Phew! Relief on the roads of The returnsince this 17th stage between O Barco de Valdeorras and the Alto de El Morredero (143.2 km) went smoothly! And it is Giulio Pellizzari Who won! While all the leaders looked at each other and seemed to an equivalent level, the Italian of the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe took the opportunity to attack 3.5 terminals from the line and keep his first victory with professionals! Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) and Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) took the 2nd and 3rd places of the day. While Jonas Vingegaard (4e, Visma | Lease a Bike) et JOAO ALMEIDA (5th, UAE Team Emirates XRG) both seemed to be blocking in the final rise. But the Danish still has scratched 2 seconds on the Portuguese. He now has 50 seconds ahead of his dolphin in the red jersey.
VIDEO – The day before, Egan Bernal had won the 17th stage
The summary
The penultimate mountain stage of the Vuelta was relatively short, with a mainly flat start of race, not very conducive to the formation of a solid breakaway. A dozen runners tried their luck with Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious), Sergio Samitier (COFIDIS) Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost), Harold Tejada (XDs asa), Timo Roosen, Gijs Leemreize (Picnic postnl), Joel Nicolau (Rural-Sigur Caja RGA), Brandon Rivera (INEOS Grenadiers), Patrick Gamper (Jayco simple), Léandre Lozouet (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Luca Van Boven (Intermarché-Wanty) and Jonas Gregaard (Lotto). But the team Visma | Lease a Bike Ensured the pursuit all day and the fugitives were taken up at the foot of the final ascent of the El Morredero alto, a rise which officially makes 8.8km at 9.7%, but which is actually longer and very irregular.
The Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe led the peloton in the first kilometers of the ascent, before Comma Accerse from the start of the most difficult slopes from the start. While Felix Gall (Decathlon Ag2r) ceded, Jai Hindley (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) attacked 6 kilometers from the summit, triggering the fight between the general's favorites. We quickly found more than 6 runners, with Jai Hindley, Giulio Pellizzari (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike), JOAO ALMEIDA (UAE Team Emirates XRG), Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) and Matthew Riccitello (Israel-Prime Tech). The race then became very tactical: Awesome et Almeida refused to attack, leaving the contenders for the podium and the top 5 leading the selection. Giulio Pellizzari has multiplied the attacks before isolation alone in the lead, 3.5 kilometers from the finish. RICITURE tried to react but has always been marked by the other favorites, notably by Hindley who protected his teammate. Pellizzari has imposed itself alone, while Tom Pidcock Regulated the sprint for 2nd place. Hindley finished third, ahead ofJonas Vingegaard et JOAO ALMEIDAwhich both seemed to be blocking in the final climb. But the Danish still has scratched 2 seconds on the Portuguese. He now has 50 seconds ahead of his dolphin in the red jersey.
