Belgian Remco Evenepoel claimed the Vuelta a Espana on Sunday for his first grand tour triumph, capping a dominant three weeks with one last push on the final stage from Las Rozas to Madrid that was won by Juan Sebastian Molano for UAE Team Emirates.
Remco Evenepoel, riding for Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, crosses the line on the final stage to win the Vuelta.Credit:AP
The 22-year-old Belgian had all but confirmed victory after holding off his nearest rival Enric Mas (Movistar) on Saturday’s stage 20 and finished the job with ease as he rolled into the Spanish capital flanked by his Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl teammates.
Mas settled for second place overall, while UAE Team Emirates’ Juan Ayuso completed the podium.
Evenepoel has held the red jersey since taking the lead in the sixth stage. His most dangerous challenger was three-time defending champion Primoz Roglic (Jumbo–Visma), who was gaining ground until he crashed in the last week and was forced to withdraw from the race.
That left Mas as Evenepoel’s only real threat over the final days, but the Spaniard was unable to close the gap.
Mas made his last attempt to break Evenepoel on the fourth climb up the category-one Puerta de la Morcuera on Saturday after Movistar had set a hard pace and shed Evenepoel of his teammates. However, Evenepoel latched onto his wheel and that was the end of Mas’ hopes.
Evenepoel is the first Belgian winner of a grand tour since Johan De Muynck at the 1978 Giro d’Italia and the youngest Vuelta champion since Angelino Soler in 1961.
Reuters
