Stage 7: Praise Jesus!
Spanish rider Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) beat out rivals in the breakaway group for a bunch sprint win on Stage 7 of the 2022 La Vuelta.
Stage 7Stage 7 included a dramatic category-1 uphill sweep midway through the race. The breakaway tried to build its lead before the climb, but the small group of riders had only a few minutes advantage by the bottom of the Puerto de San Glorio. Jesus Herrada nabbed the KOM points at the top of the climb as well.
Remco Evenepoel (QST) and Enric Mas (MOV) were time winners on the uphill mountain finish in the previous Stage 6. Two excellent riders – you expect them to be up in the rankings, but it was surprising to see them leapfrog 3x Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic (JV). Is the Slovenian racing his own proven pace or does he not feel as strong as other years?
Sepp KussThe red jersey remains with Remco Evenepoel, as the main GC contenders in the peloton cross the finish line en masse, less than a minute behind the breakaway.
Sam Bennett (BOH) and Victor Langellotti (BBH) retain the green jersey and the polka dot jersey, respectively.
Sepp Kuss (JV) continues to be the highest-ranked American in the race, 14th overall after Stage 7.
Notable exits: Jaakko Hänninen and Andrea Vendrame tested positive for Covid-19. The riders are not big names, but they are both on AG2R-Citroen. Ben O’Connor held the 15th rank overall after Stage 6 – his GC ambitions are about to get even more difficult with less help.
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