The breakaway resisted to the return of the peloton at the end of a stage in Cantabria. The 22 kilometer climb Puerto de San Glorio had to be covered halfway through the stage. The leaders of the World Team for the general classification reached the finish line without time loss on their competitors, in company of Rein Taaramäe and Jan Bakelants, on the eve of an important weekend in Asturias.
« We had quite some bad luck during the first week of this Vuelta, with the crash of Gerben Thijssen and the loss of Jan Hirt. But after seven days of racing our leaders for the general classification Domenico Pozzovivo and Louis Meintjes are on the right track for a top ten in Madrid, knowing that the mountain stages suiting them best await in the second week. It will be a tough battle, because we've seen in Pico Jano yesterday that the level of the climbers in this Vuelta is very high. » « Thanks to Jan Bakelants and Julius Johansen we were represented three times in the breakaway so far. Jan will continue seizing opportunities in breakaways with Rein Taaramäe, in order to chose a stage win. Day after day, Gerben Thijssen is gaining strength as his injuries are healing. He is making progression uphill. Julius Johansen and Boy van Poppel will continue supporting him to get through the upcoming hard weekend in Asturias, so he can seize the next sprint opportunity on Wednesday. »
