After four flat stages with opportunities for the sprinters and a rest day, it was time for the fifth stage in the Vuelta a San Juan on Friday, a stage race through Argentina. On the menu was a tough ride from Chimbas to Alto Colorado, with a nine-mile final climb averaging 4 percent to cap it off. On that climb, Evenepoel placed an attack ten kilometers from the end. Usually that ends well for the Belgian, this time the penny did not fall in the Belgian’s direction.
Evenepoel fell silent and then saw López accelerate. Sergio Higuita, Egan Bernal and Filippo Ganna joined López, but no sign of Evenepoel. ‘Superman’ López eventually remained with Higuita, but his compatriot also had to get off. From the background, Filippo Ganna tried to bring back his leader Egan Bernal, who had recovered from a heavy crash. However, the time trial specialist himself made a stronger impression and received the green light from the team management in the final kilometers to make an attempt towards López.
It did not work. Ganna made up ground but hung on and eventually finished half a minute behind in second behind López, who is also the new leader. Behind no less than five Colombian riders, the disappointed Evenepoel finished seventh at more than a minute.
López was fired from Astana this winter for allegedly having close ties to a controversial ‘doping doctor’. López signed a one-year contract with the Colombian team Medellín EPM, which plays on the continental level. The Colombian is often negative in the news. For example, he got off in the penultimate stage of the Vuelta in 2021 because he did not agree with the team management. Important detail: he was third in the standings.
The Vuelta a San Juan has two more flat stages and ends on Sunday.