Polanc climbs to 5th in Vuelta standings

In the 7th stage of the Vuelta a Espana (Gandia-Balcon de Alicante, 152 km with 6 mountain points, including the uphill finish) Jan Polanc looked for the big target relying on his specialty, that is the long-range escape, a tactic which has previously led him to two stages of the Giro d’Italia in his career and to wear the pink jersey for two days.

After 50 kilometers, the Slovenian from UAE Team Emirates managed to bridge across with Matteo Trentin in a sizeable group to the 6 leaders who had previously taken command of the race, giving life to what turned out to be the decisive escape.

Polanc tried to hold on, with one eye on the result of the day and the other on the general classification: at the finish line (placed at the top of an 8.4 km climb at 6.4% average gradient, but with peaks close to ‘11%), the UAE Team Emirates athlete took 10th place, 2’29 “behind the winner Michael Storer (Team DSM), a result that allowed Polanc to climb 12 positions in the overall standings and settle in 5th place, 38 ”from Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma).

Good performance also by David De La Cruz, who finished in the company of the best men in the general classification (20th, 3’33 “behind the winner, at the same time as the Roglic red jersey). In the overall standings, De La Cruz is 14th (+ 2’14 “).

Polanc : “We knew this morning there was a strong chance the break could arrive to the line. There was not a lot of cooperation in the group but Trentin did an amazing job and really pushed us along.
It wasn’t my best day today, I felt a bit empty but my overall condition is good and we’ll try again for sure.”

 
The 8th stage of the Vuelta will be a flat one from Santa Pola and arrival in La Manga del Mar Menor, for 173.7 km that skirts all along the Mediterranean coast.

Stage 7 results

1. Michael Storer (Team DSM) 4h10’13 ”
2. Carlos Verona (Movistar) + 21 ”
3. Pavel Sivakov (Ineos-Grenadiers) + 59 ”
10. Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) + 2’29 “

General classification after the 7th stage
1. Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) 25h18’35 ”
2. Felix Grosschartner (Bora-hansgrohe) +8 ”
3. Enric Mas (Movistar) +25 ”
5. Jan Polanc (UAE Team Emirates) +38 “

Meanwhile Sven Erik Bystrom put in a solid performance on the second stage of the Tour of Norway.

The former Norwegian national champion, fresh from a serious injury that occurred in June in the 2021 edition of the national championships (fracture of six vertebrae), finished in 5th position the 2nd stage of the Scandinavian race starting from Sirdal (Tjørhomfjellet) and arrival in Sirdal (Fidjeland) after 185.3 km.

Bystrøm was able to benefit from the support of the team, helped by teammate Alexander Kristoff in the last kilometere in the slight uphill sprint.

Launched by Kristoff, Bystrøm held the lead until the final 100 meters, in which he was overtaken by the winner Ethan Hayter (Ineos-Grenadiers), Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto -Soudal), Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) and, right on the finish line, by Ide Schelling (Bora-hansgrohe).

With the second victory in as many stages, Hayter remains firmly in command of the general classification, in which Bystrøm occupies the 10th position at 41 ”.

Bystrøm: “I knew today’s stage really well because we passed many of my daily training roads. Vegard and Alex did a great job putting me in a perfect position before the final climb. Maybe I got a bit too excited, so I launched my sprint with 700m to go. 4 guys managed to pass me inside the final 100m. I’m happy with my legs, but analyzing it after I should have been more calm. However, there are two more stages, where I will do my best to move up in the GC.”
There are still two stages to be played, I will try to give my best to stay in the upper quarters of the general classification ”.

The riders are in for a rolling third stage, starting and finishing in Jørpeland (159.9 km).

Tour of Norway Stage 2 results
1. Ethan Hayter (Ineos-Grenadiers) 4h16’32 ”
2. Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto-Soudal) s.t.
3. Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) s.t.
5. Sven Erik Bystrøm (UAE Team Emirates) s.t.

Tour of Norway General classification after the 2nd stage

1. Ethan Hayter (Ineos-Grenadiers) 8h00’42 ”
2. Ide Schelling (Bora-hansgrohe) +15 ”
3. Mike Teunissen (Jumbo-Visma) +29 ”
10. Sven Erik Bystrøm (UAE Team Emirates) + 41 “