Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert from the Visma-Lease and Bike team became the winner of the 7th stage of the Vuelta a Espaňa race.
Photo: CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP / AFP / Profimedia
Wout Van Aert triumphant v 7th stage Vuelta.
In Friday’s 180.2 km track from Archidona to Cordoba, he triumphed in the mass sprint ahead of Czech Mathias Vacek from Lidl-Trek, Pau Miquel from Spain (Equipo Kern Pharma) completed the podium.
Australian rider Ben O’Connor from the Decathlon – AG2R – La Mondiale stable kept the red jersey for the overall leader.
On Friday there was a hilly stage with one sprint premium and a climb to the Alto del 14% before the final flat.
The Spaniard Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel – Euskadi) made a separate breakaway, and although he built up to an eight-minute lead over the peloton, he could not keep up the pace himself in the high heat of over 36°C.
He grabbed the sprinter’s prize 40 km before the finish line with only a one-minute lead, and shortly after that the peloton swallowed him up.
Five mountain climbing points on Alto del 14% were scored by the second overall ranking Slovenian Primož Roglič from Red Bull – Bora-Hansgrohe.
Australian Kaden Groves (Alpecin – Deceuninck) had an unpleasant fall 25 km before the end of the stage, but he quickly shook himself off and continued in the race. Several groups formed at the head of the peloton, and Marc Soler (SAE Team Emirates) was alone at the front for a while.
The mass group with driver Sepp Kuss caught up with him 3 km before the finish line and the race headed for a mass sprint in which van Aert succeeded.
Tour of Spain – 7th stage (Archidona – Cordoba, 180.2 km):
1. Wout van Aert (Belg./Visma – Lease a bike) 4:15:39 h, 2. Mathias Vacek (ČR/Lidl – Trek), 3. Pau Miquel (Šp./Equipo Kern Pharma), 4. Stefan Küng (Swaj./Groupama – FDJ), 5. Quinten Hermans (Belg./Alpecin – Deceuninck), 6. Quentin Pacher (Fr./Groupama – FDJ), 7. Lorenzo Rota (Tal./Intermarché – Wanty), 8 Harold Tejada (Kol./Astana Qazaqstan Team), 9. Max Poole (V.Brit./DSM), 10. George Bennett (N.Zél./Israel – Premier Tech)
Overall ranking after the 7th stage:
1. Ben O’Connor (Austria/Decathlon – AG2R – La Mondiale) 27:44:07 h, 2. Primož Roglič (Slovin./Red Bull – Bora-Hansgrohe) +4:45 min, 3. Joao Almeida ( Portuguese/SAE Team Emirates) +4:59, 4. Enric Mas (Šp./Movistar Team) +5:23, 5. Cristian Rodriguez (Šp./Arkéa – B&B Hotels) +5:26, 6. Antonio Tiberi (Tal./Bahrain Victorious) +5:29, 7. Lennert Van Eetvelt (Belg./Lotto – Dstny) +5:32, 8. Florian Lipowitz (German/Red Bull – Bora-Hansgrohe) +5:37, 9. Felix Gall (Rak./Decathlon – AG2R – La Mondiale) +5:38, 10. Mattias Skjelmose (Dán./Lidl-Trek) +5:49
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
