Stage 15 of the Vuelta a España delivered a dramatic and gruelling day of racing, culminating in a punishing climb to the summit of Cuitu Negru. The 19-kilometre ascent, with gradients reaching nearly 25%, proved decisive as the peloton splintered and the race for the red jersey intensified.
The stage began with an aggressive fight for the breakaway. Early on, a group of riders attempted to escape, with Max Poole and Chris Hamilton playing key roles in bridging gaps. Despite multiple attacks, it wasn’t until after the first climb that a breakaway of six riders finally established itself. The peloton, driven by the general classification teams, kept the pace high, ensuring that the gap never grew too large.
As the race approached the final climb, the group of favourites, whittled down to around 25 riders, began to position themselves for the decisive battle. With just over 3 kilometres to go, Pablo Castrillo launched a solo attack from the breakaway. The young Spaniard, who had already won a stage earlier in the race, appeared to be setting himself up for another victory. However, Aleksandr Vlasov, who had been part of the chase group, managed to close the gap, leading to a tense, side-by-side struggle on the brutally steep slopes.
In the final kilometre, as the gradient ramped up to 24%, Castrillo dug deep to create a small but significant gap. Vlasov, unable to respond, had to settle for second place as Castrillo crossed the finish line 12 seconds ahead, securing his second stage win of the Vuelta.
Meanwhile, further down the road, the general classification battle was in full swing. Primož Roglič, supported by his Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe teammates, made his move with 2 kilometres remaining, distancing race leader Ben O’Connor. Enric Mas, however, was able to catch Roglič on the steepest section, and the two crossed the line together, 1:04 behind Castrillo. O’Connor, fighting to limit his losses, finished 38 seconds later, with his overall lead reduced to just 43 seconds.
The drama didn’t end there, as Roglič was handed a 20-second penalty for drafting behind his team car during a bike change before the final climb. This penalty extended his deficit to O’Connor to 1:03, adding further intrigue to the battle for the red jersey as the race heads into its final week.
Rider Reactions
Pablo Castrillo, elated with his second victory, admitted his surprise at the outcome. “The truth is I didn’t expect it. This morning I came with the intention to make the break and see how it would go, but I didn’t expect to get there in a position to win. The first victory was unbelievable, but to get a second one is a dream.”
Primož Roglič, reflecting on a tough day, remained positive despite the penalty. “It was a tough day today. It’s still better to win something than lose something. I’m very happy,” he said, acknowledging the difficulties he faced on the less steep sections of the climb. “I was more suffering with the less steep gradients. So, yeah, in the end, it was quite fine.”
Enric Mas, buoyed by his strong finish, expressed confidence in his performance. “My confidence has always been 100%,” he said. “The other day [on Puerto de Ancares] I believed it was just a bad moment, and today it looks like that was the case.” Mas’s performance on the final climb allowed him to gain valuable time on both Roglič and O’Connor, keeping his hopes alive as the race heads into its final stages.
Sepp Kuss, who finished eighth, described the final climb as “insane” and looked forward to the upcoming rest day. “The second week was tough. There was not a single stage where we could ride in saving mode,” Kuss said, reflecting on the relentless nature of the race.
As the riders take a well-deserved rest day, the tension in the general classification battle remains high, with Roglič, O’Connor, and Mas all still in contention for the overall victory. The final week promises more thrilling racing as the Vuelta approaches its conclusion in Madrid.
2024 Vuelta a Espana Stage 15 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
