Chapter 453: Vuelta a España Finale, the General Classification Triple Strike Arrives

Chapter 453: Chapter 215: Vuelta a España Finale, the General Classification Triple Strike Arrives

The Kovadonga Lake climb at the finish was especially tricky. Its difficulty was concentrated in the first and middle sections. Within the last five kilometers approaching the summit finish, the gradient was gentle, and the final kilometer was even a -2.6% descent.

If Huang Chong went all out to contest the stage, he certainly had a chance to win, but it would require at least a seven or eight-kilometer solo attack. The toll would be massive.

The hardest part of the third week of racing was concentrated in the last three stages. There was no need to burn so much energy so early on.

Besides, his lead in the general classification was already so large. Letting this stage go was undoubtedly the more rational choice.

Furthermore, with such a large lead, he didn’t want to waste the last of his special recovery Energy Gels, a reward from the system.

The gel didn’t have an expiration date, so it was best to save it if he could. It might come in handy next year.

So for this stage, he and the other general classification teams shared a tacit understanding, letting the breakaway riders take it.

However, something unexpected happened. With 50km remaining, Van Aert, wearer of the Dash King Green Jersey, held a commanding lead in the points classification and was preparing to go for his fourth stage win. But as he navigated a high-speed downhill corner, he was involved in a severe crash along with three other riders: Rémy Rochas of the FDJ Team, Callum Scotson of the Jieke Team, and Tom Peco of the Wanty Team. All four were forced to abandon the race on the spot!

This made Groves, whose chances at the points classification title had been dwindling, the biggest beneficiary, making him the new owner of the Green Jersey.

On this stage, however, the UAE Team sent Vine, Soler, and Del Toro into the breakaway, and it was their rider, Soler, who took the stage victory.

As for Vine, his goal was to protect his Polka Dot Jersey.

After Stage 16, the next two, Stages 17 and 18, were both medium mountain stages.

They were completely unsuitable for the general classification contenders to fight over.

The climbs in Stage 17 were all concentrated in the middle, with mostly flat roads at the beginning and end. It was clearly a stage designed for sprinters.

Groves, the new top sprinter, was already the strongest on flat finishes at the Tour of Spain. With his only rival Van Aert out of the race, he naturally claimed an easy victory for the stage.

As for Stage 18, while it featured one Second Category and one First Category climb, they were both also located in the middle of the stage.

The start and finish were dominated by short climbs, making it feel more like a hilly stage.

In the end, the general classification contenders once again let the breakaway have it, conceding the last stage suited for such an escape.

The victory was once again taken by Kern Pharma, a wildcard team that had been truly shining in this Vuelta a España.

This time, however, the winning rider wasn’t Castrillo, but his teammate, Urko Verad.

For a second-tier wildcard team to win two stages at the Vuelta a España, plus a prestigious second-place finish in a key mountain stage… it was a result that simply put most of the World Tour Teams to shame.

It’s safe to say that after this Vuelta a España, the Kern Pharma Team would go from being an obscure squad to a name on the radar of every road cycling fan in the world.

However, Huang Chong and the Red Bull Bora Team paid no mind to Kern Pharma’s success. Their focus was locked on the final three stages of the Vuelta a España.

These stages were tailor-made for Huang Chong, and with the race at this point, there was no longer any need to hide their strength or use their domestiques conservatively.

From now on, the entire team would be dedicated to helping Huang Chong go for more stage victories.

As for the other teams, they had long given up any notion of challenging for the overall leader’s Red Jersey.

But the time gaps between them were very small.

The question of the remaining two podium spots—who would ultimately finish second, and who third?—

would all be decided in these last three days of racing!

The most intense part of the Vuelta a España was finally about to begin!