The Colombian “Supermán” López achieved an almost definitive victory
The Colombian Miguel Angel “Superman” Lopez (Team Medellín) claimed vindication after his exclusion from the World Tour with a solo exhibition in the queen stage of the Vuelta a San Juan disputed between Chimbas and Alto Colorado with a 173.3-kilometer route, becoming a clear favorite to win the ultimate victory.
López, recently fired from Astana and the World Tour for being linked to the investigations in the case of trafficking of prohibited substances together with the Spanish doctor Marcos Maynar, gave a blow of pride, courage and authority in the Vuelta a San Juan on the appointed day and with the Medellín jersey, a team that prevented “Supermán” from having to hang up the flying cape.
Demonstration on the Colorado
In a show of force, López attacked at the end, responding to a blow from Evenepoel that made it impossible for the Belgian to escape with 10 km to go. The Colombian returned to demarcate 6 of the banner located in Alto Colorado, at more than 2,700 meters of altitude, this time to go alone making the pursuit of his rivals useless. A master stroke.
López entered the finish line hitting his chest, in a message of “here I am”, a necessity for a podium man in Giro y Vuelta who wants to return to the World Tour. He stopped the clock in 4:07:10, at an average of 42.3 km/hour. From behind he became desperate chasing the Ineos giant Filippo Ganna, but the double world champion against the clock arrived half a minute behind the winner.
The podium of the stage was closed by the Colombian champion Sergio Huguita (Bora Hasngrohe), 38 seconds behind, preceding Egan Bernal (Ineos) and his compatriot from Movistar Einer Rubio. The world champion Remco Evenepoel was eliminated, who gave up 1.09 at the finish line.
In a mountainous area where gold abounds, an enormous resource for the region’s economy, López found that precious metal in the form of a victory, the most sought after in his life, at a crucial moment. He is already the clear favorite to win the Vuelta a San Juan. He is the albiceleste jersey of the round, followed by Ganna, 30 seconds away, Higuita, 44, and Bernal and Einer Rubio, 50. Evenepoel says goodbye to the general standings, 1.20 minutes behind.
The queen stage was the “D-day” of the favourites, of the big names, and they appeared in the last 10 km, when the real battle began. Until then, a group of 7 riders livened up the stage with a break, highlighting the Italian Tarozzi and the Argentine Messineo, who endured the revolt until the greats raised their voices.