Remco Evenepoel has claimed the Vuelta a España title for his first Grand Tour triumph, capping a dominant three weeks with one last push on the final stage from Las Rozas to Madrid that was won by Juan Sebastián Molano in a thrilling sprint finale.
The 22-year-old Belgian had all but confirmed victory after holding off his nearest rival Enric Mas on stage 20 and he finished the job with ease as he rolled into the Spanish capital flanked by his Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl teammates.
Mas of Movistar settled for second place overall while UAE Team Emirates’ Juan Ayuso completed the podium. After his win at the Clásica de San Sebastián earlier this year, Evenepoel’s Vuelta victory completes a turnaround for a rider who abandoned the 2021 Giro and failed to medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
He is the first Belgian winner of a Grand Tour since Johan De Muynck at the 1978 Giro d’ Italia and the youngest Vuelta champion since Angelino Soler in 1961.