Photo Credit: Cor Vos
After an intense day of all-out racing, Team DSM and Michael Storer doubled up at the Vuelta a España in spectacular fashion – with Storer and the team celebrating their second win of the race in Rincón de la Victoria.
With a rest day behind them, the Vuelta a España peloton were back in action for a 189 kilometre long stage from Roquetas de Mar to Rincón de la Victoria. Evidently well rested, it was a fierce start to the day with an infernal pace set at the front of the peloton as teams and riders looked to get clear, with Team DSM rotating well in covering the moves. Eventually after roughly 80 kilometres of racing the elastic snapped and a large 31 rider group featuring Thymen Arensman, Martijn Tusveld and Michael Storer broke clear.
Working well together and with the pace easing off in the peloton, the breakaway was able to extend their advantage to over 12 minutes as they headed into the first and only categorised climb of the day. Things became tactical and a four rider splinter group got clear, with Arensman riding strongly in the chase for the team to keep the gap close. On the lower slopes of the climb things regrouped and the attacks started again. Remaining calm, Tusveld and Arensman helped to position Storer who came to the fore as the gradient started to bite in the final four kilometres of the climb.
Pushing on at the front, Storer created a gap over the rest of the reduced breakaway, continuing to drive hard over the top of the ascent where he held onto a 15 second lead over Champoussin and 35 seconds over the group of chasers. Taking the sinuous descent perfectly he managed to extend the lead over Champoussin, who was joined by a few others, as the race charged towards the finish. Driving all the way under the flamme rouge, Storer sat up and soaked in the applause from the local crowds, putting his arms aloft to celebrate a brilliant second Vuelta stage win for Team DSM.
Source: www.team-dsm.com
