Stage 18: Remco Red Takes the Stage
Another disastrous day for big names in La Vuelta 2022, but red jersey man Remco Evenepoel (QST) soldiered up the Alto de Piornal for the win on Stage 18. Second-overall Enric Mas (MOV) nipped at his heels for second on the stage, spoiling a long solo breakaway effort from third-place on the stage Robert Gesink (TJV).
Stage 18Stage 18 offered a trio of mountain tops to the riders eager to make time on the inclines: a category-2, followed by a pair of category-1 climbs, with the final one the uphill finish. It was a veritable playground for riders angling to make up big time in the waning days of this year’s La Vuelta.
Lawson CraddockRemco Evenepoel was not taking the red jersey for granted, even with Primoz Roglic (QST) out. The Belgian attacked from the peloton with 8.5km to go, trying to gain more time on second-place overall Enric Mas (MOV) and other top-10 GC rivals. Mas countered with some pressure of his own on the red jersey, but Evenepoel managed every acceleration without visible discomfort, and the pair raced up the mountainside to catch the solo breakaway Robert Gesink (TJV). The trio rolled into the final meters together, and it was the red jersey Evenepoel who had the strongest final kick.
Mads Pedersen (TSF) retains the green jersey, while Richard Carapaz (IGD) capitalized on Vine’s departure to increase his lead in the polka dot jersey competition.
Lawson Craddock (BEX) remains the highest-ranked American in the race.
Notable exits: the hits keep coming. A nasty crash brought down big names in this year’s edition of the La Vuelta, including the current King of the Mountains, Jay Vine (ADC). Vine left the scene of the crash in an ambulance. His polka dot jersey will fall to the next man up, Richard Carapaz (IGD).
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