Cyclist Wout Poels has won the stage race Ruta del Sol. The rider from Blitterswijck managed to defend his leader’s jersey with his success in the final stage, which finished uphill.
It is the seventh time that a Dutchman has won the Ruta del Sol, also known as the Tour of Andalusia. The last time was Joost Posthuma in 2009. Jan Krekels from Sittard was the first Dutch winner. This year exactly 50 years ago, in 1972.
To defend
Poels captured the leader’s jersey on Saturday after his victory in the fourth stage. He had to defend his yellow leader’s jersey in the final stage on Sunday. On the final climb to Chiclana de Segura, Poels managed to maintain himself fairly easily in the group with the other classification riders. In the last kilometer, Carlos Rodriguez, the number six in the general classification, attacked. He managed to thin out the pack considerably, but Poels did not let go and held on.
The final stage was won by the German Lennard Kämna.
Wout Poels wins the Ruta del Sol! The Dutchman does not let anyone escape on the last climb. Lennard Kämna wins today’s stage! #68RdS #UCIProSeries
Live on Eurosport or stream via discovery+ pic.twitter.com/HaqT9XsV3e
— Eurosport Netherlands (@Eurosport_NL) February 20, 2022
Second time
It is the third time that Poels has won a multi-day stage race. In 2016 he already won the Tour of Valencia and in 2008 the lesser-known Tour of Léon. On Saturday, Poels recorded a victory for the first time since 2019 by winning a stage.
Read also: Wout Poels wins fourth stage Ruta del Sol