Andreas Leknessund wins Vuelta stage seven as Tadej Pogacar extends overall lead
The Norwegian rider delivered a solo victory for Uno-X Mobility atop Aramon Valdelinares after a 149.8-kilometre breakaway, while Tadej Pogacar stretched his general classification advantage over Enric Mas to 3 minutes and 50 seconds.
Breakaway victory on Aramon Valdelinares
Norwegian rider Andreas Leknessund of Uno-X Mobility claimed victory on stage seven of the Vuelta a Espana after a solo attack on the final climb to Aramon Valdelinares. The 27-year-old launched his decisive move 7.5 kilometres from the summit finish, pulling away from a five-rider breakaway group at the conclusion of the 149.8-kilometre route from Vall d'Alba. Leknessund crossed the line alone to secure his first Grand Tour stage win on his Vuelta debut. His teammate and compatriot Tobias Halland Johannessen finished second, arriving 34 seconds later, to seal a one-two finish for the Norwegian squad. Belgian rider Wout van Aert of Visma-Lease a Bike placed third, trailing the winner by 47 seconds after spending nearly the entire stage in the front group.
- Wout van Aert attacks from the start and Andreas Leknessund joins the move.
- Tobias Johannessen, Alexey Lutsenko, and Ed Dunbar bridge across near the summit.
- Andreas Leknessund attacks solo on the final climb to Aramon Valdelinares.
- Leknessund wins the stage, with Johannessen finishing second 34 seconds later.
How the stage unfolded
The stage developed immediately after the start when Van Aert attacked from the opening kilometre, drawing Leknessund with him as the only immediate responder. Behind them, a larger group of 22 riders formed on the slopes of the second-category climb of El Remolcador. Near the crest of that ascent, Johannessen, Alexey Lutsenko of NSN Cycling, and Ed Dunbar of Pinarello-Q36.5 bridged across to the leaders to establish a five-man front group. The escapees built a lead of over a minute over a pursuing group that included Raul Garcia Pierna, Guillaume Martin-Guyonnet, and Juan Felipe Rodriguez. The five riders navigated the subsequent third-category ascents of Alto de Zucaina and Fuente de Rubielos together before the final ascent split the selection. Colombian riders Rodriguez and Ivan Sosa finished fifth and sixth, 1 minute 13 seconds and 1 minute 16 seconds behind Leknessund respectively.
Tribute to King Harald V
The victory coincided with the death of King Harald V of Norway, who passed away earlier on Friday morning at the age of 89. Leknessund and his Uno-X Mobility teammates raced the stage wearing black armbands in memory of the monarch. The victory marked the first stage win by a Norwegian rider at the Vuelta a Espana since 2010. It also completed a triple for Uno-X Mobility, giving the team stage victories across all three Grand Tours this season following earlier successes at the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France. Speaking after the podium presentation, Leknessund reflected on the emotional context of the race.
It's been a special day for the team and also for the whole of Norway.
Obviously it's only a small thing in the bigger picture but still, it makes the day more special.
General classification battle
In the fight for the red jersey, overall leader Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates XRG extended his advantage over his main rivals. The Slovenian rider, who has won three stages in the opening week, remained within the main peloton for most of the stage before attacking on the final climb. Pogacar finished 4 minutes and 23 seconds behind Leknessund, but gained six seconds on Austrian rider Felix Gall and 16 seconds on Spanish challenger Enric Mas. With that acceleration, Pogacar widened his lead over second-placed Mas in the general classification to 3 minutes and 50 seconds. Mas held a one-minute margin over third-placed Primoz Roglic of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, who sits 4 minutes and 50 seconds off the overall lead. The race continues on Saturday with a 171-kilometre flat stage from Pucol to Xeraco.
