Vuelta a España Stage Report: Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla) took his second stage win in the 2024 Vuelta a España. The Irishman held off the favourites on the murderous climb of the Picón Blanco. Enric Mas (Movistar) crossed the line in second place. Primoz Roglič (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) finished third, 3 seconds behind Mas and will start the final time trial in Madrid on Sunday with a 2 minute lead over Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale).
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The final kilometre of stage 20
Vuelta race director, Fernando Escartín: “Key stage of La Vuelta 24, with seven point-incurring mountain passes. Following the climb of the Estacas de Trueba Mountain Pass, the race will enter Cantabrian territory and overcome many climbs before returning to the Province of Burgos through the Portillo de Lunada. The Portillo de la Sia and the Tornos Mountain Pass will add another level of difficulty to the stage, whose main highlight will be the Picón Blanco – the race’s final judge.”
Stage 20 profile
Stage 20: The last bunch stage is in the province of Burgos and has more than 4,000 metres of climbing. After 35 kilometres, the Las Estacas de Truebla (9.3km at 3.1%) is the first climb of the day, followed quickly by the Puerto de La Braguia (6.1km at 5.6%). These two climbs are the easiest of the day. After that, there are five Cat.1 or Cat.2 climbs in the last 100 kilometres. Halfway through the stage, the Alto del Caracol (10.5km at 5.5%), the Portillo de Lunada (14km at 6.2%) and the Portilla de la Sia (7.2km at 5.8%) will loosen the legs. There is a long descent towards the finale, which starts with the Puerto de Los Tornos (13.2km at 5.4%). The riders will then have climbed over 3,000 metres, but without any insanely steep gradients, they will come later. In Espinosa de los Monteros, the final climb to Picon Blanco (7.6km at 9.2%) begins after 162.5 kilometres. This climb barely has any gradients below 10%, except in the first kilometre and the last kilometre. From kilometre 3.5, the climb becomes really tough, with sections approaching 20%.
Primoz Roglič won on the climb of Picon Blanco back in 2024, he shouldn’t have any problems today…
Kasper Asgreen was the first to attack and was joined by the Dutchman Enzo Leijnse. They rode off the front for a while, but were soon pulled back. The attacks kept coming from the peloton and so the speed was high, making it difficult for anyone wanting to escape.
Marc Soler says he isn’t interested in the KOM, but you can expect him to fight to keep it
After this fast start, 10 riders managed to take a lead. KOM, Marc Soler, was there and was supported by his UAE Team Emirates teammate Jay Vine, Marc Frigo (Israel-Premier Tech), Clément Berthet (Decathlon-AG2R), Sylvain Moniquet (Lotto Dstny), Carlos Canal (Movistar), Jack Haig (Bahrain Victorious), Harold Tejada (Astana Qazaqstan) and double Vuelta stage winner, Pablo Castrillo (Equipo Kern Pharma).
A tough day ahead for the peloton
Team dsm-firmenich-PostNL had missed the move and so they worked on the front of the peloton. The lead fluctuated around 30 seconds before the first climb of the day. Several riders thought they could jump across to the break, but it was too late. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe then shut the chase down for overall leader Primoz Roglic and so the leaders were able to extend their lead. At the top of Las Estacas de Truebla, the difference had grown to 4 minutes. In the front group, the first KOM points was won by Vine, while his teammate, Soler, the current KOM, didn’t contest the sprint. The Australian virtually took over the lead in the KOM classification.
Soler was in the break, but it didn’t work out
Vine was also the first over the top of the second climb, the Puerto de La Braguia, to add 3 more mountain points. Castrillo and Soler were second and third. After a long wait, the peloton came over, but were not led by Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, but by INEOS Grenadiers. Carlos Rodríguez, seventh overall, must have a plan. INEOS closed the gap on Pavel Bittner and Kasper Asgreen, who had broken away on a descent, and the break. The leaders were already on the Alto del Caracol and it was Vine again who took the most mountain points ahead of Soler and Berthet. After a fast descent, it was the Portillo de Lunada. The lead group split on this Cat.1 climb, led by Soler.
There was a lot of descending and well as climbing
No one wanted to go with the Spaniard, so he went on another solo ride. Was Soler trying to take back the KOM jersey from his teammate Vine? The pursuers lost more time and Soler collected the mountain points at the top of the Portillo de Lunada. Vine was second and so his lead in the KOM shrink to 2 points.
Jay Vine took over the lead in the KOM competition
Primoz Roglič lost four of his teammates early in the stage due to illness – Two abandoned
Eddie Dunbar crossed to Sivakov and then went solo for the win
A second tough stage win for Dunbar
Stage winner, Eddie Dunbar (Jayco AlUla): “This one definitely feels a bit sweeter. I said to a few people after the stage win last week that it was never a way I imagined to win a Grand Tour stage, I always imagined winning on top of a climb. I just felt good that second part today. I just backed myself on that climb. I paced myself really well. I knew that climb from a few years ago, we did it in Vuelta a Burgos 2020. I just paced the steep parts pretty hard and I rode the flat bits just making sure not to totally empty the tank. At first, when Sivakov went, I saw Bora were willing to chase so I figured there’s no point wasting bullets on a climb like this when there’s Picon Blanco to go. I’m 12 minutes down on GC, I knew I’d get a little bit of leeway. I’m just super happy I could hold on today. The guys did a super job the last few days, keeping me away from trouble. They really backed me. We only have five guys here, finishing the Vuelta, but they all rode superbly. I’ve had good times, I’ve had bad times, and this is all part of the process. Moments like this don’t come around too often. And I’m just looking forward to sharing these moments and celebrating with friends and family.”
Just the flat time trial in Madrid to go for Primoz Roglič
Overall leader and 3rd on the stage, Primoz Roglic (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe): “The team was not at its best but everybody gave it their best, big respect, they just put everything they had. Luckily I’m quite fine for the moment so it was a nice day. We did quite a big work in these three weeks and we just have to finish it off. Let’s wait! We’re definitely one day closer, we’re going in the right direction but tomorrow is a real GC day. I always say I’m not a time trial specialist. I just have to give everything on the road.”
Vuelta a España Stage 20 Result:
1. Eddie Dunbar (Irl) Jayco AlUla in 4:38:37
2. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 0:07
3. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 0:10
4. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost at 0:12
5. Urko Berrade Fernandez (Spa) Equipo Kern Pharma at 0:14
6. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale
7. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 0:21
8. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step at 0:23
9. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 0:37
10. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Lidl – Trek.
Vuelta a España Overall After Stage 20:
1. Primož Roglič (Slo) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in 81:22:19
2. Ben O’Connor (Aus) Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale at 2:02
3. Enric Mas Nicolau (Spa) Movistar at 2:11
4. Richard Carapaz (Ecu) EF Education-EasyPost at 3:00
5. David Gaudu (Fra) Groupama-FDJ at 4:48
6. Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (Den) Lidl-Trek at 5:18
7. Florian Lipowitz (Ger) Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe at 6:26
8. Mikel Landa Meana (Spa) Soudal Quick-Step at 6:57
9. Pavel Sivakov (Fra) UAE Team Emirates at 8:50
10. Carlos Rodriguez Cano (Spa) INEOS Grenadiers at 10:31.
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