Vuelta a España chief Ben O’Connor survived a tough stage and harmful late assault by EF Training-EasyPost chief Richard Carapaz along with his five-second general lead intact, however the Australian admitted it had been something however an easy day by the sierras of Alava.
Carapaz and EF launched a robust shock assault on the Alto de la Herrera class 1 climb. With practically 40 kilometres to go, on paper, that was a good distance from the end in Maeztu, however in truth, it proved greater than sufficient to place O’Connor in bother.
Briefly distanced following Carapaz’ definitive assault near the summit, after a frantic two-kilometre chase led by his Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, O’Connor managed to regain contact within the rolling descent with the EF-led GC group.
After a flat-out drive to the road, the Australian and his closest three rivals stay locked in the identical occasions on GC because the three key closing levels of this yr’s Vuelta loom, with Primož Roglič (Crimson Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) trailing O’Connor by simply 5 seconds, Enric Mas (Movistar) at 1:25 and Carapaz at 1:46.
Mikel Landa (T Rex-QuickStep), beforehand fifth, misplaced vital time on stage 18, however with 4 rivals so near O’Connor, the Vuelta chief could have loads of rivals snapping at his heels on Friday’s key ascent of the Moncalvillo.
“It was a shock that Carapaz attacked. I didn’t count on it to be like that, however I’m glad I received by it in a single piece,” O’Connor instructed reporters.
“Lastly, we managed to profit [by dropping Landa], however you possibly can see how briskly we have been driving, and it wasn’t a simple stage in any respect. There are not any simple days on the Vuelta this yr.”
O’Connor was requested about what he considered the Moncalvillo ascent and what he knew about it. However he mentioned his focus was on attempting to chill out after what had clearly been a hectic day. As he put it, “slightly than take into consideration tomorrow, I need to try to sit back a little bit as a result of at this time was laborious.”
Nevertheless, requested earlier than stage 18 what his huge purpose was for the remainder of the Vuelta, O’Connor indicated that if he completed within the prime three on Sunday, he could be glad. “My predominant purpose is to be on that podium in Madrid, whichever place that’s. That’s the purpose.”
Even when a prime rival, Carapaz, opted to make a transfer on stage 18, O’Connor argued that his personal room for manoeuvre and go on the assault himself was far more restricted.
“It will simply by no means work. Bora [Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe] are too robust. That’s the primary one, Bora could be too robust, I feel. Another groups might in all probability be uncovered, however not them.”
O’Connor’s prediction about different riders being weak proved to be completely correct concerning Landa on Thursday, however the Decathlon chief denied that he would overly discover the consequences of the fraught finale of stage 18 himself. Reasonably, with three days remaining, regardless of how laborious the trouble, it could simply soften into the final state of fatigue within the peloton, he mentioned.
“We’ve raced each single day, and everyone seems to be simply drained,” he defined. “However someway, I’m nonetheless managing to crack out some fairly good numbers, so I don’t assume it makes any distinction now.” “And I’m nonetheless within the lead! It’s good to have it for an additional day. I don’t know if it’s been 13 or 14 days, however a very long time. I’ve loved that rather a lot.”
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