Red Bull Bora Tactical Masterclass Launches Roglic | Vuelta a Espana 2024 Stage 11 with Lanterne Rouge
Video Red Bull Bora Tactical Masterclass Launches Roglic | Vuelta a Espana 2024 Stage 11 with Lanterne Rouge
Video Red Bull Bora Tactical Masterclass Launches Roglic | Vuelta a Espana 2024 Stage 11 with Lanterne Rouge YouTube Channel.
Red Bull Bora Tactical Masterclass Launches Roglic | Vuelta a Espana 2024 Stage 11
Lanterne Rouge: The Underdog Story of the Vuelta a España Stage 11
Stage 11 of the Vuelta a España proved to be an exciting and unpredictable day of racing, with the spotlight shining on the Lanterne Rouge contenders who usually fly under the radar. These underdogs, often overlooked in the race for the general classification, sometimes have their moment to shine on stages that suit their abilities. This was the case on a circuit of short to medium mountain climbs in Spain, culminating in a challenging 3km ascent with a fast pedaling descent and a flat finish in Padron.
The day started with a flurry of attacks as riders from various teams tried to establish a breakaway. Campart made an early move, chased by Vis on anyos, Agira, Israel, and Corbin Strong of Jumbo-Visma. Israel was particularly aggressive, putting four riders in the breakaway, including George Bennett, their best-placed GC rider. Bennett, sitting in 50th place overall, was only about three minutes off the top 10 and saw an opportunity to make a significant move on this stage.
The breakaway continued to grow, with around 40 riders eventually forming the lead group. Riders kept attacking, taking advantage of the wide roads that allowed for counter-moves to keep the race dynamic. Akmeeper, Con Farmer, Hermans, Alarson, and Kerik were among those bridging across to solidify the breakaway. Despite the large group, the pace remained high as riders jockeyed for position and tried to gain an advantage.
As the race approached the final climb, the breakaway still held a significant gap over the peloton. However, teams like Movistar and Bora-Hansgrohe began to chase as the gap grew too large for comfort. With about 20km to go, Nico Den of Bora-Hansgrohe momentarily fell back from the breakaway but refused to drop out, signaling that the chase was on.
The final climb brought a flurry of attacks and counter-attacks as the breakaway riders fought for the stage win. DSM was driving the pace for their sprinter, Max P, while other teams like Camp and Movistar also tried to make their moves. In the end, Eddie Dumar of Israel made a well-timed move on the right-hand side, using the momentum to his advantage and blocking his rivals to secure the win, the biggest of his career.
Meanwhile, in the GC group, Bora-Hansgrohe put on a masterclass in positioning and pacing, dropping back riders to set up leader RIT for the final climb. With Adria and Alioti leading the charge, RIT was well-placed to make a move on the crucial ascent. Despite the efforts of other teams, including Movistar and Quick-Step, Bora-Hansgrohe’s tactics proved successful as RIT gained time on his rivals.
As the stage concluded, the focus shifted to the GC battle, with Roglic extending his lead over Bernal. The Colombian, suffering on the final climb, lost time to Roglic, who capitalized on the opportunity to gain a valuable advantage. With the race far from over, every second counts in the fight for the red jersey.
In the end, stage 11 of the Vuelta a España was a showcase of the underdogs and their potential to surprise the favorites. Lanterne Rouge contenders like Eddie Dumar seized the moment and delivered a memorable performance, while teams like Israel and Bora-Hansgrohe demonstrated their tactical prowess in setting up their leaders for success.
As the race heads into the mountains and the stakes continue to rise, fans can expect more twists and turns in the battle for the overall victory. The Vuelta a España is far from decided, with plenty of challenges still to come for the riders as they navigate the Spanish terrain and aim for glory in Madrid.
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