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While Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) may not win often, when he does, he wins big. Today was no different at the Vuelta a España as he launched away from the remnants of the day’s breakaway 4.8km from the line to conquer the Puerto de Ancares summit finish solo on stage 13.
Thriving on the category 1 climb’s steepest gradients, the Canadian champion Woods quickly dispatched the likes of Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) once the five remaining from a 23-strong break hit the final climb’s hardest point, winning with an eventual margin of 44 seconds.
This was only the 37-year-old Woods’ second win of the year after the national road title and his third at the Vuelta, adding to triumphs from 2018 and 2020.
Schmid climbed to second up the sharp inclines, while Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) managed third on another entertaining day out in front, as the breakaway won for the fourth day running at the Vuelta.
The race for overall victory was unfolding further down the mountain after the break was allowed again to get over 10 minutes ahead, and after Movistar had paced for much of the approach to the final climb, it was Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe who came to the fore in the 7.5km.
Primož Roglič put his men to work with each climbing domestique emptying himself to try put race leader Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) under serious pressure, with the Australian soon feeling it and dropping as the Slovenian began to power away with Enric Mas (Movistar) and Sepp Kuss (Visma-Lease a Bike).
But the three-time Vuelta champion Roglič showed just why he’s been so successful in Spain throughout his career, relishing the uneven, brutally steep gradients upwards of 15%, dropping all of his rivals 2.3km from the summit and powering home to gain 1:55 on O’Connor.
The Australian fought valiantly to defend red and successfully stayed in control of the jersey heading into stage 14, however, Roglič is coming and he’s now well within striking distance, 1:21 down, of wrestling back the lead at the next opportunity.
More to come …
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