CYCLING PERFECTION! 👌 | La Vuelta a España Stage 18 Highlights | Eurosport Cycling

stage 18 of La Welter was always going to be about the break how big how long and how successful there was very little doubt that it wouldn't be the Freedom Fighters that got home first 180 kilm destination isy and indeed a lumpy old finale that almost guaranteed that the brave would be rewarded as a result the queue behind the race director's car at the beginning when we finally off was very big Victoria gestes starting position a looping course a category 2 followed by a category one a Sprint and our rolling finale and when you looked at the course profile very little flat out there and neither was there about the demeanor of those teams that would enjoy the day and so it was we were wondering how long it would take to establish it was very quick and it was very large 42 Riders up the road and some of the best indeed of the pelan found themselves with a chance to add a stage win to what for some has been a disappointing race so far not least usadel usad while they were read the riot act by the director sportif they'd missed it this was them engaged in a foror Chase to try and instill somebody in the break after all visiting the bass country their Hometown well home team never made it on and in fact those who were up front decided that they possibly need to stretch the legs if they were going to shake out some of those who would have a better options behind them vek Kung and Schmidt decided there was just too many for company and set off in Pursuit Of Glory well there was a split a grading you might say of our Breakaway and indeed we found CHR viik vek Lano as well as three from Kar farmer Stefan Kung Schmidt of course still being chased down and Mark Solair well ever determined to make an impact he did so yet again while trailing his teammate Jay Vine in the polka knut Jersey competition he wanted more and indeed started to assemble them in fact on this day Mark Solair was indeed to take the polon not Jersey off jayvine by just one solitary point but a point was being made as well by Richard carapaz determined to put the pressure on those around him in the general classification and it was melander the man that was struggling out there took a long time for T-Rex quickstep to call back help for Lander and he left virtually exposed I'm afraid chry Fike then was the last to make a move or was he OK barado bridged up to him and then a secondary attack by the man from AO Kern Farber he'd been up front a long with three other teammates at the beginning of the day including twice stage winner Pablo Castillo well today it was about baradi just a modest Advantage but he was essentially at home knowing these roads like the back of his hand he set off like a manp possessed meanwhile the red jersey group had regathered itself after Ben o Conor had slipped just a little on the flat they'd reather themselves to indeed neutralize any distance between at least the podium and the top five but this man was bringing it in yet again for a keepo Kern farmer a remarkable story a remarkable team and amazingly three stage wins for the invitees we loved it well it was almost a one-w behind but Schmidt just managed to nudge in for second place what might have been for him the Swiss Champion well then we had a long wait before everyone else was to come in after the celebrations of course by the winning team well plenty of eyes were of course on the red jersey but foror and eyes were on this man Mel Lander teammates did come back for him but as the red jersey group crossed the line this don't forget an attack that had been instilled by Richard carass but a sense of Serenity washed over them with a 6 minute and 41 Gap indeed to the day's winner no change for them overall but a big drop for Mel Lander the clock tolls upon those who fail and I'm afraid today it was a very very tough ask for Lander so angry was he at the end of the day for the lack of support apparently from his team he stormed off straight to the coach did not want to speak to anybody Matia katano as well must also feel AG grieved Joy unbridled out for Mom and Dad of OKO barade one last smack on the chops from Bob just underlining what he'd achieved and what this team has achieved absolutely remarkable while some big days still to come barade and his team could feel like they've basically won this Welter in a certain sense finishing ahead of Schmidt Miguel Max Paul another great effort by him what a stage winner we had today and a new leader in the king of the man competition with Mark Solair just edging Jay Vine by a solitary point it could be that Jay Vine tomorrow takes that Jersey back on behalf of UE te Emirates who've been amazing in this race as well with a whole rack of stage wins and of course potentially that Jersey Ben oconor can he hold on to Red well let's see at the end of tomorrow shall we but then again we've said that so many times he still leads this race by a Marg of 5 Seconds okona will be a man riding with almost a Target Target on his back by the finale tomorrow and this is the reason why mon Calo awaits and it is extraordinarily punishing comes at the end of a very difficult day a rising Category 3 but it's that Spike at the last that will worry it's going to be amazing there will be changes and you'll have to tune in to find out what they are [Music]