Stage 20: Moralzarzal to Puerto de Navacerrada

Breakaway on the penultimate climb of Stage 20 — Ecuador *versus* Colombia out front, before the soon-to-be-ex-Skinios rider forged on to secure the KOM jersey and the stage win.

There were enough climbs to make Stage 20 interesting, with Robert Stannard having a last tilt at the King of the Mountains. But Richard Carapaz had got in a big break and took it on for the last two category one efforts to secure the polkadots, then going on to a famous third stage win. With the wounded Rodriguez going backwards today, Carapaz has rescued Ineos‘ tour. Chapeau! Terrific entertainment and good news for Linda’s Cuchara de Madera aqui, Paul’s Velo Espana, Dave’s Dream Catcher and Stephen’s Team Ciclominaccia (of whom more below…).

But the climbs were neither long enough for overturning the top of the GC, but there was some spirited attacking from a long way out. Could even one of the old dogs, Valverde or Nibali, spring a farewell surprise? It wasn’t to be, but the Spaniard was rewarded with the daily combativity award.

Don’t cry, Remco, you’ve nearly won!

Crossing the line after the last mountain ascent, the young Belgian allowed his normally poker face – a study in focus and determination – suddenly crumple as allowed himself to feel the enormity of what he has achieved. And in a moment, the mighty champion was a young lad, sobbing his heart out with relief and exhaustion, and perhaps the weight of expectation as the first Belgian to take the Vuelta since Freddie Maertens in 1977. He is by some way the best all-round rider in the race and is a deserving, dashing winner. Bravo Remco Evenepoel!

Remco Evenepoek in the GC leader's red jersey overcome with emotion after the finish of Stage 20 — I wonder if he ponders the advice he was given when, as captain of the Belgian national youth football team, he was told he would be better suited to cycling?!

Team of the Day

And repeat. Team Ciclominaccia‘s extraordinary run of third week form continues with 4 riders in the first ten on Stage 20: stage victor, the magnificent Richard Carapaz, Thymen Arensman (2nd), Jai Hindley (4th) and João Almeida (9th):

That adds up to another huge daily score of 745 velopoints which eclipses ThinFatBoys 744 from Stage 4 and propels Stephen’s team into 2nd place in the mini-league. Is it possible to even take the overall win if Mads Pedersen should win the final stage and then adding on the End-of-Tour points? Maybe… but there is still a big gap to bridge to The Pain in Spain in 1st place. They can’t … can they?

The Green Wight Red minileague rankings after Stage 20