Adam Yates wins at Granada, a scare ends Mas’s attack and O’Connor remains leader

The ninth stage of the Vuelta a Españaof 178.5 kilometers in between Motril and Granadaoffered a good opportunity for changes in the general standing. This is what happened, despite that fact Ben O’Connor saved his red jersey with no problemwith a wide difference in front of the table.

In a day with three first-class climbs (El Purche and two on Alto de Hazallanas) in the second half of the stage, Adam Yates was the great antagonist. The Briton from the UAE Emirates made a break for today, he was the strongest, he left alone and resisted the attacks of his rivals to achieve his first victory in the Spanish roundsecond in a grand stage tour and twenty-ninth throughout his sporting career. A victory that allowed him to take the lead in the general classification on a day that his team began by abandoning its leader Joao Almeida.

But Yates wasn’t the only cyclist taking advantage of the day. Richard Carapazwith another attack from a distance, took second and made another big step in the general classification, where he placed third. He tried to recover in time Enric Mas brave on the last climb to Alto de Hazallanas, but a big scare on the way down It became the key for the remaining favorites to finish neutralizing the minute he got from them. So, Ben O’Connor, third in the main group sprint, added a few seconds to his margin about a Primoz Roglic with no legs to try to hurt him in the fight for the red jersey.

In it, O’Connor leads with a 3:53 advantage over Primoz Roglic. Although placed third a Richard Carapaz which was placed at 4:32, with Enric Mas fourth in 4:35 after seeing the difference he made during the exit stage. Mikel Landa He was fifth in 5:17 before the rest day this Monday.

The day started with abandonment of a Joao Almeida who, complaining of the coronavirus, gave a lot of time on Saturday, also in the mountains. They expected three very difficult climbs on first-class ports in the second half of the period: El Purche and Alto de Hazallanasit is for two occasions, for a day without rest for cyclists.

It was presented from the beginning, with multiple attacks in an upward taunting start. They were led by Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) who took several riders with him, including Marc Soler (UAE Emirates), Pablo Castrillo (Kern Pharma) and Jesús Herrada (Cofidis). But the attacks in search of escape did not stop, which ended up forming a group of twenty-five runners in the lead. Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), Adam Yates (UAE Emirates), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Rubén Fernández (Cofidis), Jay Vine (UAE Emirates), Jonathan Lastra (Cofidis), Óscar Rodríguez (INEOS) or Max Poole (DSM ) were some of the cyclists there. Gaudu, sixteenth overall, 6:30 behind leader Ben O’Connor, is the biggest threat to the overall standings.

In this situation and with almost five minutes to spare, the peloton moved towards the ascent of The Purchasewith a very difficult 8.9 kilometers in a first-class port with an average slope of 7.6%. But it’s not just the escapees, with cuts to the leading group, that the men in the general classification have to worry about, as the race moves a lot in the peloton: Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost, 18th overall, 6:44 behind Ben O’Connor before the stage), launched its attack from the beginning of this port to begin to reduce the distance to the leading men.

The Ecuadorian, with a consistent rhythm, is chasing the breakaway men who are moving away from the leading group. So, midway through the approach to the first climb of Hazallanas, they fought for the lead Gaudu, Yates, Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), Torsteen Traeen (Bahrain wins), Soler, Chris Harper (Jayco AlUla), Vine and Castrillowith Carapaz less than two minutes ahead and with Bora-hansgrohe working behind Primoz Roglic, with the peloton 4:35 behind the leading group. In that group of favourites, leader Ben O’Connor fought back without a problem.

Carapaz tries, Yates responds and Mas attacks and loses his distance after a big scare

Hazallanas (first with 7.1 km at 9.5%with ramps of more than 11% in the first four kilometers and moments at 20%), whose first step is more than sixty kilometers from the finish line, helped to better choose the escape. In its first rise, Gaudu, Yates and Vine They managed to free the rest of the men who were leading the race. however, Carapace, With Castrillo at the wheel, he had full capacity behind him and closed the gap at forced speed.

This is what drove the movement of Adam Yates, who will be alone ahead to keep distance from the Ecuadorian, who was chasing the other escapees, around 1:40. The Briton was crowned with a 5:30 difference in a peloton that was reduced by Bora-hansgrohe in terms of units per pedal stroke. But Yates raises the rent in the subsequent descent and second approach to Hazallanas, where Carapaz seemed to pay off for the day’s effort.

This encouraged the general’s men to try their attacks. I tried from the back of the beginning Primoz Roglicalthough he couldn’t let go of Ben O’Connor. Furthermore, it was the Slovenian who was having a tough time six kilometers from the summit. I tried to take advantage of it Enric Mas, who gradually moved and opened rentals with the other favourites, of whom he was a minute ahead. Carapaz was crowned 2:10 behind Yates, Mas in 4:37 and the group of favorites in 5:38.

It’s down to when Enric Mas stumbled on the road. However, he did it correctly in a place where there was a gap next to the guardrail, which, along with the skill of the Movistar cyclist, prevented his fall. Of course, the effort is combined with the strength of the group of favorites Enric’s options were broken to buy timebecause O’Connor’s group was chasing him later in the day.

It did not change the subsequent course. Adam Yates ended his triumphant path to the finish line with an undisputed victory. He finally defeated Richard Carapaz 1:39 past the bonuses. At 3:45 the main group came in, with Ben O’Connor winning the sprint to increase his gap in the classification by four seconds.

This is done before a rest day this Monday, with a total change in race location. Cyclists travel to Vigo this Sunday night to face off on Tuesday the tenth stage between Ponteareas and Baionawith a second exit pass and three chains of third, second and first (Mougás, 9.9 km at an average of 6%) in the last part of the stage, before the descent towards the finish line. It will be a new day for the persecutors Ben O’Connor try to shake up a general classification in which the Australian, despite cutting Primoz Roglic’s time on Saturday and coming to the important positions of Richard Carapaz or Adam Yates this Sunday, He ordered sternly.

Classifications

9th stage, Motril-Granada, 178.5 km
1. Adam Yates (Great Britain/UAE Emirates) 4h 42’28” (16″ bonus)
2. Richard Carapaz (Ecuador/EF Education-EasyPost) at 1’39” (10″ bonus)
3. Ben O’Connor (Australia/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) in 3’45” (4″ bonus)
4. Mikel Landa (Spain/T-REX-Quick-Step) id.
5. Florian Lipowitz (Germany/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) id.
6. Pavel Sivakov (France/UAE Emirates) id.
7. Carlos Rodríguez (Spain/INEOS Grenadiers) id.
8. Primoz Roglic (Slovenia/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) id.
9. David Gaudu (France/Groupama-FDJ) id. (2″ of
bonus)
10. Enric Mas (Spain/Movistar) id.

General
1. Ben O’Connor (Australia/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) 36h 09’36”
2. Primoz Roglic (Slovenia/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) at 3’53”
3. Richard Carapaz (Ecuador/EF Education-EasyPost) at 4’32”.
4. Enric Mas (Spain/Movistar) at 4’35”
5. Mikel Landa (Spain/T-REX-Quick-Step) at 5’17”
6. Florian Lipowitz (Germany/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) at 5’29”
7. Adam Yates (Great Britain/UAE Emirates) at 5’30”
8. Felix Gall (Austria/Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) id.
9. Carlos Rodríguez (Spain/INEOS Grenadiers) at 6’00”
10. David Gaudu (France/Groupama-FDJ) at 6’32”