Hola and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 18 of the Vuelta a España.
Today's stage in the Asturias mountains ends with the ninth and final mountain finish this year's Vuelta.
With the GC so close and Jumbo-Visma riders still racing each other, the stage could be the final show down and decide who goes on to win the Vuelta in Madrid.
The USA's Sepp Kuss leads but Jonas Vingegaard is now just eight seconds down, with Primoz Roglic third at 1:08.
Anything could happen today.
As the Cyclingnews blimp takes height, the team are signing on at the start. The sun is out.
As the map shows, the stage is deep into the Asturias countryside in northern Spain.
(Image credit: ASO/Unipublic)
The stage is about to start but the debate about yesterday's stage and the way Jumbo-Visma rages on.
Jumbo-Visma is the last team to sign on. It'll be fascinating to see how they race today.
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Stage 18 is underway.
➡ ¡La etapa 1️⃣8️⃣ está en marcha! 🔥 Último gran día en las preciosas montañas de Asturias.➡ Three, two, one … GO - stage 1️⃣8️⃣ is underway. Rolling out for our last day in the mountains from Pola de Allende La Cruz de Linares ❤️ 𝑷𝙤𝒍𝙖 𝙙𝒆 𝑨𝙡𝒍𝙖𝒏𝙙𝒆#LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/GdoAe0T8VxSeptember 14, 2023
The riders face a 3.7km neutralised section before the flag drops and racing starts.
Remco Evenepoel is tucked up behind the race director's car. He looks ready to attakc again.
Vamos!
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
They're off and the attacks start flying straight away.
Sepp Kuss spoke briefly before the stage start.
"I am in this position because I deserve it," the American told television before the roll out.
"I deserve the support of the team. I'm not someone who often demands a lot, but I have learned that you have to stand up for yourself every now and then."
(Image credit: Getty Images)
170km to go
The peloton is lined out at speed.
165km to go
Egan Bernal is on the move up front but there are several groups spread along the road.
The peloton has imposed a barrage on the front, stopping more attacks.
We may have the break of the day.
160km to go
Caja Rural have missed the attack and so do not want to let the move go, without one of their riders in it.
However the gap to the 14-rider attack is already 1:00.
Evenepoel is confirmed in the attack.
¡Tenemos un grupo de escapados! 1⃣4⃣ ciclistas, entre ellos, el líder de la montaña 💙🤍Evenepoel. 💨 We have a breakaway ! 1️⃣4️⃣ riders, including the current King of the Mountains 💙🤍Evenepoel.⏱️ 54"#LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/HuzHWpKfZmSeptember 14, 2023
Also there are Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious), Andreas Kron (Lotto-Dstny), Egan Bernal (Ineos), Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ) and Hugo Hofstetter (Arkéa-Samsic) , Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich) and Nico Denz (Bora-hansgrohe).
That's a quality breakaway.
155km to go
Riders in the peloton are stopping for a natural break. The gap to the attacks is up to 2:00 and growing.
Will Jumbo-Visma let them go and fight for the stage win? What will everyone else do?
The gap is up to 4:00. The break has gone!
Jumbo-Visma have placed their domestiques on the front to keep the break in check but the gap is up to 5:00.
145km to go
Evenepoel is back at his team car to take a bidon and some tactical advice.
Sepp Kuss spoke to Eurosport and other broadcasters at the start. He was cautious what could happen and the Jumbo-Visma tactics but he seems confident the team will help him today.
“There’s still hard stages to come and for sure the team will give me their support but yeah, I still have to deliver in the end. That’s still how the race will be decided,” he said.
"We’re definitely in a more comfortable position after yesterday. Anything can happen in cycling and stages like this but I’m still feeling really good. Yesterday we went super fast up the Angliru and I did my best. Today I feel fresh again and I’m looking forward to it."
Kuss accepted that a team leader is usually protected by his teammates but acknowledged that he may need to show more killer instinct.
"I’m always a more altruistic person than a ‘win at all costs; kind of guy but I also realise that to win, you need the killer instinct. I have to channel that every once and a while," Kuss said, convinced that Vingegaard and Roglic will back him.
"They’re the best, strongest guys you could have, so we’ll try to see the situation today and hope to manage it," he said.
"We're unified and we know what the differences are after the last stages, so, we have more breathing room now."
The opinion on social media and across the sport is that Kuss deserves to win the Vuelta, for his great performance in this year's race and for all the vital support he has given Roglic, Vingegaard and the team over the years.
Jumbo-Visma seem to have finally accepted that and may have decided to back Kuss from today. He will have to perform on the climb to the finish to merit that support for one last time on a mountain finish.
If Kuss keeps his lead today, then the road to the finish of the Vuelta is figuratively down hill.
