Vuelta a España 2022: Thymen Arensman triumphs on stage 15 while Evenepoel loses more time to Roglič on GC
Arensman wins the queen stage of the Vuelta to record biggest victory of his career to date
Thymen Arensman (Team DSM) recorded a brilliant solo win on Europe's highest paved road as he held off the GC riders rampaging behind him.
It was the Dutchman's second ever professional win, and first in a grand tour.
The Vuelta's queen stage lived up to expectations as the day's final climb- the monstrous Pico de Veleta- shook up the GC standings significantly.
Race-leader Remco Evenepoel (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl) lost 15 seconds to Primož Roglič (Jumbo–Visma), but both men lost time to third-placed Enric Mas (Movistar).
Arensman's efforts have launched him into 8th place on GC while Miguel Ángel López (Astana Qazaqstan) ends the day in 6th.
All the riders will welcome tomorrow's rest day after 4000 metres of climbing and temperatures in the mid thirties made for a punishing day out in Andalusia.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The queen stage of the Vuelta finished atop the fearsome Pico de Veleta in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which at 2512 meters is the highest finish in all three grand tours.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Miguel Ángel López (Astana Qazaqstan) won here in 2017 but in sixth place on GC it would be difficult for him to get in the break. The main question was how race-leader Remco Evenepoel would fare at high altitude particularly after losing time to second-placed Primož Roglič on yesterday's stage.
The stage started with a flurry of attacks as Hugh Carthy (EF Education–EasyPost) and Rohan Dennis (Jumbo Visma) went in search of a stage win.
The duo were joined by Vincenzo Nibali (Astana Qazaqstan), Carl Frederik Hagen (Israel–Premier Tech), Vojtěch Řepa (Equipo Kern Pharma) and Luis Ángel Maté (Euskaltel–Euskadi) all looking to win the Vuelta's queen stage.
Meanwhile in the peloton a touch of wheels happened leaving eighth-placed Wilco Kelderman (Bora-Hansgrohe) on the floor gingerly feeling his collarbone before getting back on.
The breathless start continued as Mark Donovan (DSM) lost his front wheel on a roundabout. A strung-out peloton rode hard not letting the break's advantage extend to more than fifteen seconds.
Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers) was next to attack the peloton vying for a third stage win of the race. Carapaz and Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) rode in no man's land for a while until they were joined by another 26 riders forming a large breakaway.
At 9'14, Thymen Arensman (DSM) was the highest placed rider in it. Also present were David de la Cruz (Astana Qazaqstan Team), Rigoberto Urán (EF Education–EasyPost), Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), Louis Meintjes (Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux), Jay Vine (Alpecin–Deceuninck) and two of Evenepoel's teammates.
The high-powered break built a lead of over five minutes as the riders charged towards Granada and the comparatively small Alto del Purche (1490m).
In the peloton Quick Step Alpha-Vinyl and Movistar led the chase through the stunning Andalusian countryside.
Lawson Craddock (BikeExchange–Jayco) attacked the break who were content to let him gain over a minute. The gap had gone out to 6'30 and it looked like the winner might come from the break.
Craddock hit the Alto del Purche with 1'30 on the break, but behind them Jumbo Visma and AG2R began pulling and eating away at both time gaps.
Jay Vine attacked the main break in search of mountain points and just pipped Lawson Craddock to the summit, 4'13 ahead of the peloton.
But the pair were reeled back in by the remnants of the main break on the lower slopes of the mighty Pico de Veleta. Meanwhile in the peloton Primož Roglič had a mechanical and endured a stressful few minutes back in the team cars.
Marc Soler attacked 22km out from the summit while the break began shedding riders. Would they make it to the finish before the GC fireworks pulled the peloton back into contention?
It didn't look likely as Jumbo Visma decimated the peloton and piled the pressure on Remco Evenepoel who responded well sitting comfortably on the wheels.
Soon both Roglič and Evenepoel were isolated as the peloton was whittled down to just nine riders. Big names like Carapaz, João Almeida (UAE Team Emirates), Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorius) and Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) were all dropped with over 18km to the top.
Up front, Soler extended his gap to the break despite Thymen Arensman's best efforts. In the peloton, Evenepoel put in a little dig and it looked like Roglič was on the ropes.
