Thymen Arensman wins Vuelta stage 15 as Remco Evenepoel fights to keep lead

The Team DSM rider Thymen Arensman won stage 15 of the Vuelta a España, a 153km mountainous route from Martos to Sierra Nevada, as Remco Evenepoel fought hard to retain his red jersey.

Arensman attacked to catch and pass Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) on the final 22.3km climb and pushed on alone to win his first stage at a grand tour.

The Dutchman was the only rider from the large breakaway on the “queen stage” who was able to resist Movistar rider Enric Mas, who was second after finishing 1min 23sec behind the winner.

“It’s still really hard to believe, it really hasn’t sunk in,” Arensman told Eurosport. “When I was alone... I only kept thinking that I got to push and it was enough. It’s unbelievable.”

Miguel Ángel López of Astana Qazaqstan came third, while Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl’s team leader Evenepoel finished 10th after coming under pressure early on the final climb.

Evenepoel retained his lead but lost time to Jumbo-Visma’s Primoz Roglic, who attacked in the final kilometre and finished fifth.

Evenepoel is 1min 34sec ahead of Roglic with Mas in third place, 2min 01sec behind.

After a rest day on Monday, the peloton will pick up again on Tuesday’s stage 16, a 189km route from Sanlúcar de Barrameda to Tomares.