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The Vuelta has ended with an exciting sprint in the streets of Madrid. Pascal Ackermann went from very far and held his ground. Sam Bennett was second by a few millimeters. Primoz Roglic’s overall victory was no longer in danger in the Spanish capital. He succeeds himself as the overall winner of the Vuelta.
Stage 18 in a nutshell
- Winner of the day: Pascal Ackermann records his second stage victory and can therefore call himself the sprint king of this Vuelta. There have not been many opportunities for the fast men.
- Loser of the day: In the last three Rounds of Spain, Quick-Step had always turned the final stage to its hand. Also today, the team had the best trump card, but Bennett was released a little too late.
- Remarkable: Alejandro Valverde did not experience a successful Vuelta by his standards. At the age of 40, the veteran set one of his records: this is his twentieth place among the top ten in a grand round.
Ackermann (very) trumps Bennett in the final stage of the Vuelta
Ackermann is just holding out
The relatively short ride started sluggishly. After three weeks of hard work, the riders took plenty of time to pose for a photo and there was also time for a glass of champagne. Counterclockwise we made a wide arc around Madrid and then drive to the heart of the Spanish capital.
Wellens was the instigator of the flight in the streets of Madrid. Our fellow countryman received support from the small Spanish teams. First Smit and then Serrano, a purebred Madrid, joined. The lead of the leading group never reached half a minute, not even when speed rider Groezdev came to lend a hand.
In the last local round, everything got back together. The train from Deceuninck – Quick-Step could not cover the distance, so the one from Bora took over under the rag. Ackermann completed his mates’ work, although Bennett was still very close on the line. Roglic’s second overall victory in the Vuelta was never endangered today.
Ackermann: “Very happy to end the season with a victory”
Ackermann: “Nice to end the season like this”
Pascal Ackermann did not dare to put his hands in the air. “I wasn’t sure. We had to wait a few minutes for the news to get over the radio. I am so happy with this win.”
“I really have to thank my teammates. It was a great lead-out”, the German waved praise. “I am very happy to close the season with a victory, my thirtieth in total.”
Is Ackermann now the best sprinter of this Vuelta? “I wouldn’t say that. I don’t really count my first win because Sam (Bennett) was then declassified. So all three of us won one stage.”
Roglic: “Nice to end like this”
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- 17:05
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- 16:58
- 16:58
- 16:57
