Ineos Grenadiers must be willing 'to lose massively' to stop Remco Evenepoel at La Vuelta - Adam Blythe

Ineos Grenadiers must be prepared to “lose the race massively” in a bid to unseat Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) in the red jersey at La Vuelta. The British team boast three riders in the top 10 – Carlos Rodriguez (fourth at 3’55”), Pavel Sivakov (ninth at 7’06”) and Tao Geoghegan Hart (10th at 7’37”) – but on their own, it is hard to see any of them putting Evenepoel under pressure in the second half of the race.

Ad But suppose they worked as a team? Vuelta a EspañaEvenepoel obliterates rivals in red to win time trial, Roglic second3 HOURS AGO Jumbo-Visma showed how to exploit a numerical advantage with a phenomenal two-pronged assault on Tadej Pogacar at the Tour de France. An extraordinary spell on Stage 11 saw Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic take it in turns to attack the Slovenian, with their combined efforts eventually paying off later in the stage as the two-time defending champion cracked.

Adam Blythe believes Ineos will have to play it differently at the Vuelta given Evenepoel’s strength on the climbs, suggesting they send one of their GC hopes up the road early on a stage to put the Belgian and Quick-Step on the back foot. “It’s always that conundrum where we expect riders with strength in numbers to be able to do something,” said Adam Blythe.

“Ultimately, when they get on the second-to-last climb, the last climb of the day, it’s all down to the individual. Team-mates can help to a certain extent, but if Remco’s going up the road at 400 watts, and your team-mate is going at 380, they’re not good… you’re all on your own on those climbs.