The sun shone brightly in Ourense, a welcome change from the bad weather that had marked previous editions of the event. Today’s stage was a counterreloj, with participants racing against the clock, and Derek Gee of Israel-Premier Tech emerged victorious, stopping the stopwatch at 23:17″ after completing the 15.5-kilometer route from the provincial capital to Pereiro de Aguiar. Magnus Cort, who had been leading, lost his position, coming in fourth, 24 seconds behind Gee, and behind Piganzoli and Decomble. Cepeda, one of the top contenders for the general classification, lost 1:22.
Gee, who had finished ninth in the past Tour de France, now has a five-second lead over Magnus Cort, 17″ over Piganzoli, 27″ over Cobo, and 39″ over Decomble. This is a significant advantage, but the competition is still fierce, and anything can happen in the remaining stages.
Raúl Rey, a historical figure in Spanish cycling, was in attendance at the event. Now 90 years old, he has a prodigious memory and was seen watching the preparations and atmosphere near the Roman bridge. Rey has an impressive background, having participated in three Tour de France and five Vuelta editions, as well as classics like the Milan-San Remo. Fans, especially the younger ones, stopped to greet him, but without accreditation, he went unnoticed by many of the curious onlookers.
Rey shared his thoughts on the current state of cycling, saying, “Cycling has changed from night to day. Ours was wild. Nothing to see neither preparation nor material. In that, we have changed for good. But I don’t like the pinganillo or so much control in the races. There are no longer escapes like those of yesteryear because everything is very measured. It’s all more predictable.” He also expressed his admiration for current cyclists like Pogacar, Van Aert, Evenepoel, and Van der Poel, as well as Spanish riders like Carlos Rodríguez and Ayuso.
“Pogacar is like Merckx. He wins and leaves nothing to others. At that time, we said that Merckx even sprinted for a tie. Pogacar would be better if he weren’t so greedy, but it’s his way of being, and that’s what makes him so competitive,” Rey said, drawing a comparison between the two cycling greats.
Rey’s life has been marked by hard work and dedication to cycling. Before becoming a professional cyclist, he worked in a furniture workshop, and after retiring from cycling, he returned to that trade. “There were few who earned a lot of money, but in some teams, you got paid. In Ferrys, where I was for three years, I earned 6,000 pesetas per month. It was a good salary, plus the awards, but not enough to retire and not return to work,” he recalled.
Rey believes that the current state of cycling is more excessive, with huge budgets and structures that are difficult to sustain. “The INEOS told me they have 36 cars. They are huge structures,” he said, comparing it to his time when they had only two cars and no neutral vehicle.
Rey defined himself as a “faithful gregarious” cyclist, always putting the needs of his team leaders first. “I left my skin for team leaders, French Pérez and Manzaneque, who loved me very much,” he said. He was a skilled cyclist, especially in the half-mountain stages, but he was cautious, especially in the descents, and always put the safety of his family first.
Rey has a deep respect for the Galician cyclists he rode with, including Manolo Rodríguez, Delio Brothers, and later, Álvaro Pino and Óscar Pereiro. He also mentioned other prominent cyclists like Blanco Villar and Marcos Serrano.
The province of Lugo will host the Queen stage of O Gran Camiño, a challenging 60 kilometers with continuous uphills and the Alto da Pintinidoira, a first-category climb. The stage will pass through A Pobra de Brollón, known for its carnival, and O Cebreiro, a symbolic enclave for pilgrims on their way to Compostela. The riders will face a tough test, and it will be exciting to see who will emerge victorious.