Rui Costa overshadows Evenepoel in Lekunberri and Kuss maintains the lead

MADRID, 10 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Portuguese cyclist Rui Costa (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) has been awarded this Sunday the fifteenth stage of the Vuelta a España in the sprint, held over 158.5 kilometers between Pamplona and Lekunberri and starring again a brave Remco Evenepoel (Soudal Quick -Step), while the American Sepp Kuss (Jumbo-Visma) retains the leader’s red jersey.

The 36-year-old Portuguese, who had not won a stage in a grand tour since the year in which he became world champion (2013), attacked on the last climb to Zuarrarrate and won in a reduced sprint over the German Lennard Kämna ( Bora-hansgrohe) and the Colombian Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious).

After them came the Belgian Evenepoel, who for the second consecutive stage starred in the breakaway of the day but who this time could not repeat the success achieved on Saturday in Belagua, where he was able to make up for the disaster experienced on Friday by leaving 27 minutes.

This Monday, the runners will enjoy their second and last day of rest in Santander before starting the final week of the Spanish round, which will begin with a stage, the sixteenth, of 120.5 kilometers between Liencres and Bejes with a high finish, with 14% ramps on the way up to the second category port.