The 22-year-old racks up his 30th day since turning pro as leader of a stage race.
Featuring over 3300 vertical meters, six classified climbs and culminating with the ascent of the Collau Fancuaya, an Asturian ascent never before used at the race, stage 8 brough more changes to the general classification, but one thing that remained the same was the red jersey owner, who continues to be Remco Evenepoel, after the Belgian passed another important test.
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl once again devoted all their energy in working for the 22-year-old, setting the pace at the front of the peloton from the first climb of the day and all the way until with three kilometers to go, when Remco took matters into his own hands. The youngest rider in decades to lead La Vuelta, he pushed a tempo so high that riders began being shed at the back, only two men being capable of matching his relentless pace on the gruelling double-digit gradients of Collau Fancuaya.
Evenepoel led the small group on the line, retaining the red jersey and his 28-second advantage over the closest opponent in the standings ahead of the week’s final stage, a result that left him content at the end of the day.
“The goal was to not lose time. I did that and even managed to gain more seconds over almost all the other riders, which is good. I did my best out there, the team was superb, taking care of me and controlling the race from the start, and I want to thank them for that. We keep the confidence and we’ll give everything again on Sunday, when we’ll try to keep the red jersey”, Remco said after becoming the youngest rider since 1985 to spend at least three days at the top of La Vuelta’s general classification.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
