With 19 kilometers to go Richard Carapaz He suffered some mechanical problems that made him separate from the main pack. Nevertheless, The locomotive Ecuadorian went all out and rejoined the lot. She crossed the line in 55th place and retained her position within the Top 10 of the general classification of the Vuelta a España.
“It was a bit of a fast and a bit dangerous stage, but I think we did well. Now we are going to Spain, which is a bit of a territory that is better known to us”, the Carchense told ESPN after disputing the third stage, in Breda.
Carapaz, who had arrived on Sunday seventh in the general classification, gave up one place and is now eighth, 13 seconds behind the leader, the Italian Edoardo Affini, who is now the head of the Spanish round with a total time of 8 hours. 20 minutes and 07 seconds.
Regarding the mishap as a result of a fall that knocked him down, the Olympic champion assured that “there was simply a scare”, that nothing has happened to him, he has not suffered any blows and that his bicycle is intact. “We continue with the objective and to continue raffling the stages,” he added to the journalists.
After three days in the Netherlands, the Vuelta jumps to Vitoria to face a week with incentives that will outline a general classification that, for now, is led “de facto” by the Slovenian Primoz Roglic thanks to the initial team time trial that opened the round last Friday, in Utrecht.
That day the first significant differences between Roglic and his direct rivals were already opened. It was the beginning of a festival for the Jumbo team and the Dutch runners, who had a mass bath with the time trial victory and later with the jerseys red on the backs of Gesink, Teunissen and Affini, the current leader. The party was joined by Bora’s Irishman Sam Bennett with a brace in Utrecht and Breda.
Roglic, recovered from the spinal injury that occurred in the Tour, will restart the race this Tuesday on pole. Third overall, he is the true leader and favorite to win his fourth wound. The former ski jumper has not come to cover the file. In the time trial he acted in style and his state of form anger “in crescendo”.
The king of the Vuelta has the baton before a week that excites with the mountains of Cantabria and Asturias, as well as the individual time trial of Alicante, without forgetting this Tuesday’s day between Vitoria and Laguardia. It will be a first filter for the authentic candidates for the throne of Madrid, where the race will take place on September 11.
The differences are not abysmal, but in some cases they are significant. Roglic has Carapaz and Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) 13 seconds behind, a second after Evenepoel, and Simon Yates, Joao Almeida and Juan Ayuso by more than half a minute. And after 40 seconds the winner of the Giro Jai Hindley, Mikel Landa, Juanpe López, Enric Mas, Valverde and Miguel Ángel López.
The unknowns remain after the Dutch journey; Also illusions. The Tour that begins immediately will put everyone in their place. Roglic’s form and Carapaz’s response after announcing his departure from Ineos could be the keys to the most anticipated confrontation. Both lead the bets. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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