Rui Costa makes his La Vuelta debut, Evenepoel is already smiling

Remco Evenepoel beamed a smile in the course of the day. That was after the hit lost La Vuelta on Friday on the way to Tourmaletthe Belgian showed up again the next day a heroic victory in Belagua. Remco rediscovered his champion essence that day, but still had an open report: regain public affection and the train. Evenepoel had shown a sour characterIn the early part of his career he complained and was moody, which resulted in him projecting an unsupportive image. This Sunday he suddenly smiled again. And he showed his most human, closest side, which he also has… First he visited Romain Bardet, his escape partner on Saturday, to present him with the Belgian jersey and the stage trophy as a sign of gratitude. He then went on to check the signatures the flag of Morocco, along with the rest of the team, in support of the drama that the African country is experiencing after a catastrophic earthquake. His wife Oumi is of Moroccan origin and is actively involved in recruiting blood donors. In between, he signed autographs in the starting area. Later on stage, he asked a Soudal assistant to say something a bottle with a rival, Santiago Buitrago. And to top it all off, he gave a child a bottle at the finish line.

To cap off this outpouring of compassion and brotherhood, the Belgian also shone on the road as he got in the short vacation for the second time in a row. The previous day’s attrition suggested they wouldn’t repeat the win this time, but Evenepoel is Evenepoel, a cyclist with exceptional physical abilities, capable of overcoming all odds. In the end, logic was fulfilled and Flamenco was not in the fight, but his attitude deserves recognition. Great hat, Remco. The victory among the refugees was decided the second climb to Zuarrarratewhere a quality trio stood out: Rui Costa, Lennard Kämna and Buitrago. The German crashed in the last few kilometers, but his opponents were waiting for him. It was the day of solidarity. Kämna was even close to winning, but Costa overtook him on the Lekunberri line. The Portuguese, World champion 2013 and winner of three stages of the Tour, achieved this its premiere in La Vueltaalready 36 years old. A famous veteran. Whoever had, kept.

The emergence of an escape It was planned from the start in a favorable low mountain profile, but it took a long time to materialize. The departure was very quick, with constant alternatives. And then the roosters were unruly. Specific, the UAE team, who tried to surprise for the second year in a row to the tricephaly of the mighty Jumbo. How Juan Ayuso launched two attacks in Larrau on Saturdaythis time it was like that Marc Soler, who exhausted his opportunities on the climb to Lizarraga, 90 kilometers from the finish. Jonas Vingegaard came out behind Soler and both were highlighted in one cut. The Dutch team’s main advantage is that it can play three tricks as a blotter without giving up its dominance in the standings, but it also doesn’t want to lose the cohesion of the trident, it was said his farmers, Jan Tratnik and Dylan van Baarle, who suppressed the argument.

The behavior of the UAE team and the now smiling Evenepoel, both for the second day in a row, prevented a stage doomed to an amicable escape from enjoying greater interest than expected. The spectacle depends on the ambitious attitude of the cyclists. This time they had it. That wasn’t the case throughout the entire race. With this victory, Rui Costa completes the second third of the Vuelta. The peloton will rest this Monday before embarking on its final stage Sepp Kuss as leader and when the Jumbo took over the podium, with four Spaniards in pursuit. It would be a mistake to ignore the competition. still remains the Angliru, the Cruz de Linares, the Sierra de Guadarrama… There is cause for concern about the trident.

General ranking

Pos Cyclist	equipment	Time
1 Rui Costa	ICW	3:30:56
2 Lennard Kamna	BOH	+00:00
3 Santiago Buitrago	TBV	+00:00
4 Remco Evenepoel	SOQ	+00:02
5 Andrew Kron	GMBH	+00:02
6 One Rubio	MOV	+00:02
7 Christian Rodríguez	ARK	+00:02
8th Chris Hamilton	DSM	+00:02
9 Nico Denz	BOH	+00:36
10 Jimmy Janssen	ADC	+01:07

Pos Cyclist	equipment	Time
1 Sepp kiss	TJV	54h:38:42
2 Primoz Roglic	TJV	+01:37
3 Jonas Vingegaard	TJV	+01:44
4 Juan Ayuso	UAD	+02:37
5 Enric Mas	MOV	+03:06
6 Marc Soler	UAD	+03:10
7 Mikel Landa	TBV	+04:12
8th Alexander Vlasov	BOH	+05:02
9 Cian Uijtdebroeks	BOH	+05:30
10 Joao Almeida	UAD	+08:39

See full classification