Hola and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of stage 14 of the Vuelta a España.
As the Cyclingnews live blimp takes height, the riders are rolling towards the official start.
Today's stage is over 156.5km but there is a 9.1km neutralised section before the official start.
This is the stage profile.
(Image credit: ASO/Unipublic)
The stage starts on the flatter roads between Pau and the coast but soon climbs high into the Pyrenees.
The opening 50 kilometres are in the valley roads, perhaps making it difficult for a break to get away. Then the 11km Col Hourcere on the Spanish border will hurt, and so will the Puerto de Larrau.
The profile of the Puerto de Larrau includes lots of dark red sectors, confirming gradients over 10%. A dip near the summit reduces the average gradient to 8.9% across the 14.9km climb but this will hurt.
The stage seems ideal for a quality breakaway from the best climbers in the Vuelta but the mountain finish atop the Puerto de Belagua at 1587m also offers an opportunity for the GC contenders to attack and gain some seconds on their rivals.
1km until the flag drops.
We're expecting lots of attacks from riders trying to get in the break of the day.
We're still trying to take in what happened yesterday. It was a huge stage.
They're off!
And the pace is high, with Thomas De Gendt upping the pace.
Wow! Remco Evenepoel is also up front, trying to get in the break of the day.
Evenepoel is out of the GC battle but is clearly keen to fight back.
150km to go
The attacks are constantly chased down and then a new attack goes.
Bam! He goes again. Remco Evenepoel has attacked again.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Nelson Oliveira (Movistar) is with Evenepoel but the peloton is moving fast too.
140km to go
Evenepoel is pushing on with his attack.
This was the start.
⏪⚡ Arranca la etapa y vemos los primeros ataques. 👀 ¿Será día para la fuga hoy? 💨 Attacks from the drop of the flag! Could be a big fight for the breakaway today.#LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/Rsas2D1QxYSeptember 9, 2023
Eight riders have joined Evenepoel as they race at 50km/h.
Geraint Thomas is also there, but the peloton is not letting them go.
Etapa 1️⃣4⃣ Stage | 🏁 - 142 km🚴♂️Con unos metros por delante del pelotón:🚴♂️ With a few metres advantage over the peloton:🇧🇪 @EvenepoelRemco - @soudalquickstep 🇵🇹 @Nelsoliveira89 - @Movistar_Team #LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/p8LL5Zl3GrSeptember 9, 2023
The peloton is 300 metres long as the Evenepoel group is caught.
Gruppo compatto.
135km to go
More attacks!
130km to go
The riders are blasting through corn fields on flat roads.
There are more attacks but equally as many chases.
Teams are trying to get their domestiques and climbers in the break but they face 50km of flat roads before the mountains begin.
Ouch!
The average speed for the opening 30 minutes is 51.6km/h. That will hurt.
Evenepoel is on the attack again.
This is a show of real pride from the young Belgian.
Other riders have joined him as the high-speed racing continues.
There are 20 or so riders in the attack, including several sprinters, who are perhaps trying to avoid any risks with the time cut later on.
The riders are working together and the peloton has let them open a 40-second gap.
Could this be the move of the day?
The break has gone but other riders are trying to get across.
UAE do not seem happy with the break and are leading the chase.
That keeps Jumbo-Visma happy, they have needed to chase at all yet.
110km to go
Several teams have missed the breakaway and so are leading the chase.
But the gap is up to 1:00 as the 24 riders work together in a chaingang.
Riders grab a bidon and a musette for a quick feed.
It's 34C out on the road and so liquids and ice are vital.
105km to go
The gap is up to 1:15 but other riders are trying to get across and keep the attack under control.
This is the break of the day.
🇪🇸 #LaVuelta23Ladies and gentleman, we have @lennardkaemna in a 24-rider break 👊🏼So far, they’re 1:30 minutes ahead of the peloton 👇🏼 with 110km left. pic.twitter.com/zWfuYYIuBbSeptember 9, 2023
Four riders are trying to bridge across to the Evenepoel attack.
Meanwhile the peloton seems to have eased off the pace.
100km to go
These are the 24 riders in the attack.
Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step), Jonathan Castroviejo (Ineos Grenadiers), Damiano Caruso and Kamil Gradek (Bahrain-Victorious), Juan Pedro Lopez and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier (Lidl-Trek), Clement Davy and Michael Storer (FDJ), Lennard Kamna (Bora-Hansgrohe), Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto Dstny), Stefan Bissegger and Sean Quinn (EF Education), Rui Costa, Julius Johansen and Simone Petilli (Intermarché), Nelson Oliveira (Movistar), Andre Carvalho and Ruben Fernandez (Cofidis), Romain Bardet and Alberto Dainese (DSM-Firmenich), Kevin Vauquelin and Kevin Ledanois (Arkéa Samsic), and Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural).
Remco is trying to convince other riders to work hard as the Col Hourcère climb starts.
This is the Col Hourcère profile. It's nasty.
