The 24-year-old Higuita from the German team Bora-hansgrohe finished second behind the Olympic champion in the sprint on Saturday (03/26/2022) after 167 kilometers Richard Carapaz (Ecuador/Ineos Grenadiers).
The duo had already broken away on the first climb of the day and successfully defended their lead on the Costa Daurada. Higuita took the Portuguese Joao Almeida (UAE Team Emirates) took off the overall leader’s jersey, and he is now also at the top in the mountains classification.
Second overall is Carapaz, 16 seconds behind. Almeida (+52 seconds) fell back to third place.
Valverde has given up
veteran Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), three-time winner of the Tour, retired before the penultimate stage. The 41-year-old Spaniard, who calculates his chances at the Ardennes classics in April, did not compete again due to allergy and respiratory problems.
Demanding final stage
The seventh and last stage on Sunday is 139 km long and starts and finishes in Barcelona. Higuita could become the fourth Colombian winner of the traditional stage race in northern Spain. However, a demanding day awaits the drivers: they have to climb Montjuic, the steep hill on which the 1992 Olympic Stadium stands, seven times alone.
Source: sid