Thibaud Gruel again in the mix
# Thibaud Gruel Shines Again in Vuelta Stage 19
In a thrilling return to sprinting action in the Vuelta, Thibaud Gruel showcased his speed over a challenging course on Friday, capturing his second top-10 finish of the race. The stage, held between Rueda and Guijuelo, saw Gruel take ninth place in a demanding uphill finish, positioning him for what could be a strong sprint opportunity in Madrid on Sunday.
After enduring 30,000 meters of climbing and five summit finishes, the peloton welcomed a stage more suited for sprinters. The brief appearance of a lone breakaway rider, Jakub Otruba from the Czech Republic, kept the excitement alive as he initially led the pack but was caught by the peloton more than fifty kilometers from the finish.
“There was a bit of wind before, we went through the town, and then it was gone,” Frédéric noted about the race conditions. “There was a lot of tension, but eventually, nothing much to report.”
As the chase intensified, the Groupama-FDJ team strategically positioned itself in the front as the race approached its final kilometers. “The goal was to sprint with Thibaud today,” Frédéric explained. Supported by teammates Rémi Cavagna and Stefan Küng, Gruel navigated a crucial downhill section while maintaining a competitive pace.
Thibaud reflected on the finish: “The sprint’s approach was a bit technical, but the last two kilometers were on a nice road. It was a beautiful finish, slightly uphill, and I liked it.” Despite his efforts, he found himself slightly overwhelmed in the final sprint. “I was a bit on my limit, to be honest,” he admitted. “I fought to do the best I could, but my legs weren’t the best. I was hoping for a bit more on a finish like this.”
Yet, coming away with another top-10 finish in his first Grand Tour speaks volumes about Gruel’s resilience. Frédéric added, “To get another top-10 finish while not feeling super is still not bad, especially at the end of the third week in your first Grand Tour. It’s still a positive day.”
With only two stages remaining in this year’s Vuelta—one of which could provide another opportunity for a sprint—Gruel and his team are ready to tackle the final challenges ahead. “As we’ve been doing since the beginning, we’ll try to get a head start on the favorites by joining the breakaway, then we’ll see,” Frédéric noted, hinting at their strategic approach for the remaining stages.
