And two! David Gaudu won his second stage victory in the Vuelta. Already winner of the 11th stage at the top of the Farrapona, the Frenchman of Groupama-FDJ triumphed over the penultimate stage concluded with the ascent of the Alto de la Covatilla, one of the summits of the event.
The usual lieutenant of Thibaut Pinot, promoted captain on the Spanish roads especially since the abandonment of his leader at the start of the race, triumphed in strong. Member of the breakaway of the day, the Breton got out of the fog that drowned the peloton before winning in the sun by attacking in the last 4 kilometers. “In the final, we had to try everything for everything,” says the 24-year-old rider. I told myself : “let’s go ! “. I decided to attack and I gave everything to put everyone in the headwind: I love these conditions, the wind, the cold and days like that, it’s exceptional. It is won by instinct. I am very very happy. Two victories is huge. A place in the Top 10 is huge. I can go on vacation with peace of mind. “
He imitates his friend Pinot who also won two stages in the 2018 Vuelta. Winning two stages in a Grand Tour and entering the Top 10 of the general classification – Gaudu finished eighth – is not given to everyone. He will be a client to follow next summer when the Tour leaves his home in Brittany.
Guillaume Martin, king of the mountain
The French precisely were not at the party in September on the Tour de France. But they made up for it in Spain thanks to Gaudu’s two stage successes and the coronation of Guillaume Martin (Cofidis) in the ranking of the best climber.
This Vuelta should not elsewhere escape this Sunday in Madrid from an old acquaintance: the Slovenian Primoz Roglic, the great defeated on the roads of the last Tour de France. The outgoing leader will make the pass of two.
But, as on the Tour, he was very hot … The Slovenian had to fight to keep his red jersey and not experience the same misfortune as at the top of the Planche des Belles Filles when his young compatriot Tadej Pogacar (UAE ) had styled him on the wire. This time his executioner was almost called Richard Carapaz. The Ecuadorian took 20 seconds to the finish and it was necessary for the Slovenian to sprint to keep 24 seconds ahead and not relive such a mishap as in the Vosges.
Article original de: www.leparisien.fr