(Image credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
135km to go
Robert Gesink (Jumbo-Visma) is leading the peloton but the gap is up to 6:50.
After a fast 45km opening kilometres, the riders are on the first categorised climb of the stage, the Alto de las Estacas.
It is 5.2 km long, at 7.4%, and we can expect Remco Evenepoel to sprint for the mountain points at the summit.
Evenepoel needs to ride a smart race if he also wants to win the stage.
The gap is up to 7:30 and so can score maximum KOM points without having to race hard and give his all in the break.
Remco Evenepoel confirmed he has two ambitions today.
“It seems to be a nice stage. A bit similar like the second stage I won, so probably a big fight again for the breakaway, and then we will see what it brings," he said.
"I’m excited for today and looking forward to it. I think it would be nice if I can just grab some more points on the road today, try to secure the jersey today, and then we’ll see by the end of the stage.
"If I’m in the breakaway first of all, and if the situation is good for my mountain jersey, then we can think for a stage win or not. We’ll have to see also how the legs feel after yesterday because it was quite an effort, but of course, if the situation is there, we will try to go for the jersey first of all, and then we hope for the stage win. It doesn’t have to be with me, but it can also be a teammate for today.”
These are the 14 rider in the break: Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious), Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek), Lewis Askey and Lorenzo Germani (Groupama-FDJ), Nico Denz (Bora-Hansgrohe), Jarrad Drizners and Andreas Kron (Lotto-Dstny), Andrea Piccolo (EF-EasyPost), Imanol Erviti (Movistar), Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich), Hugo Hofstetter (Arkea-Samsic) and Paul Ourselin (TotalEnergies).
130km to go
At the summit, Evenepoel briefly ups the pace and so leads the attack over the top to take the maximum KOM points.
He will surely secure mathematical victory in the blue polka-dot jersey competition today.
Etapa 1️⃣8⃣ Stage | 🏁 - 135 km💨 ¡La escapada se distancia! El pelotón al ritmo de @JumboVismaRoad permite que la ventaja aumente antes de la montaña.🚴♂️ The breakaway has established itself a big lead as Jumbo Visma set the pace and allow the gap to increase some more, just… pic.twitter.com/yc1WEgYzU4September 14, 2023
Sepp Kuss looks calm and in control for now, as he rides in the slipstream of his teammates.
The riders can enjoy a 30km valley rode to the foot of the Puerto de San Lorenzo climb.
However the Puerto de San Lorenzo is then a 10 km climb at 8.5% and goes up to over 1000 metres of altitude. It will hurt.
¡🇧🇪 @EvenepoelRemco cada vez más líder de la Montaña! El belga suma 5⃣ puntos más. ➕ 5 points for Remco on the Alto de las Estacas.💙🤍9⃣6⃣ pts - Evenepoel5⃣1⃣ pts - Vingegaard#LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/7mW02TPmW3September 14, 2023
112km to go
Tick, tock, tick tock. Second by second, kilometre after kilometre, the lead of the break away goes up and up.
It is now 9:20 and still rising as Dylan van Baarle and Robert Gesink ride tempo at the head of the peloton.
105km to go
The gap is up to 10:00 and Jumbo-Visma are clearly letting it slide.
UAE Team Emirates are sat behind Gesink and van Baarle but for now they are not upping the pace.
99km to go
The Puerto de San Lorenzo is a nasty climb. It's 10km long at an average of 8.5% but comes in two steps, with a flat section in the middle.
That means the gradients are actually steeper.
The gradient will hurt some in the break and the GC peloton.
As expected, the break is splitting.
95km to go
The steady Jumbo tempo in the peloton is still hurting some riders.
Hugh Carthy is at the back and seems to be struggling to hold the wheel.
The break is less than three kilometres from the summit of the climb.
Evenepoel or any of the better climbers have not attacked. They know it is better for them to ride together and share the work in the 90km to race.
The only riders dropped so far are Lorenzo Germani (Groupama) and Hugo Hofstetter (Arkéa Samsic).
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Evenepoel again leads the break to the summit and takes maximum KOM points.
He's getting closer and closer to securing victory in the mountains competition.
(Image credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Riders in the GC group collect bidons and musettes near the summit of the climb.
It's important to eat and drink now, to be fueled for the finale and the climb to the finish.
The 2023 Vuelta a España completes the high mountain stages on Thursday with the ninth and a double ascent and final summit finish on the ultra-steep Puerto de la Cruz de Linares.
Alasdair Fotheringham has covered the Vuelta many times and knows the Asturias well.
He wrote this detailed preview of the stage. It includes all the information needed to understand how the stage will unfold.
There is a tense quiet in the break and the peloton as the riders count down the kilometres to the two-climb show down.
64km to go
The break can see the short but steep Alto de Tenebredo climb ahead of them.
