After the political elections, everyone was happy with the start time. Valladolid. The biggest perhaps a Filippo Ganna flew over Pucela with an average speed of more than 60 km/h and won the competition that was to be decisive for the general classification. He sort of pulled it off, but not so much to single out this tour’s big favorite. The candidate who benefited the most was a Remco, Evenepoel who missed the win by just 16”.
The world champion of the specialty wanted two things: victory and leadership. But it couldn’t be. La Roja is left without La Roja because Sepp Kuss, who due to his sociable state had never seen him come through a hundred percent in a time trial as much as he could to claim first place, and because Marc Soler is despite him a great opportunity to secure the last podium, he put in a career-best performance and defended his second place overall. “I couldn’t take the lead,” said the Catalan after crossing the finish line, before emphasizing: “I was very motivated and had to take advantage of the situation to stay well placed.” The one who performed best for his team was Almeida with 4 to 50”.
Ayuso reacted and improved from 7 to 1’11” but it is a coincidence that he finished third overall for his team. “Even though I didn’t have my best day, I think I’ve had a decent time. It is a time that allows me to continue to be in the fight and there is still a lot of mountains left,” said Ayuso, who in the morning had said radio brand that his goal was not to leave more than 30 inches. He left 55” at Remco and 35” at Roglic.
“The ending was quite long for me and I think that’s where I lost all the time. I was hoping to do a little better, but sometimes your legs don’t go the way you want them to,” he added.
Caution jumbo
One of the doubts that needed to be resolved was knowing who the Chrono saw as the true leader of humanity Jumbo Visma. It hasn’t been clarified, although it appears Roglic is ahead of Vingegaard, who doesn’t have as much gas as he has on the Tour. “I suffered a lot in the time trial, but I’m happy with the result. With Remco, I only lost 20 seconds. It could have been worse. I won’t complain. I’m satisfied,” said LaVuelta’s triple-winner at the finish line. He was satisfied, as was Jonas who was still in battle and would serve as his team’s tactician. He came to Spain to claim the double, but without having set a goal at the start of the season.
Of the only four survivors left from the successful escape at Pico del Buitre at the Javalambre Astrophysical Observatory, only Kuss and Soler remain at the top. The short-lived French leader Lenny Martinez is Still in fifth place, he’s gradually losing momentum, and Landa is already out of the top 10. Everyone, including the Basque, emerged satisfied from a time trial that not only gave them clarity but also opened them up even more. Everyone leaves the top 10 happy and with options and everyone but the very young LMartnez already knows what it’s like to be there at the end of a great tour. Half a dozen made it onto the final podium, and among those six, Remco, Roglic, and Vingegaard were at the top. As with the elections, nobody lost in the end.
