Lutsenko, Zana and Bisiaux (all pictured) are near being caught by a big group of chasers, which seems to have a minimum of a dozen riders in it, together with Tobias Halland Johannessen, Eddie Dunbar, Marco Brenner and Pello Bilbao. The peloton seems extra content material with this group, too, and has eased up a bit to fall 30 seconds behind them.
In the meantime, Van Aert and Leknessund are nonetheless going arduous, and lead the chasers by about 30 seconds.
120KM TO GO
The race stays nonetheless very shut collectively. Van Aert and Leknessund are simply 35 seconds forward of Lutsenko, Zana, Bisiaux, who’re themselves simply ten seconds forward of a chasing duo of Martin and Raúl García Pierna, with the peloton simply one other ten seconds behind. This might all but come again collectively, or they escapees might kind one huge group – it is a very open state of affairs.
Three riders have efficiently escaped from the peloton, and it is a robust trio – Lutsenko, Zana and Bisiaux. They’re bearing down on the leaders, bringing the hole right down to 45 seconds, whereas the peloton stays lively solely a handful of seconds behind, with extra assaults being made. This has developed right into a breathless begin.
Vader cannot sustain with the tempo, and has been dropped by Van Aert and Leknessund.
They’re having to go very arduous to fend off the peloton, which is now solely simply over a minute behind them. The assaults hold popping out of it, and although no person has gone clear, the tempo is properly up and spelling hazard for the 2 chief’s possibilities.
The chase group has been caught, leaving simply Van Aert, Leknessund and Vader out entrance. However the tempo is again up within the peloton as extra riders present intent to assault, and consequently the hole to the three leaders has been virtually halved, again right down to 1:20 This might but be a very long time earlier than this settles down!
The three riders main the race. Because it stands, this is perhaps the break of the day – the 4 chasers nonetheless have a non inconsiderable 1:20 to make up in the event that they’re to hitch them, and the group does not have huge names that we all know for positive have the ability to bridge as much as them. Whereas the entrance group has a sure Wout van Aert.
Milan Vadar is the third rider on the entrance with Van Aert and Leknessund, and so they have a lead of over two minutes already over the peloton already.
Issues aren’t performed but, although. Behind that trio is a quartet of Ourselin, Cobo, Roosen and Wilksch chasing, and behind them extra riders are leaping away from the peloton. However even that first chase group has a minute to make up.
OFFICIAL START
And so they’re off! And the very first rider to assault from the flag is none aside from Wout van Aert, who has obtained up the street with each Andreas Leknessund and one different rider, and has a spot.
The riders have simply began, shifting behind the race automobile by the neutralised part. The parcours and circumstances at the moment do really feel encouraging for the breakaway, which might see a primary win go the breakaway at the moment – so there’ll subsequently possible be an enormous battle at the moment as soon as the flag drops.
Yesterday’s stage noticed a predictable end result, however in an unpredictable style. Tadej Pogačar did his common assault on the ultimate climb, however fairly than disappear into the space by no means to be seen once more, he was reeled again by Enric Mas. He may nonetheless have received, however needed to outsprint the spectacular Spaniard to take action, and displayed uncommon indicators of weak spot, even crashing on the descent.
Vuelta a España: Tadej Pogačar survives near-crash on descent for third victory of the race on stage 6
It would nonetheless be the primary week of the Vuelta, however already a transparent hierarchy has been fashioned on the prime of the GC, with minutes separating them. That would turn out to be but clearer at the moment, for what’s one more stage within the mountains.
Vuelta a España 2026 stage 7 preview – A second summit end that would both solidify or shake up the rostrum battle
Good day and welcome to stage seven of the Vuelta a España!
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