Race organizer Unipublic had designed stage 9 of La Vuelta a Espana 2024 as a mountainous 178.5-kilometer ride from Motril to Granada in southern Spain. The stage invited the remaining riders in the Vuelta peloton to a battle on a challenging route that would include three Category One climbs but conclude with a long descent to the finish line in Granada.

Multiple attacks were launched by optimists in the peloton who were eager to join a breakaway on the challenging day in the mountains. While some riders were pursuing chances of a stage victory of their own, other riders were likely sent on various missions to act as front posts for their team captains later in the stage if the stage turned into a battle between the general classification favorites.

Ben O’Connor had experienced a difficult day in the saddle in yesterday’s stage, but the Australian rider from Decathlon-AG2R was still leading the general classification and wearing the red jersey in today’s stage. Primoz Roglic was 03:49 minutes behind O’Connor, while Enric Mas was third, 04:31 minutes behind the leader. Earlier third-ranked Joao Almeida had faltered in yesterday’s stage and was unfortunately not able to be at the start of today’s stage 9.

Wout van Aert was one of the first riders to show courage in today’s stage 9 of Vuelta a Espana 2024. The Belgian rider escaped from the peloton on a mission for his Visma-Lease a Bike outfit and he was soon joined by several other riders.

A 26-man group formed in the first thirty kilometers. With 150 kilometers remaining, the breakaway group had a time advantage of almost four minutes over the main peloton. The group included Wout van Aert, Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates), Adam Yates (UAE Team Emirates), Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates), Oscar Rodriguez (Ineos-Grenadiers), David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ), Neilson Oliveira (Movistar), Gijs Leemreize (DSM-Firmenich), Ruben Fernandez (Cofidis), Jesus Herrada (Cofidis), and Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek).

The front group would still have much time to settle and reshuffle, as the three categorized climbs of the day would have to be conquered in the final ninety kilometers of the stage.

The front group reached the Puerto de El Purche and the climb immediately caused riders to be dropped from the group. Mid-climb no more than nine riders remained in the front group, which was now headed by Marc Soler and Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates).

Richard Carapaz launched a courageous and impressive solo attack from the main peloton as the riders reached the climb. The 31-year-old Ecuadorian rider deserved great praise for his initiative.

Carapaz fought his way to a two-minute advantage over the chasing peloton on the Puerto de El Purche and foght on. He had two EF Education-EasyPost teammates further up the road, who could offer valuable support for Carapaz. Menawhile, the front group was approximately five minutes ahead of the main peloton, which featured riders such as Primoz Roglic (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe) and Ben O’Connor (Decathlon-AG2R).

Riders who had been dropped from the original breakaway were now being reeled in by the main peloton, which was headed by riders from Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Nairo Quintana (Movistar) was dropped from the main peloton.

Carapaz teamed up with teammate Darren Rafferty on the fast descent and Movistar’s Nelson Oliveira joined the fun.

The eight-man front group was now approaching the Alto de Hazallanas – the second Category One climb of the day. The same climb would have to be climbed twice and would thus be both the second and third climb of the day.

The Carapaz-Rafferty chase duo was less than two minutes behind the front group when the climb was reached. Riders, who had been dropped from the front group, were eagerly trying to hang on to the EF Education-EasyPost tandem.

Rafferty had depleted his energy reserves and was dropped. Carapaz bravely carried on.

Multiple riders were dropped from the front group when the riders entered the Alto de Hazallanas climb. Vine, Yates, and Gaudu remained. Meanwhile, Carapaz had dropped all other riders and was now chasing approximately one minute behind the front trio. In the main peloton, Team Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe were setting a fast pace.

While Carapaz was approaching from behind, Adam Yates left breakaway companions Gaudu and Vine behind. He was now chasing the stage victory solo, but almost sixty kilometers remained. 

Adam Yates reached the top of the climb alone and initiated a fast and furious descent. 

Vine and Gaudu followed forty seconds back, while Carapaz crossed the top with Pablo Castrillo (Kern Pharma) 01:44 minutes behind the leader from Great Britain.

With 38 kilometers left, Yates was solo in front. Carapaz, Vine, Gaudu, and Castrillo were two minutes behind, while a reduced main peloton featured the general classification favorites 05:40 minutes behind frontman Yates.

When Yates initiated his second climb of the Alto de Hazallanas he had a time advantage of 02:48 over the chase quartet, which featured Carapaz, Castrillo, Vine, and Gaudu.

Vine and Castrillo were dropped by Carapaz and Gaudu on the climb. Carapaz dropped Gaudu with six kilometers remaining of the final climb – before the long descent to the finish line in Granada.

Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe riders were setting a fast pace at the front of the GC favorites group. The riders fought their way through the epic mountain terrain. Temperatures reached forty degrees Celsius, and riders were using their FlowBio hydration sensors to optimally monitor and adjust their hydration status.

Surprisingly, Roglic appeared to be in trouble in the minimized favorites group. Enric Mas and Pavel Sivakov left the other GC favorites behind. O’Connor was pacing his way up the climb along with other favorites.

26 kilometers of the stage remained, and Yates was 02:40 minutes ahead of Carapaz, who was chasing solo on the climb. 3.5 kilometers remained before the descent into Granada.

Felix Gall was leading the small GC favorites group in support of Decathlon-AG2R team leader Ben O’Connor on the climb. Enric Mas was further up the road, but far behind Carapaz and Yates. The O’Connor group featured Sivakov, Carlos Rodriguez, Mikel Landa, Gall, Roglic, and Florian Lipowitz.

Adam Yates reached the top of the climb with an advantage of two minutes over Carapaz. From now on it would all be downhill for the man from Great Britain, but he looked set to both win today’s stage and advance in the general classification. Only a dangerous descent remained before the podium ceremony.

Enric Mas almost crashed on the descent, but impressively managed to regain control over his bike.

Carapaz had reduced the advantage of Yates to 01:36 minutes with nine kilometers remaining. The Ecuadorian rider was very fast on the descent and was looking to make as big an advancement in the general classification as possible. What an impressively animating racing effort from Carapaz in today’s stage.

Carapaz was two minutes behind Yates when five kilometers remained. Was the Ecuadorian running on fumes?

Adam Yates crossed the finish line solo as winner of stage 9 of La Vuelta a Espana 2024. Richard Carapaz was the next rider to reach the finish line in Granada, 01:39 minutes behind the stage winner. Ben O’Connor completed the stage podium when he won a sprint between the riders in a small group of GC favorites 03:45 minutes later. 

“It was super hot today and I was cramping before the last climb,” Yates explained to Roadcycling.com shortly after the finish. “I’m so glad I could finally win a Grand Tour stage. My teammates did a super job at keeping a fast pace for me early in the stage. Today it was wholly about the stage win, not the general classification. Full gas forward, I’m amazed and so very happy,” Yates added.

O’Connor remains general classification leader in Vuelta a Espana before the first rest day. Primoz Roglic is 03:53 minutes behind O’Connor. The courageous solo efforts by Adam Yates and Richard Carapaz catapulted the riders into the top ten of the general classification. Carapaz is now third, while Yates is seventh in the GC.

Monday will be the first rest day of this year’s La Vuelta a Espana. Tuesday’s stage 10 of La Vuelta a Espana 2024 will be a mountainous 160-kilometer ride from Ponteareas to Baiona. Expect more fireworks on the roads of Spain.

Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com for additional coverage from Vuelta a Espana 2024.

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