Friday’s stage 7 of La Vuelta Espana 2024 invited the remaining riders in the Vuelta peloton to a battle in hilly terrain on a 180.5-kilometer route from Archidona to Cordoba. While the terrain was hilly and featured one Category Two climb thirty kilometers before the stage finish, the route included many sections on slightly downward slopes, which meant speed and intensity could possibly dominate parts of the stage action.

Australian Ben O’Connor had taken the stage victory in yesterday’s stage 6 after a courageous solo effort. The Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale rider had shown true grit by even fighting on following a downhill crash and maintaining a significant time advantage all the way to the finish line, thereby also banking a significant lead of almost five minutes over Primoz Roglic in the General Classification of this year’s La Vuelta.

Yesterday’s stage had started inside a Carrefour supermarket, but the Slovenian rider and his Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammates must have forgotten to stock up on Red Bull energy drinks before they left the building, as they were unable to reel in Australian O’Connor before the finish line in Yunquera.

Yesterday’s stage 6 had alas also brought serious crashes upon some unfortunate riders in the peloton. Rigoberto Uran had been forced to abandon this year’s La Vuelta – the final Grand Tour of his long and impressive career – after suffering a fractured greater trochanter. A significant disappointment for the charming Colombian rider from Team EF Education-EasyPost. Denmark’s Andreas Kron (Lotto-Dstny) had suffered a concussion and could not start today’s stage 7.

Stage 7 of Vuelta a Espana got off to a fine start in Archidona, but following yesterday’s challenging battles on the roads of Spain, only the Euskaltel-Euskadi team was prepared to send riders into breakaway efforts. The rolling oranges launched Xabier Isasa into a solo attack and the Spanish rider had fought his way to a lead of no less than eight minutes after 45 kilometers of racing – and 135 kilometers remaining.

With eighty kilometers left of the stage, Isasa had an advantage of approximately five minutes over the chasing peloton, which was led by riders from Decathlon-AG2R-La Mondiale in support of their race leader Ben O’Connor, who was flying the beautiful red jersey under the Spanish sun.

Sixty kilometers from the finish line, Isasa’s lead had been reduced to about three minutes.

Thirty-five kilometers from the finish line, Isasa approached the Alto del 14% (yes, it is indeed called Alto del 14%) with a time advantage of less than one minute, while television images were starting to show famous sights and attractions from the city of Cordoba.

The peloton was spearheaded by riders from UAE Team Emirates, Team Visma-Lease a Bike, and Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe. The riders were setting a fast pace to reach the climb at maximum speed.

Isasa was caught with thirty-eight kilometers left and the peloton pressed on at a fast pace. 

GC favorites were at the front of the peloton on the Alto del 14% climb. Primoz Roglic (Red Bull – Bora – Hansgrohe), Sepp Kuss (Team Visma - Lease a Bike), Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), and other stars were spotted. Carapaz tested his competitors repeatedly.

Roglic took the maximum bonus seconds at the top of the climb. Kuss was second, and Carapaz took the remaining seconds.

Sprinter Kaden Groves crashed but got back on his bike and charged on for his Alpecin-Deceuninck team.

Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) attacked on the descent with twenty-one kilometers left of the stage.

When eighteen kilometers remained, Soler had a lead of twelve seconds over the chasers.

Wout van Aert launched a solo attack to bridge the gap to Soler and take an additional stage victory. However, the main peloton caught the Belgian rider and neutralized the attack.

Soler was caught by a reduced peloton group with less than four kilometers left. American Sepp Kuss had led the chase in impressive fashion.

David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) tried his luck with less than two kilometers left. He was caught shortly thereafter.

Wout van Aert launched a powerful sprint in the final meters and took his second stage victory in this year’s La Vuelta a Espana. An impressive feat by the Belgian star rider. Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) finished second, while Pau Miquel (Team Kern Pharma) completed the stage podium.

O’Connor remains La Vuelta leader. The Australian rider is 04:45 minutes ahead of Primoz Roglic. Joao Almeida in in third place, 04:59 minutes behind the surprise race leader.

Saturday’s stage 8 of La Vuelta a Espana 2024 will be a short, but intensive 159-kilometer ride from Ubeda to Cazorla. The stage is again in hilly terrain. The stage features a Category Two climb two-thirds into the stage, while the stage concludes with a Category 3 climb to Cazorla.

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

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