Carapaz reigns in Navacerrada and Evenepoel wins La Vuelta News

MADRID, 10 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz (INEOS Grenadiers) has achieved his third stage victory in La Vuelta a España, where he has managed to win the penultimate day, which has covered 181 kilometers between Moralzarzal and Puerto de Navacerrada, where the Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Quick -Setp Alpha Vinyl) has not suffered and has managed to win the race.

On a day marked in red for the La Vuelta favourites, Richard Carapaz pushed hard to prevail in the breakaway and be able to keep those fighting for the general at bay when they pressed him the most, managing to win both his third stage and secure the mountain jersey. The Ecuadorian, who came to the race to fight for the general, has ended up achieving success in other objectives that were not expected at the start in what will be his last great race with INEOS Grenadiers.

Carapaz rode alongside Louis Mentjes (Intermarché) and Sergio Higuita (EF Education-EasyPost) for much of the stage, managing to go ahead of a large number of runners who made up the initial breakaway. Later, the Ecuadorian knew how to read the race when the general favorites were cutting time, as the group came within less than 20 seconds of the head.

At that moment, Richard Carapaz attacked Higuita and launched himself towards the finish line for the last eight kilometres, gaining enough of an advantage to also avoid a desperate attempt by Thymen Arensman (Team DSM), who launched himself from a distance and tried to give chases the INEOS, but finished second to eight seconds.

Remco Evenepoel was the other great protagonist, resisting well the only attempt by Enric Mas (Movistar Team), to become champion of La Vuelta 2022, where he has shown that he was the best, although the abandonment of Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) has been decisive in his favour.

The Belgian dominated the race despite being outnumbered by other teams, coming out quickly to cover attacks from both Enric Mas and Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates). That feeling of superiority made his rivals prefer to sheathe their weapons and focus on enduring a podium which, in both cases, is a loot far above what they expected at first.

Juan Ayuso, for his part, also used the stage to confirm himself as the great name of the future of Spanish cycling, by managing to finish his first Grand Tour on the podium. At 19 years old, the man from Alicante has managed to be third in La Vuelta a España, being one of the youngest in history to do so.

Another special moment was the arrival at the finish line of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team), who was in contention for the stage win for much of the day, but was unable to catch up with Richard Carapaz despite the help of his team. The Murcian thus puts an end to a spectacular sports career at 42 years of age and will be able to enjoy a tribute at the end of the Spanish round in Madrid.

After this great stage, La Vuelta will now put an end to its 2022 edition on the last day that leaves Las Rozas and arrives in Madrid, a flat route of 96.7 kilometers that will serve as a tribute to the participants and where some cyclists will try to get the victory that has eluded them in previous days. At the conclusion, the podium ceremony will be held in recognition of the race winners.

--CLASSIFICATIONS.

-Stage.

1. Richard Carapaz (ECU/INEOS Grenadiers) 3:19:11.

2. Thymen Arensman (HOL/Team DSM) a 8.

3. JOHN AYUSO (ESP/UAE TEAM EMIRATES)

4. Jai Hindley (AUS/Bora-Hansgrohe) m.t.

5. ENRIC MAS (ESP/MOVISTAR TEAM) m.t.

-General.

1. Remco Evenepoel (BEL/Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) 78:00:12.

2. ENRIC MAS (ESP/MOVISTAR TEAM) at 2:05.

3. JOHN AYUSO (ESP/UAE TEAM EMIRATES) 5:08.

4. Miguel Angel Lopez (COL/Astana Qazaqstan Team) 5:5