Vuelta 2021, fifteenth stage: wearily towards the second day of rest

Rafal Majka (UAE Emirates) won the fifteenth stage of the 76th Vuelta Espana with an impressive feat, along the 198 kilometers from Navalmoral de la Mata to El Barraco. The bronze medal in the road test in Rio de Janeiro five years ago won success after a solo of 88 kilometers. The Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk (Jumbo Visma), who tried in vain to catch the little Polish climber, was in second place, 1m27 ”behind. Third at 2’19 “was the Australian Chris Hamilton (Team DSM) who preceded the British Adam Yates (Ineos Grenadiers), fourth at 2’42”.

The general classification remained unchanged with the Norwegian Odd Christian Eiking (Intermarchè Wanty Gobert) who kept the roja jersey without problems. The Scandinavian maintains an advantage of 54 ″ over the French Guillaume Martin (Cofidis Credits Solutions) and of 1’36 over the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma).

One day in advance the protagonists of this edition of the Spanish race have decided to rest, perhaps too squeezed by two weeks of continuous brawl. After the rest, between Wednesday and Thursday, a deadly two days are scheduled on the Asturian peaks with the traditional finish line of Lagos de Covadonga followed by the unprecedented Alto d’el Gamoniteiru, compared by the experts to the Anghiru in terms of hardness. The residual energies will show us the new Guido Cavalcanti, capable of bringing the roja jersey to Santiago de Compostela next Sunday.