Towards Santander, it was not the profile but the weather conditions which proved to be a difficulty for the Vuelta peloton this Wednesday. After 141 rainy kilometres, a sprint nevertheless concluded stage 17 and Kaden Groves won while David Gaudu secured his position within the pack. The Breton is still sixth overall and a breakaway stage is looming tomorrow before three decisive final days for the leader of the Groupama-FDJ cycling team.
The day’s scenario seemed quite uncertain this Wednesday on the Vuelta a Espana, with a very hilly route halfway through before a much flatter second part of the race. The breakaway could have its chance, but with the rain coming after about ten kilometres, the fight at the start proved quicker than expected and only four men hit the front. The sprinters’ teams took advantage of this opportunity and led the chase all day to give themselves a last shot in this 2024 edition. Thomas Champion (Cofidis), Jonas Gregaard (Lotto Dstny), Thibault Guernalec (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Xabier Isasa (Euskaltel-Euskadi) certainly accumulated a lead of up to four minutes, but the pack always kept control. Although it had to work hard until the last kilometres in the streets of Santander, it managed to bring it all back together for the anticipated sprint. The late attempts were also closed down, and Kaden Groves was able to collect a third stage win.
“They didn’t enjoy themselves today”, Thierry Bricaud
David Gaudu, Stefan Küng, Lorenzo Germani and Quentin Pacher finished in the main peloton, which was barely made up of sixty riders. “It was anything but a transition day,” assured Thierry Bricaud. “It could have been a breakaway day, but it could possibly be a sprint as well and that’s what happened. Above all, the riders suffered from very difficult weather conditions. It was even dangerous at some points, especially on the downhills, and it was a difficult day. Seeing everyone’s faces at the finish, you can be sure that they didn’t enjoy themselves today. On a day like that, we just had to make sure not to get caught out and to stay alongside David. That’s what they did very well, especially Stefan who knows how to do that to perfection.” The French climber therefore kept his sixth place overall, which he will defend from Friday, while a hilly profile is looming tomorrow in the Basque Country. “It should be a day for the breakaway,” concluded Thierry. “We hope that we will have Quentin or Stefan at the front because it is a stage that could suit us.“
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