It is only 3.4 km but has a 9.3% average gradient. It could see Evenepoel make a first move to split the break.
Stand by for action.
60km to go
Like a python, Evenepoel is tightening his grip on the break and slowly eliminating then one by one.
However he will have to be careful about the likes of Caruso, Kron, Poole and perhaps even Bernal.
At the summit, only Poole, Caruso, Bernard, Piccolo, Kron, Ourselin and Bernal are able to stay on Evenepoel's wheel.
Yes, Evenepoel was first to the top again. He scored a further 3 points in the KOM competition.
Julien Bernard and Andrea Piccolo may get back on during the descent but the others are perhaps cast to the wind.
We're into the final 50km of the stage.
It's been controlled so far but the double climb of the ultra-steep Puerto de la Cruz de Linares should change all that.
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers), Damiano Caruso (Bahrain-Victorious), Max Poole (Team DSM-firmenich), Hugo Hofstetter (Arkea-Samsic), Andreas Kron (Lotto-Dstny), Andrea Piccolo (EF-EasyPost), Julien Bernard (Lidl-Trek) and Paul Ourselin (TotalEnergies) remain out front.
The Jumbo peloton is at 11:35 now. The GC riders have lost any chance of winning the stage but will surely fight it out on the final climb.
That gives us two narratives to follow: Evenepoel going for the stage victory and then the Kuss-Roglic-Vingegaard face off.
Will Roglic and/or Vingegaard dare to attack Kuss yet again?
40km to go
Gesink and Van Baarle are still riding tempo on the front of the GC group.
That's another huge show of team work for Jumbo-Visma. We will soon see if there is similar team loyalty amongst the team leader.
35km to go
Evenepoel is doing long turns on the front and the others seem happy to let him.
They might try to attack him later.
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Kron has gone! He attacked first but then was soon dropped.
Just Evenepoel, Caruso and Young British climber Poole are left up front.
Poole is only 20 but is showing his climbing talents.
30km to go
The first passage of the Puerto de la Cruz de Linares climb is coming up fast.
The speed is up in the peloton as teams fight for position for the start of the 8.3 km, 8.6% climb.
The climb starts with Tratnik and van Baarle still leading for Jumbo.
Evenepoel continues to stomp on the pedals as behind him both Poole and Caruso seem to be hurting.
Or are they playing poker?
In the GC group, Bahrain have moved up to the front to again try to hurt Ayuso and Mas.
Up front Evenepoel has gone. Caruso and then Poole cracked after just a few powerful pedal strokes
He is now on a solo ride to another stage victory. However he faces a tough 28km alone up front.
25km to go
Four Bahrain riders lead the GC group, with Kuss just behind in the red jersey and Vingegaard, Roglic and the rest just behind.
Poole reaches the summit more than 1:00 down on Evenepoel but that's a superb ride from the 20-year-old Briton.
Evenepoel is diving down the descent but knows he does not have to take too many risks.
Poole has pulled back a few seconds on Evenepoel on the descent but now the Belgian is ticked in his aero road position and riding at speed in the valley road back to the climb.
This time he will ride to the finish line and surely another stage win.
Meanwhile the peloton reach the top of the climb at 11:25.
There is little GC aggression for now and no problems for Kuss to stay with Vingegaard and Roglic.
10km to go
Kuss leads Vingegaard by just eight seconds in the GC after yesterday's racing, with Roglic at 1:08.
We'll soon see if Vingegaard and Roglic will dare to attack and distance Kuss to try to take the overall lead.
Perhaps the team have realised that open racing like that is not fair to Kuss after his performance at this Vuelta and the work he has done for his teammates over the years.
(Image credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Gap has gone out to two minutes before the last climb of #LaVuelta23!Come on, @EvenepoelRemco! pic.twitter.com/uInQenxySbSeptember 14, 2023
7km to go
Evenepoel is on a mission and heading to victory.
In the GC group, UAE have taken over on the front after Vlasov of Bora made an attack.
The fight for the GC top ten has begun. Vlasov is hoping to get the jump on his rivals thanks to help from teammate Nico Denz.
6km to go
Evenepoel stares up the road. He knows that victory is coming soon.
Vlasov leads the GC group by 10 seconds and so his chances have ended. The Russian will now have race his GC rivals face to face on the climb to the finish.
Ayuso leads Landa by just 16 seconds and so that will be another battle on the climb, as well as the Jumbo leadership shakeout.
Wout Poels is upping the pace to set-up Landa.
Evenepoel is just 4km from the finish and from victory.
This will be his 50th career victory.
Behind the GC leaders catch Vlasov.
The GC group is 11:00 behind Evenepoel and so still have a lot of climbing and suffering to come.
Landismo is happening.
