Pogacar gave another exhibition in the Tour of Andalusia, he knew how to hold on when Mohoric took the lead with just over 20 kilometers from the finish line and managed to catch up with other riders including Santiago Buitrago, his team (Bahrain-Victorious) had two more riders in that peloton who in the end was the one who fought to try to beat a Tadej who launched an attack in the last kilometer to which only Enric Mas could respond. The Colombian beat his teammate Mikel Landa and passed third at the finish line to now be second overall.
Buitrago continues to grow and demonstrate that he can become a world figure. After his third place in the Saudi Tour, he now begins to show in his team that he can be a protagonist after beat his teammates Landa, Caruso and Mohoric in the second stage of the Vuelta a Andalucía. It was a 156.1 kilometer journey between Diezma and Alcalá la Real.
The Colombian always remained attentive to the movements of forward and although this time he did not respond to Pogacar’s attacks as in the first stage, he managed to follow the wheel of the head of the race, adjusting himself for the finish of the day that was up a difficult path between stones.
Tadej Pogacar attacked at the end and only Mas responded, it was a fight until the last 150 meters when the Slovenian was able to let go of the Spaniard to reach the finish line alone and raise his arms as a sign that he is the best in the world at the moment . While, Buitrago left Landa and Rodríguez behind to fight with Enric for second place on the day, but it was not enough and he finished third with a bonus.
Santiago Buitrago, second overall in Andalusia
After two days, the overall leader is still Pogacar, who has won both stages. Santiago Buitrago moved up to second after his great shot in Alcalá la Real. In third place appears his squadmate, Mikel Landa and in fourth place the young man from Ineos, Carlos Rodríguez. Close the top 5 Enric Mas.
Camilo Ardila from Burgos-BH is the other Colombian who is in the competition and occupies the 41st position, 7 minutes and 25 seconds behind the leader. The top 10 overall is closed by Jack Haig from Bahrain-Victorious, the squad that has the most riders in the first places.
Top 5 overall
- Tadej Pogacar (UAE): 8:44:19
- Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain-Victorious): +48”
- Mikel Landa (Bahrain-Victorious): +52′’
- Carlos Rodríguez (INEOS): +52′’
- Enric Mas (Movistar): +1′:47”
This will be the third stage of the Vuelta a Andalucía 2023
This Friday, February 17, the third day of the competition will be held. It will be a 161-kilometer route with a finish similar to that of the second stage. Runners will have start in Alcalá de Guadaíra and the finish line is located in Alcalá de los Gazules. There is hardly a mountain pass that will be third category over the 129.5 km.
The competition will end next Sunday with the 184.3km section between Otura and Alhaurín de la Torre. There are still three stages left for Buitrago to continue trying to beat the Slovenian who every day proves to be the best on the planet on the bike.