Sport director Addy Engels saw that his team got through the day well. “Although from the sidelines, the stage looked easier than it was. It was a long stage of almost two hundred kilometres in the Spanish heat. I saw many riders in the peloton struggling. That will certainly make a difference in the coming days”, Engels said.

Soon after the finish, the sports director was already thinking about tomorrow. “Tomorrow’s final climb will be long and hard. It will be scorching again and the stage is also long. The final climb will differ from what we’ve seen so far this Vuelta.”

“I expect a group of escapees to fight for the day’s victory”, Engels looked ahead. “Controlling the race is becoming increasingly difficult. Several teams have already lost several riders. I expect something from the GC riders tomorrow. We have to benefit from the opportunities that are coming our way. So even though the weekend will be tough, we’re not going to wait for it to seize our chances.”