Following on from yesterday’s rest day, the Vuelta a España peloton were back in action on Tuesday as they faced a 160 kilometre route from Ponteareas to Baiona on the menu, featuring four categorised climbs. With a descent and flat run to the finish, there was a feeling amongst the peloton that today would be a good day to try and make the breakaway and as a result a fierce fight to make the move ensued. The battle continued onto and over the top of the first categorised climb, where Chris Hamilton, Gijs Leemreize and Martijn Tusveld all featured in attacks that were reeled back in by the chasing peloton. Unfortunately, when the five rider move did go clear the team missed out. With the gap increasing and it clear they would fight for the stage, the team tried to get through the stage in the best way possible and look to future stages.
Speaking after the stage road captain Hamilton said: “We had the aim to try and make it in the break of the day with either Gijs, Martijn or myself. Unfortunately, it didn’t end up being as big a move as we thought and, in the end, we missed the five guys that went away who fought it out to the line. Back in the peloton, the rest of us took it easy for the more chances to come.”
