Before Anglirú, Bola del Mundo, Los Machucos and El Gamoniteiru there was Los Lagos de Covadonga. 40 years ago the Asturian mountain was climbed for the first time in the men’s Vuelta and taught cyclists to go beyond their limits. It left them exhausted, without strength, without reserves and it soon became a legendary peak of the Spanish race. Annemiek van Vleuten, 40 years old, had to resort to all the epic possible to resist the climb to the Lagos and the attack of her great rival and compatriot, Demi Vollering (SD Worx). The world champion saved the women’s Vuelta by just nine seconds in a heroic finish.
The Movistar runner was against the ropes. She pedaled very touched, but not sunk. The leader was left alone, without references and in crisis, but she did not feel panic. It was known how to dose to resist. In his case, resisting was winning, winning the third Vuelta, three in a row.
Vollering was on fire, with Saturday’s controversy as fuel, with a desire for revenge in every pedal stroke. He didn’t even need to stand upright on the bike to engage the rest. The spring queen is in spectacular form and, upset about how she lost the red jersey, she wanted to have the last laugh. Not even having to recover more than a minute discouraged her. Her eagerness made the leader’s solidity greater.
Six kilometers from the finish line, after the La Huesera straight, Van Vleuten was in trouble. A kilometer later he stopped. The Mirador de la Reina was crossed after seven days without stopping. Vollering left with Realini, the petite climber. The leader immediately lost sight of them. The fog didn’t help her. He played a trick on her, since she couldn’t see him, he left her without visual references.
It seemed that everything was going downhill, that Van Vleuten was giving up. The SD Worx rider forced herself harder on the descent towards Lake Enol (at more than 70 km/h) and overthrew Realini. He won the stage – he won in the two high finals – and at the finish line he only raised one hand so as not to waste time.
The clock started. Then, like a returning ghost, a shadow was seen and then the red sweater, returning when all was lost. Pride rescued her. She came in third. Van Vleuten, used to winning by crushing, saved the victory by a sigh. But he did not give up the scepter. A worthy end of a combative Vuelta until the last meter.
