Australian Kaden Groves has won the first sprint finish of the 78th Tour of Spain. After 184.6 kilometers from Andorra to Tarragona, the 24-year-old professional cyclist won in a mass sprint ahead of Colombian Juan Sebastian Molano and Belgian Edward Theuns. German drivers played no role in the decision.
In the overall standings, everything stays the same. The Belgian time trial world champion and last year’s winner Remco Evenepoel, who had won the mountain finish in Andorra-Arinsal the day before, is still five seconds ahead of the Spaniard Enric Mas. Danish Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard is fourth, 31 seconds back.
Evenepoel, meanwhile, stressed that his fall in the finish area the day before wasn’t too bad. The injuries – the young star had suffered a laceration on the head – are superficial. “Shit happens. I was lucky,” said Evenepoel, who collided with a journalist after crossing the finish line in Andorra.
Police apparently prevented an act of sabotage
Meanwhile, the Spanish police apparently prevented an act of sabotage. According to the authorities, plans to sabotage the oil-covered cycle race on a section of the third stage through Catalonia were foiled. Officials arrested four people when they planted two large barrels containing around 400 liters of an oil-like substance above a stretch of road on Saturday, a statement said. It has not been ruled out that they could be supporters of the Catalan separatist movement. At first, nothing was said about the possible motive of those arrested.
The barrels, camouflaged with vegetation, were connected to a hose in the Solsonès region, halfway between Barcelona and Andorra, through which the oil was to be directed onto the roadway. It was supposed to be triggered using an electrically controlled valve that was connected to a timer.
On Wednesday, the Vuelta continues with the fifth stage over 186.5 kilometers from Morella to Burriana. It goes over undulating terrain with a mountain of the second category, which has to be mastered 50 kilometers before the finish.
