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Challenging Climb at Puerto de Ancares Shakes Up General Classification
Canadian rider Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) emerged victorious in Stage 13 of the Vuelta a España after breaking away from a large group of over 20 riders. The stage, which concluded with a grueling climb up Puerto de Ancares, saw Woods attack in the final 5 kilometers, leaving his competitors behind and securing his third career stage win in the Vuelta, following victories in 2018 and 2020. Swiss rider Mauro Schmid finished second, trailing Woods by more than 40 seconds.
Woods Conquers the Ancares Climb
The day’s stage was characterized by a demanding 7.5-kilometer ascent with an average gradient of 9.3%, peaking at a daunting 15% in certain sections. Woods launched his decisive attack on the steepest part of the climb, quickly distancing himself from the rest of the breakaway group. His effort not only earned him the stage victory but also solidified his reputation as one of the most formidable climbers in the peloton.
O’Connor’s Red Jersey Under Threat
The main drama of the day, however, centered around the battle for the general classification. Ben O’Connor (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), who started the stage in the red jersey, struggled on the final climb. O’Connor was dropped by Primož Roglič (Red Bull) with 4 kilometers to go and ended up losing nearly two minutes to the Slovenian, who had been 3 minutes and 6 seconds behind the race leader at the start of the day.
Roglič’s relentless pace also took a toll on other top contenders. Enric Mas (Movistar) and Mikel Landa (T-Rex Quickstep), who were third and fifth overall, respectively, could not match Roglič’s rhythm in the final 2 kilometers. Meanwhile, Richard Carapaz (EF Education), who was fourth in the general classification at the start of the stage, had already been dropped earlier on the climb.
As a result of the day’s racing, O’Connor’s lead in the overall standings has been significantly reduced. What was once a comfortable advantage of over 3 minutes has now shrunk to just 1 minute and 20 seconds over Roglič, with eight stages remaining in the race.
Mas and Landa Hold Their Positions
Enric Mas remains in third place, now 3 minutes and 1 second behind O’Connor, holding onto his 12-second advantage over Carapaz and a 42-second lead over Mikel Landa, who rounds out the top five.
As the Vuelta enters its final stages, the competition for the red jersey is tighter than ever, with Roglič closing in on O’Connor and a challenging week of racing still ahead.