The Basque rider is dancing on the pedals and splitting the GC group. Almeida is dropped.
But Jumbo-Visma trio of Vingegaard, Kuss and Roglic soon take over.
Ayuso is there, Mas too.
Landa knows he need to gain 16 seconds on Ayuso to move up to fourth, while Mas is only 14 behind Landa.
It's a battle to be the best Spanish rider.
Vingegaard is clearly riding for Kuss at the moment.
Landa goes again and Ayuso goes with him but Jumbo don't move.
Jumbo appear to finally be riding for Kuss' race lead.
Up the road, Evenepoel is about to win the stage.
Evenepoel points to his head to indicate his mental strength.
He won't win this Vuelta but this is an incredible ride across the three weeks.
Evenepoel makes a heart shape with his hands as he wins the stage.
Evenepoel celebrates with his Soudal team staff. He is very proud of this win.
It's his third stage won and today he also mathematically sealed victory in the mountains competition.
The Kuss group is 3km from the finish. The American looks good and in control.
Vingegaard is leading Roglic and Kuss. He seems to be respecting Kuss' race lead.
Now Kuss has to stay with them all the way to the line.
Damiano Caruso finishes second on the stage but 4:40 down on Evenepoel.
Other riders, including Poole and Kron finish too.
Ayuso tries to attack but it is Kuss jumps on his wheel. He is on control.
Ayuso goes again. upsetting the Jumbo control.
He wants to gain time on Landa but is soon caught.
Here they come.
There is no change in the GC group.
Enric Mas bring them home.
Kuss was there, while Vingegaard perhaps eased up and lost a few seconds.
That strengthens Kuss lead for the final stages.
Kuss thanks Vingegaard and heads to the podium. He keeps the red jersey and will wear for Friday's flat stage to Íscar. His biggest, final danger is Saturday's 207km hilly stage to Guadarrama but He and Jumbo seem in total control.
Here is the moment Evenepoel won the stage.
(Image credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
"The heart message at the finish was form my wife Oumi," Evenepoel revealed.
"She said that if I took my third victory I had to dedicate it got her."
Evenepoel was confident today.
“I felt I was the strongest in the group and didn’t have to waste any time, I just had to go for it,” he said of his 30km attack.
“I felt the legs were super good today and I had a better day like on stage 14. It’s an amazing stage to win again. It was an super good opportunity to take points for my jersey.”
Vingegaard lost nine seconds to Kuss at the finish and so is now second at 17 seconds.
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Primoz Roglic finished in the same time as Kuss and so is third at 1:08.
Now it's down to Kuss and Jumbo to defend his lead all the way to Madrid.
Saturday's hilly stage will be the most testing stage but Kuss seemed strong today, despite all the tension about leadership and third being his third Grand Tour of 2023.
Remco Evenepoel wanted to win the GC at the Vuelta buty hasa found consolation after his bad day on the stage to the Tourmalet.
"After my off day, I had to turn the page and go for the stages. I won three of the most beautiful stages in the Vuelta and I took the mountains jersey, so I think it’s been an amazing vuelta even though the GC plan didn’t work out. We can be very proud," he said.
"It’s amazing to finish the stage with such good feelings and to have such good legs at the end of the Vuelta. It means I’m still improving and that I just had a bit of a bad second week. I think we should be happy and proud."
(Image credit: MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP via Getty Images)
This shot encompasses the day for Jumbo-Visma.
They riders and team appear to have understood that it is right that Vingegaard and Roglic do not attack their teammate and race leader Sepp Kuss.
(Image credit: Tim de Waele/Getty Images)
Sepp Kuss looks tired but happy after the stage.
Is the Vuelta won he was asked.
"It's getting closer," Kuss said. "Tomorrow is a bit of an easier stage but you have to stay focused. Stage 20 will be a long and hard stage. We're out of the big mountains but there are always some tough ones."
Here's a happy Sepp Kuss on the podium in the leader's red jersey.
(Image credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
"I knew today was gonna be another really important day. And I knew I had to be really concentrated and also have a good performance today to, to be able to stay in the jersey," Kuss told Eurosport/GCN.
"I have to thank thank the guys for helping me and keeping it together. It was a nice experience and I have to thank them."
Kuss admitted there had been an important team meeting at Jumbo-Visma last night to decide the team's strategy. They appear to have decided to back Kuss for overall victory.
"We had a lot of meetings actually because during the race, it's not always so simple with two leaders and then with three leaders, it makes it even more complicated," Kuss said.
"I have to say that that there was always the support from, from the directors.
"It's always difficult to see from the outside what's going on but I felt good support from the directors and also today from, from the guys. We made a a clear plan for what we would do today."
To read our full stage report on all the action of stage 18 and to see our growing photo gallery and see the full results, click below.
