BARCELONA, 16 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Belgian cyclist Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) won the 4.95 kilometer time trial in Alcaudete this Friday and has conquered the reduced 70th Vuelta a Andalucía – Ruta del Sol – after the cancellation of the weekend stages – ahead of the Spanish Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates).
From the five stages that this 70th edition of the Ruta del Sol had, it was reduced, after a first reduction, to three stages. But finally, after the presence of the security forces continued to be impossible due to the 'tractorada' of protest in Andalusia, the organization was forced to cancel the Saturday and Sunday stages and leave this Andalusian round in the bare 4.95 kilometers of this chrono
So Maxim Van Gils, who was not the leader of his team for this time trial, took the time trial on the cobbled and steep streets of Alcaudete to win the overall and this eventful edition that came close to not being able to even be celebrated.
With a time of 8:17 minutes and an average pace of 35.855 kilometers per hour, the Belgian beat the Spaniard Juan Ayuso by 10 seconds, who was left with honey on his lips and tied in times with the third place finisher, the Italian Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain-Victorious).
Fourth was the Ecuadorian from Caja Rural-Seguros RGA Jefferson Cepeda, 13 seconds behind Van Gils, while the also Belgian Tim Wellens completed the 'Top 5' 14 seconds behind the winner. Spaniards Marc Soler (UAE Team Emirates) and Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar Team) were ninth and tenth, respectively.