An uneventful mountain stage for the team
# Groupama-FDJ Faces Challenges in Vuelta a España’s Mountain Stage
In what can be described as a lackluster day for the Groupama-FDJ cycling team, the Vuelta a España presented another grueling summit finish as they attempted to navigate Stage 14 on Saturday. With 136 kilometers of racing culminating at La Farrapona, the team struggled to make a notable impact despite the day’s challenges. Marc Soler was the sole member to survive from the breakaway, ultimately claiming victory on this tough ascent.
After the previous day’s intense showdown at the iconic Angliru, the riders faced another daunting summit. The course featured a 17 km climb averaging 6% that promised to test the limits of endurance, especially within the final 50 kilometers. Starting from Avilés, the battle for positioning began on uneven terrain, but the peloton quickly saw a breakaway form just 15 kilometers in.
“We planned to be at the front, and possibly to put a rouleur and a climber in the breakaway,” explained Frédéric Guesdon, the team’s director. “It worked pretty well over the last few days. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do it today. The guys maybe didn’t have the best legs, but we also didn’t want to take the breakaway at any cost because Sunday’s stage suits us better.” This strategy may have contributed to their absence in the early break, which consisted of about twenty riders—all without a Groupama-FDJ athlete.
Despite the peloton granting the breakaway a lead of almost six minutes, Soler managed to fend off the pack to clinch victory, leaving Guesdon with a reflective mindset. “We got caught out a bit, but given how the stage unfolded, we have no regrets,” he shared. “Perhaps it wasn’t so bad, in the end, to stay in the wheels. It was then up to the guys to manage their day in order to be ready for tomorrow.”
Looking ahead, the team has hopes pinned on Stage 15, which promises another challenging route with 3,000 meters of elevation gain. Guesdon noted the demanding start and the need for vigilance regarding competitors, particularly Mads Pedersen’s Lidl-Trek. “We have more chances tomorrow than we had today or yesterday. It won’t be easy though, with an uphill start that should be quite demanding,” he concluded, indicating a resolve to make a more significant impact on the race in the days to come. The team is eager to shift their strategies and capitalize on their strengths moving forward in this prestigious event.
