Damiano Caruso finishes 2nd on Stage 18 of La Vuelta

Damiano Caruso put in a strong performance on Stage 18 of La Vuelta, finishing in 2nd place behind the favorite from the breakaway, Remco Evenepoel. The race took on the final climb twice, creating a gap of over 10 minutes for the breakaway. Evenepoel made his move on the first round of the climb, with Caruso and Max Poole losing the wheel of the stage winner. Caruso was able to catch up to Poole and drop him to secure 2nd place.

Caruso expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, “For me, second place means a lot behind a champion like him, so I’m satisfied, I’m happy, I couldn’t do more.” He also acknowledged Evenepoel’s strength, saying, “Following Remco is like following a scooter. His pace is too much for me and probably for many other riders.”

Meanwhile, the GC battle was unfolding down the climb, with several TBV riders setting a high pace. Mikel Landa tried to attack in order to gain time in the GC, but Juan Ayuso managed to cover all the attacks and extend his lead over Landa by three seconds. The GC remained unchanged, with Landa in 5th and Buitrago in 10th.

The team’s director, Neil Stephens, praised the team’s efforts and acknowledged that they were beaten by a better rider. He said, “Once we knew that Damiano would stay away, we set a pace in the final kilometers of the race… We tried our best, but we got beaten by a better man today, and Caruso’s 2nd place is very satisfactory.”

Overall, it was a strong day for the team, with Caruso’s podium finish and maintaining their positions in the GC. They will continue to fight for success in the remaining stages of La Vuelta.