Evenepoel was bolstered by the presence of compatriot and teammate Louis Vervaeke who dropped back from the break to help his leader. But then the GC fireworks began.
High altitude specialist Miguel Ángel López launched a blistering attack on the peloton 10km from home. Moments later Enric Mas (Movistar) attacked too and joined López.
Carapaz, who was dropped early, put in a heroic ride to pull João Almeida, Carlos Rodríguez and Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) within touching distance of the maillot rojo.
In the main break Thymen Arensman attacked, caught and dropped Soler who was blowing up. The dutchman had 1'20 to Enric Mas and 1'40 to the Evenepoel/Roglič/O'Connor group 7km out.
Evenepoel was content to let Mas and López go as he prepared for a final showdown with Roglič.
At 2400 metres above sea level, Arensman looked set to take the biggest win of his career to date as he took a 1'20 lead under the 1km banner.
Finally Roglič attacked Evenepoel and gapped the Belgian but quickly ran out of road.
Arensman took the win and started the GC clock. Enric Mas took second 1'23 down to move up on GC. Then came Roglič and O'Connor, followed by Evenepoel 15 seconds later.
VUELTA A ESPAÑA 2022: STAGE 15 RESULTS
1. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Team DSM, in 04-17-17
2. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar, +1'23
3. Miguel Ángel López (Esp) Astana Qazaqstan, +1'25
4. Jay Vine (Aus) Alpecin-Deceunink, +1'30
5. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo Visma, +1'44
6. Ben O'Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroen, same time
7. Juan Ayuso (Esp) UAE Team Emirate, +1'55
8. Jai Hindley (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe, same time
9. Louis Meintjes (Rsa) Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux, same time
10. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, +1'59
GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER STAGE 14
1. Remco Evenepoel (Bel) Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl, in 56-40-49
2. Primož Roglič (Slo) Jumbo Visma, +1'34
3. Enric Mas (Esp) Movistar, +2'01
4. Juan Ayuso (Esp) UAE Team Emirate, +4'49
5. Carlos Rodríguez (Esp) Ineos Grenadiers, +5'16
6. Miguel Ángel López (Esp) Astana Qazaqstan, +5'24
7. João Almeida (Por) UAE Team Emirates, +7'00
8. Thymen Arensman (Ned) Team DSM, +7'05
9. Ben O'Connor (Aus) AG2R Citroen, +8'57
10. Jai Hindley (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe, +11'36
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
Wout van Aert 'in a good place’ ahead of Tour of Flanders despite Visma-Lease a Bike illness and injury crisis
Loss of Christophe Laporte and Dylan van Baarle 'a big blow' says DS Grischa Niermann as team builds for Monument double header
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
I’m a fat cyclist; these are the top 3 misconceptions people have about bigger riders and why they’re wrong
After my recent 'We're fat cyclists' reel went viral, I realized I had hit a nerve
By Marley Blonsky Published
-
Sepp Kuss: 'I can fight for the Grand Tours. I can be with the best guys'
Rather than seeking leadership opportunities at lesser teams, Kuss embraces being "second card" for Visma-Lease a Bike
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Will Sepp Kuss spark a US road cycling revival?
It’s been some 15 years since we saw such an exciting contingent of American riders in the WorldTour; there’s hope their ember can spark a fire in the hearts of American sports fans
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
There should be no more flying in Grand Tours
In the age of climate crisis, no race organiser should create an event that means air travel will be used
By Adam Becket Published
-
Michel Hessmann anti doping positive a ‘black day’ for Jumbo-Visma says boss
22-year-old German rider suspended by Dutch team in August after positive test revealed presence of diuretics
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How much did Sepp Kuss and Jumbo-Visma win at the Vuelta a España 2023?
Turns out locking out the podium for much of the race gets you quite a few Euros
By Adam Becket Published
-
Five things we learned from the Vuelta a España 2023: Sepp Kuss is the real deal and Ineos still lacking
Here's what we learned from the final Grand Tour of the 2023 season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Kaden Groves wins final stage of Vuelta a España as Sepp Kuss confirms victory
Sepp Kuss completes his victory in the Vuelta a España around the streets of Madrid
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Sepp Kuss set to win historic Vuelta a España as Wout Poels claims stage 20
American poised for an unexpected but worthy Grand Tour victory in Madrid
By Tom Davidson Published