The day after the second day of rest, the young 22-year-old nugget gleaned her first stage victory in the Vuelta, ahead of the Slovenian Primoz Roglic (Jumbo-Visma) at 48 seconds and the French Rémi Cavagna (Quick-Step) 1 minute away.
In the general classification, Evenepoel widens the gap significantly since he is now ahead of Roglic, the three-time defending champion, by 2 min 41 and the Spaniard Enric Mas by 3 min 03.
Tuesday was marked by the revelation of new cases of Covid in the peloton, bringing to at least 17 the total of riders tested positive since leaving the Netherlands on August 19.
Four riders had to give up competing in Tuesday’s time trial: Briton Ethan Hayter (Ineos Grenadiers), Australian Harry Sweeny (Lotto-Soudal), Spaniard José Herrada (Cofidis) and Irishman Sam Bennett (Bora), winner of two stages and in the race for the green jersey.
After this time trial, the riders will enjoy a route without major difficulty on Wednesday between El Pozo Alimentacion and Cabo de Gata (191.2 km), before a new arrival at altitude at the Peñas Blancas on Thursday.
