Dan Martin has taken 3rd on today’s stage 8 of La Vuelta and now looks primed for a serious assault on the first Grand Tour podium finish of his career.
He was out-gunned today by stage winner Primoz Roglic
(Jumbo Visma) and race leader Richard Carapaz (Ineos Grenadiers).
After an aggressive race over the final 3km of the stage,
with a summit finish, Hugh Carthy (EF Pro Cycling) and Sepp Kuss (Jumbo Visma)
got clear from the favourites’ group.
Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) and Carapaz rode on the front of the group after the two leaders, with Martin also attacking at one point.
However, Carapaz and Roglic emerged as the strongest
after Carthy and Kuss were reeled in; that duo riding clear of everyone else on
what became a drag race to the finish line.
Advertisement
Roglic managed to drop Carapaz near the finish for a
brilliant win on the Alto de Moncalvillo, putting 13 seconds in Carapaz, with
Martin in 3rd some 19 seconds down on Roglic.
Related News
Then came Aleksandr Vlasov (Astana), 25 seconds down on
Roglic, and Carthy some 33 seconds on the winner.
It means Martin gained time on everyone bar the two big
pre-race favourites, Roglic and Carapaz. And the Irish rider is really shaping
up for the final podium, though there is a long way to go.
The stage result today means Carapaz still leads the
race, though Roglic is now back up to 2nd and just 13 seconds off
the red jersey.
Dan Martin holds 3rd place and is now 28 seconds down on Carapaz, with Carthy 4th at 44 seconds and Enric Mas (Movistar) in 5th, now at 1:54 as the gaps are starting to open.
Topics
