ALICANTE, Spain (AP) - Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel powers to victory on the individual time trial on stage 10 to extend his overall lead in the Vuelta a Espana.
He accomplished that in style and now also sees himself in position to take the general classification title as well.
The Belgian rider from team Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl pulled off an impressive time-trial victory in the 10th stage in Alicante, increasing his overall lead.
Evenepoel was 48 seconds faster than second-place Primoz Roglic, taking his general classification lead over the three-time defending champion to 2 minutes, 41 seconds with 11 stages left.
Evenepoel is the first rider to beat Roglic in an individual time trial in the Vuelta. He is also the first Belgian to win an individual time trial in the Vuelta since Fons De Wolf in Valladolid in 1979.
Enric Mas, the Spaniard from team Movistar, dropped from second to third in the general classification, sitting more than three minutes off the lead. Fellow Spaniard Carlos Rodriguez was nearly four minutes behind Evenepoel in fourth place.
Riders will face a flat Stage 11 that will favor the sprinters on.
Nearly two dozen riders had to withdraw from the race because of positive coronavirus tests, including Sam Bennett, a two-time stage winner this year.
The rest day came in handy for Astana rider Alexey Lutsenko, who took advantage of the time off to be with his wife for the birth of his son.