Primož Roglič might have failed to take the red jersey from Enric Mas yesterday, but he still looks in good spirits, giving a wave to the TV moto, and chatting and enjoying himself with his companions in the peloton.
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One rider who is not present to celebrate finishing the Vuelta is Eddie Dunbar. The Irishman crashed out of the race yesterday, but does at least go home as a stage winner after his triumph in the mountains two days ago.
While the opening of the stage will be more of a celebration than a race, there are endless stories to unpack from yesterday’s thriller. There might not have been any major changes in the GC, barring Sepp Kuss’ rise to fifth place, but the stage really did have everything.
And they’re off! Albeit to a slow start, as the end-of-term celebrations commence. Mas and his Movistar team are the first to move ahead of the front of the peloton for their photo, riding arm in arm in custom red jerseys.
The riders are at the unofficial start, and five men who are set to retire are being honoured – Pello Bilbao, Jesus Herrada, David de la Cruz, Steven Kruijswijk and Magnus Cort – the latter of which addressed the crowd earlier.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Having been under so much pressure this past week or so, today is at last a chance for Enric Mas to celebrate. This is the day his whole career has been building towards; after four podium finishes at past editions of the Vuelta, and so many more in other races, he can at last call himself a Grand Tour champion.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Despite that climb in the finishing circuit, it does not look as though the stage is going to be raced for GC, following the announcement that the times will be neutralised by the final lap. The riders have cited safety concerns as the reason for the change.
After yesterday’s epic slog in the mountains, which saw a thrilling battle for both the GC placings and the stage win, the Vuelta comes to an end with a much more straightforward, simple stage.
It’s not necessarily one for the sprinters, however. There’s a testing climb in the final circuit in Granada which looks set to make this a fascinatingly balanced battle for the stage win.
