Big joy for Extreme Tech Plus, after the Portuguese rider of Lampre-Merida took a solo win in stage 13
Northwave and Lampre-Merida broke the ice in the Vuelta a España, following the superb victory of the Portuguese cyclist Nelson Oliveira in stage 13 (Calatayud-Tarazona, 178 km), on Friday, September 4.
Equipped with the Extreme Tech Plus footwear, the 26-year-old native of Vilarinho do Bairro gave the slip to his breakaway companions, attacking with 20 kilometers to go and eventually crossing the finish line one minute ahead of the chasing group, from which the Frenchman Julien Simon (Cofidis) and the Irishman Nicolas Roche (Team Sky) sprinted for the other two podium’s spot.
The 23 riders broke clear on Alto de Crucija, with two other cyclists of Lampre-Merida sponsored by the Treviso-based brand along Oliveira, Valerio Conti and Ruben Plaza, the latter climbing to second in the KOM classification, behind Spain’s Omar Fraile (Caja Rural). The group got green light from the peloton, led by Astana’s Fabio Aru, who will now wear the red jersey for the third day in a row.
Oliveira and Sylvain Chavanel (IAM Cycling) were the first to attack from the front group on the last climb of the day, Alto de Moncayo, but the winning move of the Portuguese came on the descent, once outpassed the tophill.
At that point, he took full advantage of his time trialing skills on the last flat section and brought to both Lampre-Merida and Northwave Extreme Tech Plus their first victory at the 70th Vuelta a España, which follows the ones of Jan Polanc, Diego Ulissi and Sacha Modolo (with two) at the Giro d’Italia and the one of Ruben Plaza on the roads of the Tour de France.
Onigo di Pederobba (Italy), September 4th, 2015
