An iconic stage was on the Vuelta’s menu this Wednesday, and Lorenzo Germani took the opportunity to show himself. After another very hard fight for the breakaway, the young 21-year-old Italian managed to take the lead in the seventeenth stage leading to the well-known Angliru. The rider from Groupama-FDJ found himself with Remco Evenepoel for some time, then was brought back by the peloton in the penultimate climb of the day. At the top of Angliru, Primoz Roglic took the win while another big mountain stage awaits the riders on Thursday.
It was another quite short stage this Wednesday, but like the one finishing at the top of the Col du Tourmalet, the seventeenth featured a “monster” of cycling: the Alto de l’Angliru and its terrifying ramps. Two other climbs preceded the Asturian “myth”, but nearly seventy kilometres needed to be completed first on rather flat terrain. As is often the case in this 78th Vuelta, the fight for the breakaway proved fierce, but after around thirty kilometres, five riders managed to open a gap. Lorenzo Germani was one of them. “The start was very fast, as expected,” said the Italian. “I was in the first part of the peloton all the time, but I didn’t move at first. When I attacked, the break went. I was a bit lucky.” In the lead, the Italian first found himself with Mattia Cattaneo, Larry Warbasse, Chris Hamilton and Romain Combaud. “There were five of us at first, then in the hillier part Remco Evenepoel came back,” he added. The breakaway got bigger for a few minutes, but the pace set by the Belgian’s teammate quickly eliminated some riders. With seventy kilometres to go, Lorenzo Germani was the only one in the wheel of the Soudal-Quick Step duo. “Obviously, I didn’t take turns, because I knew there was nothing to do against Remco,” he said. “I took my pace on the first climb, I wasn’t far from Soler at the top, I came back on the descent, and I did the valley with him.”
“I enjoyed today”, Lorenzo Germani
In the second group up the road, Lorenzo Germani therefore found himself with the Spaniard who previously attacked from the bunch. However, he was logically forced to let him go in the Alto del Cordal (5.7 km at 8.5%). A few minutes later, he was caught by the peloton which never let the breakaway take a proper gap. “It was a nice day,” said Lorenzo. “After a Vuelta with ups and downs, I enjoyed today. Being in front with Remco was really cool, but it was also hard. I’m happy and I hope to continue like this.” “The goal today was to join the break if a big group went away, but we knew that Jumbo-Visma would aim for victory on the Angliru,” explained Benoît Vaugrenard. “Lorenzo did a very good stage, but above all we wanted to keep as much energy as possible for tomorrow. This is a stage for us, more suited to breakaways. Our riders are in pretty good shape and are recovering very well. Lenny felt much better today and save himself for tomorrow.” The riders of Groupama-FDJ therefore did not take part in the final onto the Alto de l’Angliru, where Jumbo-Visma achieved another hat-trick. Primoz Roglic won the stage, and Sepp Kuss kept the red jersey. On Thursday, more than 4,500 meters of elevation gain will be covered towards La Cruz de Linares for yet another summit finish.
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