The opening day of the Spanish race didn’t create big differences between the GC contenders.
The 48th edition of the Vuelta a Burgos started this Tuesday with a hilly stage from Gumiel de Izan to Alto del Castillo. A hilly parcours, constantly up and down, meant that the peloton had to work hard in order to bring back the original breakaway, but it managed to do that just in time for the final climb.
Averaging 6.3% over just one kilometer and featuring some steep bends and a cobbled section, Alto del Castillo made for an exciting finale, animated by an early attack and then the fight for victory, which went to Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike). Former Italian Champion Filippo Zana concluded in the top 20 as the best placed Soudal Quick-Step rider after a solid effort on the punchy hill.
Wednesday brings the first of the week’s three summit finishes, and the gaps between the general classification riders are expected to widen on the steep gradients of Valle del Sol.
Photo credit: ©Antonio Baixauli / Getty Images
