The joys, if they are in part, double, the better. The Tour of Spain exceeds its equator with a very striking fact. With twelve stages contested, only seven runners have been able to raise their arms … And five of them did it twice! It is the first time in the history of a great lap that, with only twelve days held, five runners add a double, according to @lavuelta_stats on the social network Twitter. This happened after, in Córdoba, the Danish Magnus Cort Nielsen managed to prevail under the strong heat in Andalusian lands.
There are five runners who have already celebrated twice in this Vuelta: Roglic, Storer, Philipsen, Jakobsen and the aforementioned Cort Nielsen. Of these, four will be able to continue opting for a third win at least, as sprinter Philipsen is no longer in the race after dropping out due to physical problems. The one who opened the ban on successes was Roglic in the inaugural time trial in Burgos. On the second day, still in Burgos, Philipsen took the first sprint of this edition. Rein Taaramäe triumphed in Picón Blanco after completing a break in which he also dressed as a leader, while Jakobsen was the strongest in the second volata of this Vuelta, ending in Molina de Aragón.
Fifth day and massive new arrival, with Philipsen inaugurating the double club in Albacete. On the sixth day, Magnus Cort achieved a meritorious success in Cullera, finishing the escape by a few meters before Roglic. On the seventh day, the first conquest of Michael Storer arrived, in the demanding Balcony of Alicante. The eighth stage brought a new arrival to the sprint, the fourth, in which Jakobsen prevailed. At the Alto de Velefique, on the ninth day, it was Caruso who shone in a big way. After the rest day, Storer recharged his strength to reign again, again being the strongest of a getaway, this time in the Rincon de la Victoria.
In the demanding wall of Valdepeñas de Jaén it was Roglic who finished off in an ideal ending for his characteristics, while in Córdoba it was Cort Nielsen again who prevailed in a reduced sprint. He is the only one, at the moment, who has achieved a winner both in flight and in volata. In the center of the Cordovan city numerous bottles of water were spilled over the top to celebrate … and to refresh. It was not be for lowerly. Therefore, seven teams have managed to win this Vuelta. And there are 23. There is still a long way to go to Santiago … but for now it is La Vuelta del doblete.