Soler takes the big prize

A little less than a year ago, the Jumbo-Visma achieved a historic podium in the Tour of Spain. It was because of its three protagonists, all from the same team: Sepp Kiss, Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic. And it was because thanks to this victory, the Dutch squad achieved a full house in the three major races with three different riders, the same protagonists: Roglic at the Giro, Vingegaard at the Tour and Kuss at the Spanish round. How far away that splendor has been! Visma, this season, accumulates misfortune after misfortune. And The streak seems endless. Wout van Aert, One of the most important cyclists of this edition, winner of three stages and leader of the regularity and mountain classifications, had to abandon after suffering a drop in the descent of the Collada Llomena when he was in the lead breakaway. Van Aert already suffered a serious injury in the spring that forced him to give up the big classics and the Giro. Now the World Championship is in danger. The ash is unstoppable. They could say a prayer to the Virgin of Covadonga.

One of those members of the podium, Primoz Roglichas returned this year in the ranks of another team, Red Bull. Something has stuck with him, because he has also suffered Falls in the Itzulia and the Tour de Francebut in the Vuelta, although he has not arrived in his best moment, he is rediscovering the champion that he has always been. This Tuesday, in the mythical Lakes, the same peak that dominated in 2021 On his way to his third Vuelta title, he hit Another bite at Ben O’Connor to place oneself alone five seconds from the red jersey. He didn’t get the prize, but he is now the virtual leader of this Vuelta. He had always been the boss.

And that was not his best stage, not by a long shot. Roglic already had to be very attentive in the previous port, the Llomena, when Enric Mas, first, and Mikel Landa, later, attempted a long-range attack, At almost 60 kilometres, it was a clear gamble. O’Connor did not respond, so the Slovenian, who was not the leader, but the skipper, had to do so. Landa thus announced another day of ‘Landismo’. And he confirmed this when he attacked again on the first slopes of the Covadonga Lakes. A little before the Huesera, the hardest area, But he did the same, but at a rhythm, until reaching the Basque. Behind, O’Connor was leakingon another day of agony. Roglic stayed on the wheel The Balearic rider was not having his best day, but he held on to the finish line. The strongest duo of this Vuelta advanced along with Richard Carapaz and David Gaudu, while the red jersey was struggling in an individual time trial that he narrowly saved. One more day as leader. He only has a few days left.

While the Vuelta was being decided in the group of roosters, no less, the breakaway was looking for victory after reaching the foothills of the Lakes, and I am Van Aert, with more than six minutes of advantage. As in the last few days, The UAE Team entered several riders, in search of the stage. This time it was the turn of Marc Soler, Jay Vine and Isaac del Toro, All of them repeaters in these competitions, especially the first two. The Spaniard has been the protagonist in numerous breakaways, but he never managed to finish. To date he had collected three third places. But whoever continues, achieves it. His good legs, and his fighting spirit, deserved a prize for persistence. And he got it in the best scenario: the Lakes of Covadonga. A jackpot for Soler.

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