08 Sep 2023
Grenadiers hold fire in La Vuelta
Vuelta a Espana - Stage 13 » Formigal. Huesca la Magia › Col du Tourmalet, 134.7km
INEOS Grenadiers held their fire on what proved to be one of the toughest tests to date in La Vuelta.
Geraint Thomas put in some early digs to try and form a breakaway, on the second of the stage's four climbs, with Jonathan Castroviejo also active.
However, it soon became clear that the GC teams would not let a group go clear, with an infernal pace being set all afternoon.
As such, the Grenadiers dropped back, saving their energy for another day, while the GC men fought between themselves for the stage.
Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) took the victory, with team-mate Sepp Kuss remaining in the red jersey.
Over in the Tour of Britain, the Grenadiers were well positioned in the finale, avoiding a crash with under two kilometres to go.
Tom Pidcock would sprint to ninth, with Magnus Sheffield up there in 12th. With the GC still razor-close, Pidcock moved up to fifth overall, with stage placings deciding much of the top 50 riders. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) still holds a slender three-second lead ahead of a final weekend which should shake up the standings.
