Cycling: The mountain finish at Alto de las Allanadas goes to Team Sky but not to Chris Froome. His teammate Wout Poels proved to be the strongest pro on today's stage of the Ruta del Sol. On the final climb, an exciting race developed for the day's victory and the overall ranking.
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9 escapees flee to the Alto de las Allanadas
Frenchman Thomas Boudat (Direct Energie) yesterday first stage of the Ruta del Sol won. Today, however, the profile was not suitable for him. Because from Otura to the Alto de las Allanadas not only 140,0 kilometers had to be covered, but also five mountain classifications had to be climbed. The finale was the category 1 mountain Alto de las Allanadas, which is 5,2 kilometers long and has an average gradient of 8,9 percent. Won there in 2015 Chris Froome near Alberto counter. In doing so, he laid the foundation for his overall victory at the time. Even today it was exciting to see what the Brit was able to do under the burden of the doping allegations. As usual, however, the focus was initially on the outliers. Nine in number sought their salvation on the offensive. Also included: Alexis Gougeard (AG2R La Mondiale), Diego Rubio (Burgos BH) and Pascal Eenkhoorn (LottoNL-Jumbo). These three held the lead until just before the final climb.
Wellens aggressive, Froome lets tear
Right at the beginning of the Alto de las Allanadas left Blond his last companion gougeard stand. But his lead over the peloton was just over a minute. Movistar and Astana in particular ensured a high pace there. Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) was the first professional to attack. Then asked Mikel Landa (Movistar) and Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal) contacted him. Behind them, Team Sky led the group while Rubio almost stalled at the very front on the 19 per cent section and was eventually swallowed up. With 1,5 kilometers to go, Wellens pushed the pace again and pulled out of the peloton, which was only around 15 strong. There was initially with Wout poels just a Sky driver, but also Chris Froome was able to reestablish contact.
WOUT POELS 🚴♂️🇳🇱✌
Not è Froome in the 2nd round of the Vuelta in Andalucia la vince il Team Sky sul traguardo in salita of the Guardia de Jaén #RutadelSol #EurosportCICLISMO pic.twitter.com/dueR05LXZ6- Eurosport IT (@Eurosport_IT) February 15, 2018
Poels sprints uphill to victory and the leader's jersey
On the last kilometer worried Wout poels first for making sure his teammate Chris Froome lost contact forever. The Dutchman put in an impressive attack and thus distanced several drivers at the same time. In addition, he succeeded in doing so Tim Wellens yet to bring back. Hardly done, Poels attacked again. This time, the 30-year-old literally sprinted up the mountain, so that nobody could hold his rear wheel anymore. Poels can not only be happy about the day's victory, but also about the current lead in the overall standings. Old master drove two seconds after him over the line Luis Leon Sanchez (Astana) before Tim Wellens, Mikel Landa, and Jakob Fuglsang and 5towatch-Candidate Marc Soler. Came seventh Chris Froome to the goal.
Wout Poels 🇳🇱 wins the 2nd stage 🙌#TeamSky
Vuelta Ciclista in Andalucía 🇪🇸
Round of Andalusia/Ruta del Sol#64RdS pic.twitter.com/p4b1VMTl5D— Boertje Pummel (@BoertjePummel) February 15, 2018