Vuelta 2022: Sprint triumph Groves, Evenepoel stays in red

foto: Cor VosKaden Groves sprints to victory in the 11th stage of La Vuelta. The Australian outperforms Danny van Poppel and Tim Merlier on the line, while Remco Evenepoel stays in the lead of the general classification. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 11th stage 2022 Vuelta

1. Kaden Groves (aus)
2. Danny van Poppel (nld) s.t.
3. Tim Merlier (bel) s.t.
4. Sebastián Molano (col) s.t.
5. Mads Pedersen (den) s.t.
6. Daniel McLay (gbr) s.t.
7. John Degenkolb (ger) s.t.
8. Fred Wright (gbr) s.t.
9. Cedric Beullens (bel) s.t.
10. Boy van Poppel (nld) s.t.

GC after stage 11

1. Remco Evenepoel (bel)
2. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 2.41
3. Enric Mas (spa) + 3.03
4. Carlos Rodriguez (spa) + 3.55
5. Juan Ayuso (spa) + 4.53
6. João Almeida (por) + 6.45
7. Miguel Ángel López (col) + 6.50
8. Tao Geoghegan Hart (gbr) + 7.37
9. Ben O’Connor (aus) + 7.46
10. Thymen Arensman (nld) + 8.44

Race report
Jetse Bol, Vojtech Repa and Joan Bou attack from the gun to carve out a lead of more than 4 minutes. Then the peloton takes the reins.

The gap has fallen to 1 minute in the last kilometres, and Bol goes solo. He extends his lead to 2 minutes before it starts to go down again. The Dutchman is caught with 26 kilometres to go.

As expected, the race comes down to a sprint finish. Degenkolb opens early and he fades away when Molano comes storming past, but it’s Groves who takes the biggest win in his career.

Evenepoel stays in command of the GC, while Yates and Sivakov disappear from the top 10 after testing positive on corona.

Another interesting read: route 11th stage 2022 Vuelta.