The notes of the Vuelta 2022: from the superb Evenepoel to the extraordinary stop of Juan Ayuso

EXCELLENT

Evenepoel, the best without question

Days before the Vuelta he was content to win one or two stages and he wasn’t thinking about the general, but once he took the lead on day six he defended the red jersey well. Evenepoel became superior, the best without question in all terrains, he won two stages, one was the time trial and the other in the mountains, and his victory drew the Belgian and his team, the Quick-Step, a fantastic new horizon.

OUTSTANDING

Excellent debut by Juan Ayuso

He was recruited at the last minute by his team to ride in the Vuelta, his first major three-week cycling race, and his performance matched the class the Barcelona-born 19-year-old holds dear. He fought hard to finish 3rd, missed the fall and was positive for Covid and overcame the stress and fatigue of the previous week; he just needs to win a stage to seal a great Vuelta

HIGH STUPIDITY

Enric Mas, 2nd again

Enric Mas regained in the Vuelta the smile that he lost in the Tour, as well as the confidence that prevented him from going down as he knew how and going up when he had to go up. He tried, but he could not do with a very solvent and solid Remco Evenepoel in all terrains and he also worked as a team to add as many points as possible to keep the World Tour category.

HIGH STUPIDITY

UAE Team Emirates, the best team

UAE Team Emirates went into the Vuelta with doubts about Ayuso’s performance and Joao Almeida’s bet. The Portuguese was not well at the start and the team knew how to reverse the roles. They ran well, attacking when they needed to and conservative when the race called for it. They climbed the podium with Ayuso, placing Juan and Almeida in the top five and leading the team classification ahead of Ineos and Movistar

NOTE THAT LOW

Carapaz, showing class

It is never easy for a cyclist in his category to change the chip. The Ecuadorian, who was left without a Tour and 2nd in the Giro, a race he won in 2019, did not arrive in the best shape for the Vuelta, but rather let go, in his last year with his current team and reserved for other appointments, he acquired the caste and was one of the toughest runners in the race, winning as many as three stages

NOTE THAT LOW

Pedersen, the king of speed

Very well recorded Vuelta the Dane Mads Pedersen. Not only did he win the green jersey with authority, but he also achieved success in three stages. But it was the Trek-Segafredo rider, who did not hide at any time, who finished second in four other stages. With a bit of luck he could have completed a spectacular Vuelta, his performance worthy of applause.

NOTE THAT LOW

Marc Soler, the bravest

The rider from Vilanova i la Geltrú in the UAE enjoys the necessary freedom for his individual adventures, as seen in the Vuelta, where he became the king of breakaways. Every day he also slipped through the cracks. He won in Bilbao and was also 2nd, 3rd and 4th and when it was his turn he removed himself for his team without hesitation, celebrating for example Molano’s victory in Madrid with his fist raised. feel the colors

RIGHT

Caros Rodríguez, with all my heart

The performance of Carlos Rodríguez (21 years old) may have been somewhat overshadowed by Juan Ayuso’s podium, but the one from Almuñécar was putting together a great Vuelta until he suffered a fall that almost took him home. He knows how to suffer with his body full of blows, bruises and scratches, although in the end his physical condition prevented him from fighting for a podium within his reach until the 17th stage, finally is 7th.

RIGHT

Jay Vine, the big reveal

After leaving for the Alto de Piornal, Vine’s achievements were somewhat forgotten, but the Australian became one of the great sensations of the Vuelta. He ended up in Alpecin after winning a virtual cycling league. He sold everything and settled in Girona with his partner. In the Vuelta he showed his ability as a climber by winning Pico Jano and Colláu Fancuaya; pity for his abandonment, and loss of mountain leadership

PASS

A tour with no spark at the end

True to its DNA, the route of the 77th edition of the Vuelta is explosive and fast, attractive, with stages for all rider profiles, but like last week, a different kind of stage is missing. A few mountain days, a day that gives goosebumps, or dragging the individual time trial to last week could paint a more uncertain scenario.