Rigoberto Uran wins from breakaway as Remco Evenepoel swats away Enric Mas attacks on Stage 17 at La Vuelta

Colombia’s Rigoberto Uran (EF Education-EasyPost) completed his Grand Tour stage grand slam with a brilliant victory at the Monasterio de Tenudio in Stage 17 of La Vuelta. The 35-year-old was part of a strong 13-man breakaway that went the distance, Uran capping off his brilliant day by rising to ninth place in the general classification.

A pulsating finale on the second-category climb saw Uran and a group of chasers reel in the American lone leader Lawson Craddock (BikeExchange-Jayco) with just one kilometre remaining of the lumpy 162.3km ride from Aracena, before duking it out for the spoils in compelling fashion. Ad Jesus Herrada (Cofidis) rode clear in pursuit of his second win of the race, but Uran dug deep to pass the Spaniard inside the final hundred metres before holding off a late surge from the yo-yoing Frenchman Quentin Pacher (Groupama-FDJ) to take his first win of the season.

Spain’s Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) took fourth place behind compatriot Herrada, with Frenchman Kenny Elissonde (Trek-Segafredo) completing the top five. Vuelta a EspañaRelive Evenepoel’s puncture drama at La Vuelta2 HOURS AGO Elevated to second place in the standings following the shock withdrawal of defending champion Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) ahead of the stage, Enric Mas (Movistar) did his best to shake off race leader Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) on the final climb.

But the Belgian expertly managed to close down all of the Spaniard’s attacks and the duo crossed the line together around five minutes after Uran, conceding nine seconds to Portugal’s Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) who rode clear near the finish to consolidate his sixth place in the standings. Evenepoel leads Mas by 2’01” going into Thursday’s Stage