In a breathtaking display of climbing prowess, Jonas Vingegaard launched a devastating attack on the fearsome slopes of the Alto de l'Angliru to claim a spectacular victory on Stage 11 of the Vuelta a España. The Danish champion, riding for Visma-Lease a Bike, shattered the elite group with a blistering acceleration that no rival could answer.
Meanwhile, British hope Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) saw his general classification ambitions evaporate on the iconic climb. After showing promise in the early stages, Pidcock was distanced from the main contenders' group and finished over seven minutes down, a crushing blow to his podium hopes.
A Battle of Titans on the 'Hell of the North'
The stage was set for a monumental showdown between the 'Big Three': Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick-Step), and Vingegaard's own teammate and race leader, Sepp Kuss. The trio, along with Primoz Roglic, formed a select group as the gradient pitched to a leg-sapping 23.5%.
It was Vingegaard who made the decisive move, soaring away with apparent ease to cross the line 21 seconds ahead of a chasing Evenepoel. The win marks a triumphant return to form for the Tour de France champion after his long injury layoff.
Kuss Retains Red, But Team Dynamics Questioned
American Sepp Kuss put in a valiant defence of his leader's red jersey, finishing third on the stage. He remains at the top of the general classification, but the sight of his key lieutenant, Vingegaard, now moving into second place overall just 29 seconds back, raises fascinating questions about team leadership for the remainder of the race.
With three Visma-Lease a Bike riders—Kuss, Vingegaard, and Roglic—now occupying the top three spots on the GC, the team faces a potential tactical dilemma in the coming mountain stages.
The 2023 Vuelta a España has well and truly exploded into life on the Angliru, setting up a thrilling and unpredictable final week of racing.
