Dutch rider Thymen Arensman (DSM) hung with the best riders all day and pushed the pedals for a breakaway solo win atop Alto Hoya de la Mora on Stage 15 at La Vuelta 2022.

Stage 15 was the exclamation point at the end of a mountain-filled weekend. A hill and dale first half fed into a category-1 and above-category uphill finish, Alto Hoya de la Mora. The vicious climb begins with a stretch at 20% gradient – a prime opportunity to drop red jersey man Remco Evenepoel (QST).

The Belgian would not relent, as the support riders of all the GC riders melted away up Altp Hoya de la Mora. An elite group of pursuers, including Evenepoel, Primoz Roglic (JV), Enric Mas (MOV), and Ben O’Connor (ACT), Miguel Angel Lopez (AST), formed about two-and-a-half minutes behind Marc Soler (UAE) on the solo breakaway. 

Superman Lopez attacked with 11km to go and Mas attacked with 10km. 

The trio of GC contenders Roglic, O’Connor, and red jersey man Evenepoel stood pat until the final kilometers. Primoz Roglic bided his time, then attacked for time over rival Evenepoel. But Evenepoel still would not relent, catching up and pushing ahead to keep his red jersey lead.

Thymen Arensman (DSM) caught Soler with 7km to go, then went ahead solo. The Dutch rider sat on the cusp of the top-10 overall, at 11th, before Stage 15. With his strong day, he skips up to 8th overall.

Mads Pedersen (TSF) and Jay Vine (ADC) retain the green and polka dot jersey, respectively.

American Lawson Craddock (BEX) sailed solo off the front with about 78km to go. Jay Vine (ADC) caught him before the top of Alto de Purche, and the rest of the breakaway pulled in the pair before the final climb. Craddock faded afterwards, but he remains the highest-ranked American overall.

Notable exits: veteran mountain man Domenico Pozzovivo (IWG) abandoned early.