Stage Report: After a chaotic, crash crammed finale, Geoffrey Soupe took a shock stage victory. The massive beard beat Orluis Aular, Edward Theuns, Juan Sebastián Molano and factors chief Kaden Groves in an in depth dash. The general was unchanged.
The final kilometre of stage 7
Geoffrey Soupe received the seventh stage of the Vuelta a España in Oliva on Friday. The French rider of TotalEnergies received the bunch dash forward of Orluis Aular and Edward Theuns after many crashes within the closing kilometres. The one change within the normal classification was Jonas Vingegaard shifting into the highest ten as a result of bonus second within the final intermediate dash. Lenny Martinez stays the general chief.
It was Geoffrey Soupe by greater than his chin hair
Race director, Fernando Escartín: “A flat stage that’s anticipated to finish in a mass dash to the finish-line. In idea, it’s a straightforward day for the peloton. The sprinter groups will work exhausting to acquire victory whereas the overall classification riders will be capable of take a break after a really demanding day, simply earlier than one other stage that may put their abilities to the check.”
Stage 7 map and profile
After Thursday’s robust mountain stage, the riders had a a lot simpler stage on Friday. The stage was primarily a flat 200.8 kilometres from Utiel to Oliva. There have been no categorised climbs for the entire day. A bunch dash was anticipated by everybody.
One other stage for Kaden Groves?
The brand new crimson jersey – Lenny Martinez
There nonetheless needed to be a ‘break of the day’. José Herrada (Cofidis) and Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH) selected to assault, however the two Spanish riders didn’t get a lot of a spot, their most lead was simply over 2 minutes.
Out of city for the highway to the coast
The break of the day
Not a lot occurred within the peloton, though Geraint Thomas crashed. The INEOS Grenadiers rider was clearly in ache from his fall, however was in a position to get again on the bike. The Welshman acquired again to the peloton fairly shortly, as a result of the tempo was not too excessive. The stage was going slower than the slowest schedule.
The peloton wasn’t in an enormous hurry… but
The escape wasn’t actually going wherever and their lead was lower than 30 seconds with 70 kilometres to go. Herrada sat up and was caught, however Okamika pushed on. The 30 year-old Spaniard took extra time on the peloton on his personal.
There was somewhat little bit of climbing close to the beginning
Okamika was in a position to maintain the peloton off for some time, however he was additionally caught with 40 kilometres to go. This occurred after there was an actual acceleration within the peloton. The groups of the GC riders have been pondering of the bonus seconds on the intermediate dash and the wind was beginning to make a distinction.
The hills would quickly be behind the riders for at present
The dash was received by Kaden Groves, forward of Marijn van den Berg. Third place went to Jonas Vingegaard, who took two seconds. The Dane was now degree with Enric Mas on the overall classification and the hole to Remco Evenepoel had been diminished to three seconds.
No crimson (or white) jersey for Remco Evenepoel
Then tempo lifted within the peloton, but it surely didn’t final lengthy, as a result of 10 kilometres from the end there was one other crash. Sepp Kuss and Pierre Latour, with others, hit the tarmac. The nervousness stayed within the peloton and there was one other crash shortly afterwards. This time a couple of extra riders got here down. Thymen Arensman was the most important sufferer and needed to be taken to hospital in an ambulance.
They make some good wine within the Utiel space
After these crashes, there was an odd dash. There have been few lead-out males left and there was a nook at 300 metres from the end. Geoffrey Soupe got here out of that final nook surprisingly effectively and the Frenchman nonetheless had a robust dash left in his legs. Within the final metres Orluis Aular got here up very strongly, however Soupe completed simply in entrance of the Venezuelan. Edward Theuns was third.
By way of Valencia and fashionable museums and the ocean park
The break ended on the coast, though Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH) held out a bit longer
Kaden Groves, who had already received two levels on this Vuelta, completed fifth. The Australian didn’t come by way of the final nook effectively and was not in a position to battle for the victory, ending in fifth place simply behind Juan Sebastián Molano. Marijn van den Berg crossed the road in sixth. Lenny Martinez stays the general chief.
Loopy dash win for Geoffrey Soupe
Stage winner, Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergies): “It’s unbelievable for me, for the group. Usually, I wasn’t speculated to trip La Vuelta however Alexis Vuillermoz crashed within the Tour de l’Ain so the group picked me to do La Vuelta. I didn’t assume it could be doable to win a stage, as a result of the sprints are actually quick. At the moment, it was very nervous within the closing. A dash in a Grand Tour is all the time particular! With Nacer [Bouhanni], we received a number of sprints on the Vuelta a couple of years in the past. It was already a rare feeling, lots of adrenalin. Main him out and seeing him win was very thrilling. However to style pure victory, I can’t describe it. Yesterday, I used to be actually struggling. I had a very unhealthy time on the bike. I caught a virus at the beginning of La Vuelta and it slowed me down. I’m taking it daily. I took my probabilities proper to the tip. Dries Van Gestel couldn’t dash. However I knew the place to go on the final bend. I used to be a bit stunned that no person got here again behind. I requested myself: ‘What’s happening? Is that this my day?’”
The largest win of Geoffrey Soupe’s profession
General chief, Lenny Martinez (Groupama-FDJ): “At the moment I simply needed to maintain the jersey. I didn’t wish to crash, I didn’t wish to lose any time… My teammates did an incredible job to place me. It’s my first time being so near the sprinters. A number of riders got here to congratulate me. It was an exquisite day.”
Second day in crimson tomorrow, however will or not it’s Lenny Martinez’s final?
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Vuelta a España Stage 7 Outcome:
1. Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) TotalEnergies at 4:56:29
2. Orluis Aular (Ven) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
3. Edward Theuns (Bel) Lidl-Trek
4. Juan Sebastián Molano (Col) UAE Staff Emirates
5. Kaden Groves (Aus) Alpecin-Deceuninck
6. Marijn van den Berg (Ned) EF Schooling-EasyPost
7. David González (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA
8. Hugo Web page (Fra) Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
9. Filippo Ganna (Ita) INEOS Grenadiers
10. Matevž Govekar (Slo) Bahrain Victorious.
Vuelta a España General After Stage 7:
1. Lenny Martinez (Fra) Groupama-FDJ in 26:37:04
2. Sepp Kuss (USA) Jumbo-Visma at 0:08
3. Marc Soler (Spa) UAE Staff Emirates at 0:51
4. Wout Poels (Ned) Bahrain Victorious at 1:41
5. Steff Cras (Bel) TotalEnergies at 1:48
6. Mikel Landa (Spa) Bahrain Victorious at 1:58
7. David de la Cruz (Spa) Astana Qazaqstan at 2:23
8. Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda (European) Caja Rural-Seguros RGA at 2:30
9. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Soudal Fast-Step at 2:47
10. Jonas Vingegaard (Den) Jumbo-Visma at 2:50.
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