Michael Storer Claims Fifth Place in Competitive Vuelta Stage
Australian rider Michael Storer, known for his role as a domestique, took advantage of the opportunity to shine in stage 14 of the Vuelta a España. Storer managed to fight for a top position after joining a large breakaway, finishing in fifth place at the end of the stage. Despite not being able to compete against solo winner Remco Evenepoel, Storer held his own and stayed ahead of the red jersey group.
Storer’s performance was praised by his team, with Frédéric Guesdon saying, “It was a super hard start…I have to thank my teammates for getting me in the front. Without them, it would have been difficult.”
Storer revealed that he made a mistake when Evenepoel attacked early in the race, saying, “Maybe if I was in Romain’s wheel, I had a chance of being with them. I was surprised that Remco attacked so early.”
Despite this setback, Storer remained determined and attempted to bridge the gap on the next climb. He finished in third position on the climb but was unable to catch up to Evenepoel and Bardet. Storer then joined a chasing group before eventually claiming fifth place at the top of the final climb.
Storer also praised Evenepoel’s performance, saying, “I’ve never seen anyone as strong as Evenepoel. On the flat, he’s really unbelievable. If someone is capable of doing that, you know it will be difficult later on. I’ve never seen something like that before.”
Unfortunately, it was a tough day for Storer’s teammate Lenny Martinez, who lost more than thirty minutes and now sits in eighteenth place overall. Despite the setback, team manager Benoît Vaugrenard expressed hope for Martinez’s recovery during the rest day, saying, “He will try to recover during the rest day because there are still great things to do next week.”
The Vuelta a España continues on Sunday with a stage in Lekunberri, where the focus will be on the punchers and their attacks.
