Lopez won the 15th stage of the Tour of Spain

Photo: Jose Jordan, Agence France-Presse
The Colombian Rider Miguel Angel Lopez

Alto Hoya de la Mora, Spain — Colombian Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) has won his second stage victory in the Tour of Spain 2017 Sunday at the summit of the Sierra Nevada, in Andalusia, where the red jersey Chris Froome has controlled his rivals before the second rest day on Monday.

It was expected of the offensive scale in this short 15th step (129 km), which ended more than 2500 m altitude, but Froome and his team Sky annihilated all attempts : the attack away from the Spanish Alberto Contador, left with Lopez before crimping, and the transient acceleration of the Italian Vicenzo Nibali.

In short, in the long ramps very exposed to the wind of the Alto Hoya de la Mora, the audacity has not paid.

And if Contador has been a time on the podium virtual of this Vuelta, this is the Russian Ilnur Zakarin (Katusha) who moved to the provisional third place after being left in the wheels the whole step before starting with opportunism in the last kilometer.

Runner with plenty of stamina

One thing is for sure : when the road rises, one of the men who most shaped this Vuelta is the Colombian Lopez, he will need to follow closely in the third and last week.

Already a winner on Wednesday at Calar Alto, second Saturday at The Pandera, “Superman” Lopez (23 years old) proved irresistible in the 15th step.

Party in the wheel of Contador, he has taken over most of the escapees, including the French Romain Bardet. And after having distanced the Spanish, the Colombian has swallowed the human’s head, the British Adam Yates, and won solo.

“I am delighted to have won here and at Calar Alto. This is the reward of the work of the team, which has proved to be very active, was pleased with Lopez. I’m out in the wheel of Contador, who has placed a nice attack from afar. I had good legs and it went very well. “

He is 6th in the general 2 minutes and 51 seconds, with surely want to watch more top… provided to limit the case Tuesday in the timed race.

This is shaping up as one of the turning points of this Vuelta : the one-against-the-shows individual of the race (40.2 km) in Logroño, ran on a plot almost flat in the vineyards of la Rioja, may allow Froome to take off in the general.