10/31/2020 – Stage 11 – 170 km – Mountain
Villaviciosa > Alto de La Farrapona. Lagos de Somiedo
Today: A DRAW on the Farrapona
Tomorrow: A REMATCH on the L’Angliru
Unlike in football, there are no draws in cycling. But today, on the top of the monster 17-kilometer climb that finished the monster of a stage, it was as close as it gets to a no-winner result.
Sure, there was a stage winner (David Gaudu from FDJ), but in the real battle for La Vuelta GC supremacy, it ended in a status quo. It wasn’t for lack of trying from the only GC guy who wanted to shake things up – our own Dan Martin: “It was really a hard day today. Every climb was ridden at a fast pace, but I felt good from the start. The headwind on the last climb meant it wasn’t too hard in the wheels and negated any attacks. But in the last kilometer, I saw it was a tailwind and I felt good, so I wanted to make a sprint – not to be surprised by an attack.”
But the leader Roglic and runner-up Carapaz were able to stick to his wheel, and although he finished ahead of them – the GC situation did not change: Dan is still 25 seconds behind.
Tomorrow brings with it the second round. This time a shorter stage, but one that will present a steeper climb to the finish: the 13 km Alto de L’Angliru. The last 6 km is a 13% average wall.
Dan: “There is no hiding on the Angliru.” Will a contender crack on that climb? We shall see tomorrow.
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