good day. It’s a little bit of a disgrace that I exploded a bit on the finish however that’s gotta be one of the vital horrible endings to a climb that I’ve ever finished, it was disgusting! It was sort of just one assault and that was Primoz [Roglic], tremendous spectacular, then it was very a lot man towards man that climb. You simply felt such as you had been going nowhere, you couldn’t see something with the fog as nicely. It was tough. I’m nonetheless within the lead so I’ll take it. I’m gonna relaxation tomorrow, attempt to take pleasure in it if I can after which sort out Lagos de Covadonga on Tuesday. I’m proud. It’s 10 days now. It’s fairly particular, it means nearly the half of the course. I can simply be proud of myself, proud of the boys and I believe it’s actually a magical second for myself.”
Ben O’Connor fought laborious to maintain his purple jersey going into the second relaxation day
# All of the biking information in EUROTRASH Monday. #
Vuelta a España Stage 15 Outcome:
1. Pablo Castrillo Zapater (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma in 3:45:51
2. Aleksander Vlasov (-) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 0:12
3. Pavel Sivakov (Fra) UAE Crew Emirates at 0:31
4. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 1:04
5. Primož Roglič (Slo) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe
6. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Lidl-Trek at 1:09
7. Richard Carapaz (Eu) EF Schooling – EasyPost at 1:13
8. Sepp Kuss (USA) Visma | Lease a Bike at 1:22
9. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Fast-Step at 1:27
10. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 1:37.
Vuelta a España Total After Stage 15:
1. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale in 60:19:22
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 0:43 + 0:20 = 1:03
3. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 2:23
4. Richard Carapaz (Eu) EF Schooling-EasyPost at 2:44
5. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Fast-Step at 3:05
6. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Pink Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 4:33
7. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 4:39
8. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 4:40
9. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Lidl-Trek at 4:51
10. Pavel Sivakov (Fra) UAE Crew Emirates at 5:12.
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