Col de la Hourcere: 11,4 km@8,5%. Marc Hirschi, the climber did it in 33 min 50 sec back in 2020, very fast. Today, the riders arrive fresh at the foot so we could see some fast times. #LaVuelta23 pic.twitter.com/XRGffLLLmDSeptember 9, 2023
Evenepoel is on the front to push the break on.
They break has already seen some of the riders dropped as the first selection has been made.
Jumbo-Visma are now riding tempo on the front of the peloton, some 4:30 down on the attack.
Jan Tratnik is leading the chase for Jumbo, as other riders drop out of the back to join the gruppetto.
Mattia Cattaneo is in the attack with Evenepoel and is helping to drive the pace.
Dylan van Baarle is now leading the peloton for Jumbo and the gap is down to 3:30.
Geraint Thomas (Ineos) and Hugh Carthy (EF) have been dropped from the peloton.
95km to go
There are 4km to the summit and 95km to race.
There is still a lot of climbing to come.
(Image credit: ASO/Unipublic)
90km to go
The break is near the top of the Col Hourcère as UAE take over the pace setting.
Remco is aggressive even in the race for the KOM. He surges away and takes maximum points, another sign that he is perhaps back to his best after his still-unexplained bad day on Saturday.
Riders in the peloton and the break are taking on food and bidons from roadside soigneurs.
The peloton passes the summit of the Col Hourcère at 3:10.
Evenepoel also spoke to the official television race coverage before the start of the stage.
Remco Evenepoel reacts to his bad day on stage 13.#LaVuelta23 📺: Peacock pic.twitter.com/b7GDKwT7FrSeptember 9, 2023
75km to go
UAE Team Emirates are still driving the peloton along, on the descent after also on the climb.
This is an interesting tactical development.
Upfront Evenepoel and Bardet are still pushing on ahead of the break. They lead by 30 seconds.
The peloton is 3:45 behind.
65km to go
Evenepoel and Bardet have pushed their lead out to 50 seconds.
Their attack is an extra twist to the extra twist of Evenepoel bouncing back and going on the attack.
Friday's stage was a huge turning point in this year's Vuelta.
Our photographer Chris Auld was there and captured these superb images.
Sepp Kuss took another huge step forward in his fight for the overall victory on Friday as he strengthened his lead on the brutally difficult stage 13 to the Col du Tourmalet with a second place behind teammate Jonas Vingegaard.
Such was Jumbo-Visma's domination in the Vuelta's first Pyrenean stage that they not only seized the top three places on the stage with Vingegaard, Kuss and Primoz Roglic but now occupy the top three places in the overall classification.
Kuss now leads by 1:37 over Roglic, and 1:44 over Vingegaard, massively strengthening his chances of overall victory.
It's 15.1 kilometers long and has an average gradient of 7.8%, but is very irregular. Some points are very steep, while these are almost flat or even downhill very briefly.
Evenepoel and Bardet have flown!
They lead the remains of the break by 1:30, with the peloton at 4:30.
This is the profile of the Puerto de Larrau. At 15.1 km and 7.8%, it's a nasty climb.
#cyclisme 🚴♂️ #Vuelta 🇪🇸 Étape 1⃣4⃣Bientôt la Puerto de Larrau : catégorie spéciale, 14,9 km à 8% ( max 16%)#Lavuelta23 pic.twitter.com/37oxzGV7eRSeptember 9, 2023
55km to go
The riders are half way up the Puerto de Larrau.
Evenepoel and Bardet have extended their lead to 2:00 as behind the rest of the attack falls apart.
Michael Storer (Groupama) is chasing them at 1:00.
Van Eetvelt and Castroviejo drop Juan Pedro Lopez, and Hamilton and Cattaneo are also suffering.
The peloton is at 4:50 as UAE continue to set the pace. They perhaps want to set up Ayuso for an attack but they're doing a lot of work for little potential reward.
Do UAE think Ayuso can drop Kuss, Roglic and Vingegaard?
Evenepoel is spinning his gear on the climb.
He perhaps eased up yesterday and didn't go deep as he finished so far behind but his bounce back is remarkable.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Here we go!
Juan Ayuso attacks after his UAE teammate set the pace. The GC race is suddenly on.
Of course, Kuss and the rest respond to the attack.
Tho it has created a real GC selection, with 5km to the summit and 52km to the finish.
Bardet and Evenepoel reach the 1km descent sector of the Puerto de Larrau.
Bardet is desperate to get a drink and calls for his team car.
Storer reaches the top at 1:15.
The GC peloton is at 5:00.
Evenepoel and Bardet reach the summit of the Puerto de Larrau, thousands of Basque fans out on this spanish side of the stage cheering them on as they always do.
The Belgian sweeps up 15 KOM points and so is now the virtual leader of the blue-polkadot jersey. Whatever the final result of the stage, he already has a reward for his fight back.
Storer also reaches the summit at 2:10.
The peloton is 5:50 back and appear have to lost any hope of winning the stage.
Jumbo are back in charge, with Gesink and Valter setting the pace.
