German secures first podium in this year’s Vuelta
The thirteenth stage of the Vuelta a Espana presented a 168.4km course without GPM but full of ups and downs, with a rise in the last kilometre to the finish line that decided the race.
The stage was quiet until the last few kilometers, with the escape well controlled by the group and reabsorbed at -10km from the finish.
Here the teams started working to get their fast men to the best positions.
Oliveira and Molano accompanied Ackermann at the head of the group, with the German who tried to take everyone by surprise by launching himself in a very long sprint in the last thousand meters.
The UAE Team Emirates rider however, was unable to maintain the advantage until the finish line on the short but hard final kick.
The final victory went to Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), followed by Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) and Ackermann.
Ackermann: “The team did a great job today to accompany me and put me in position before the final. I saw the -500 sign and I thought after the last corner there was a short distance to the finish line and so I took off. When I got out of the curve, I saw that there were still 300 meters left and I then realised I started too early. Too bad because the legs are there, I hope to make up for it. ”
The fast men may still have a couple of opportunities in the last week of Vuelta, while the riders will face Sierra de la Pandera and Sierra Nevada in the next two days.
Results 13th stage:
1. Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) 3h46’01 ”
2. Bryan Coquard (Cofidis) s.t.
3. Pascal Ackermann (UAE Team Emirates) s.t
General classification after the 13th stage:
1. Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck-Quickstep) 48h11’10 ”
2. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) + 2’41 ”
3. Enric Mas (Movistar) + 3’03 ”
5. Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) + 4’53 “
8. Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) + 7’18 “
