La Vuelta – Remco Evenepoel wins the 10th stage of the Tour of Spain, a time of 30.9 km, and consolidates his red jersey

Stratospheric. One more time. After flying over the competition during the first mountain stages, Remco Evenepoel passed the second layer this Tuesday during the individual time trial, as expected. On the flat 30.9 kilometer route between Elche and Alicante, the Belgian pushed back his rivals Primoz Roglic (2nd on the stage) and Enric Mas (10th) to 48 seconds and 1’51 respectively”. The red jersey has now 2’41” ahead of the Slovenian, now his runner-up. He obviously won this 10th stage, a landmark victory since it is his first on a “grand tour”, at 22 years old. The first of a long list, no doubt.

We were expecting a demonstration, a new “Remco show”. We got it. The day after the second day of rest, the leader of Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl had a golden opportunity to knock out the others with this straight time trial cut for his profile. Fortunately for the suspense, Evenepoel started in last position, due to his position as overall leader, leaving his teammate Rémi Cavagna the pleasure of occupying the leader’s chair for a good part of the afternoon.

Cavagna as opener

But once on the track, there was never a photo. 21 seconds ahead after 10 terminals. 36” after 21 km. And on arrival, one minute right on the Frenchman, an average of two seconds per km and an astonishing average speed of 55.66 km/h, especially given the unfavorable wind which swept part of the route. Only Roglic was able to fit between the two members of the Wolfpack. But 48 seconds is an abyss given the status of the Slovenian, Olympic champion in the discipline, who despite his 2’41” delay overall now finds himself first in the rest of the world eleven stages from the end of this Vuelta.

Enric Mas (Movistar) narrowly avoided being caught by the red jersey, which left two minutes after him, which was not a foregone conclusion. The Spaniard lost his 2nd place overall – and now finds himself three minutes behind Evenepoel – but the addition could have been higher given his intrinsic qualities as a roller. Passed respectively in 6th and 5th position at the two inters, Mas gave up a little in the third third but his 10th place makes his performance of the day quite acceptable. He finished just behind the unexpected Miguel Angel Lopez (9th at 1’47”), who was not expected at such a party on such a track.

Top 5 for Sivakov

Apart from Cavagna, there is a second Frenchman in the top 5. Pavel Sivakov’s 5th place (INEOS Grenadiers), 1’27” from the leader, is the best performance of his career in timed play. A great reaction after a weekend complicated in the mountains. He is back in 9th place, 7’06” behind, but remains far from his young teammate Carlos Rodriguez, amazing 4th in the day’s time trial (+1’22”) and 4th overall (+3’55” ). At 21, he is a handsome wearer of the white jersey, but it is a decoy since the real leader of the best young rider classification is Evenepoel, a tyrant well obliged to share the honors.