The peloton are at 6:10 as they start the descent from the high, tree-less descent off the Puerto de Larrau.
The riders face a 10km descent, 25km in high valley roads and then the steady climb up to the finish at Larra-Belagua.
30km to go
Michael Storer appears to be dropping back to the peloton after taking KOM points at the summit of the Puerto de Larrau.
The peloton is at 6:15, with Bahrain now riding on the front, riding for Mikel Landa.
That's another tactically-driven favour for Jumbo-Visma and highlights their dominance.
The Evenepoel-Bardet duo blast through the intermediate sprint point and will start the lower slopes that lead to the Puerto de Belagua climb to the finish.
23km to go
A real wolf never gives up!#LaVuelta23Photo: @GettySport pic.twitter.com/wQD0OHfzZrSeptember 9, 2023
16km to go
There is a 'quiet before the storm' moment in the race at the moment.
Evenepoel and Bardet are waiting for the showdown for the stage win, while the GC riders are waiting for any final attacks as they ride steady to the finish.
The GC group is 7:25 down on the duo up front now. UAE have given up their aggressive strategy and so Atilla Valter is setting the pace.
Evenepoel seems to riding hard when he does a turn on the front, despite the break being so far ahead.
He should be careful of Bardet, who is a crafty, experienced rider, and clearly on a good day.
The roads are still wide and fast in the valley, as the climb to the finish nears.
The Puerto de Belagua (9.4 km at 6.3%) is a very irregular climb, especially during the first part is difficult. The last kilometers are almost flat and so Evenepoel will surely have to attack on the steepest part.
The tension is rising in the race.
Evenepoel empties a bidon over his face, while Bardet stretches his back.
Both seem ready for a showdown for the stage victory.
The road starts to climb and Evenepoel and Bardet go shoulder to shoulder and look at each other.
They lead the chasers by 5:00 and the GC group by 8:00. They can afford to play a very tactical battle as they tussle for the stage win.
Evenepoel is still on the front, as Bardet sits on and waits.
5km to go
Evenepoel appears to be waiting for a sprint finish. But watch out for Bardet, he is no slouch in a finish either.
The Spanish police push the crowds back with force but they can't stop their enthusiasm or love for bike racing.
Evenepoel is rock solid in the saddle, as every time trialist is while Bardet is rocking and rolling.
Evenepoel sees it and surges away!
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2km to go
Evenepoel has already put 45 seconds in Bardet, who has accepted defeat.
Here comes Remco! What a fight back!
Evenepoel crosses the line and wins alone!
He crosses the line with his arms open and then touches his head in disbelief.
As he comes to a stop beyond the finish he sheds further tears after such an emotional fight back.
Bardet finished 1:12 behind Evenepoel and stops to give him a hug of thanks and respect.
The race is on in the GC group.
Bahrain are trying to set-up Landa.
Wout Poels is on the front as the Jumbo-Visma leaders control all the surges.
The low gradient makes for a fast, big ring finish in the GC group.
The remains of the break finish but the GC riders are coming in fast.
De la Cruz of Astana edges away but all the GC riders are together.
Kuss, Roglic and Vingegaard celebrate a good day with first pumps. Roglic gives Kuss a congratulating slap on the shoulder.
At the podium area Evenepoel is still emotional and hugs hids team staff.
It must be emotional to live through the highs and lows of Grand Tour racing.
It's Eveneopoel's big day but what a ride by Bardet too.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Evenepoel's emotions came out after the stage finish.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Evenepoel describes the first hour as 'full gas' racing and confirms he wanted to fight back and win the stage.
This was the moment Evenepoel won the stage.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
And this was one of the emotional moments, with the Soudal-QuickStep press officer Phil Lowe.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
This was the hug between two impressive sportsmen.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Evenepoel spoke emotionally before the podium ceremony.
"Yesterday was a very difficult day, also the evening. I couldn't sleep too much. I had a very bad night and a lot of negative thoughts in my head. Today I woke up and I thought to myself, just go for it and make the best of it," he said.
"I did a recon of this stage because it was important for the GC and because it was a super hard stage. I knew it perfectly; how the climbs were, how hard they were, because it was super tough stage. I think, it's just super nice to take a second stage win."
He then talked about the stage and how he raced it.
"Today I was full-gas, I was feeling pretty good and always in the mix with some moves. In the end, I ended up alone, first, in a group. But the Mattia Cattaneo joined us and he set a big pace on the first climb and the group was reduced," he explained.
"There was an attack of Juan Pedro Lopez, I just countered and was alone with Romain [Bardet] in the front. We made the gap bigger on the descent.
"I have to be honest, Romain was super cooperative with me and we worked very well together. I said that I would do the pace on the climbs, as long as he was going to ride with me on the flats. In the end, it was a bit of a guess if he could stay on the wheel, or not.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
"I can be very proud with this answer after yesterday," Evenepoel concluded.
Here is the stage report, growing photo gallery and results from an emotional day in the Pyrenees.
