The tyranny of Vingegaard, the courage of Lazkano and the genius of Ayuso on an electrifying Sunday

The Danish apostle has already merited to be named honorary ambassador of Galicia. Jonas Vingegaard, an effective tourist attraction, sells the virtues and charms of the community like few others. During the week, the runner born 27 years ago in Hillerslev placed O Gran Camiño at the center of the stage, a new round that strives to open a path in the most select calendar. The two-time Tour champion opened his season with an identical performance to that of the previous year. This Sunday he scored his third and overall victory in the event, the same thing he did in the 2023 edition.. Galicia is yours. And the organizer Ezequiel Mosquera is delighted.

Six stages and two consecutive general classifications in a round that was once again hit by hostile weather. If the times were not recorded in the inaugural time trial due to the danger of the wind, this Sunday the route between Ponteareas and Mount Aloia, in Tui, was altered by heavy rain. The two climbs to the last summit were reduced to one. The Dane from the Visma team, who broke the race with three kilometers to go before the finish line, was 15 seconds ahead of the Frenchman Lenny Martínez and 45 seconds ahead of the British Hugh Carthy, who led the chasing group that included Egan Bernal (48 seconds), Jefferson Cepeda (49) and Cian Uijtdebroeks (57).

In the general classification, Vingegaard surpassed Lenny Martínez (second) by 1.55. Third place went to Bernal, at 2.11. The best Spaniard was Raúl García Pierna (tenth), at 3.01.

All honors for the fine runner, son of a specialist in salmon farming, who is very comfortable in Spain. He trains on Teide and is passionate about paella and pinchos. The campaign has started in a full way, like last year. His main objective is to reconquer the Tour, where he will fight again with Tadej Pogacar, who this year has changed his usual planning to prepare for the Giro d'Italia. Both monsters, which feed each other, will barely coincide before the Grande Boucle.

Against Van Aert and Wellens

Vingegaard was one of the main protagonists of an electrifying Sunday, with a quadruple cycling offer. In addition to the Gran Camiño, the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne was held, the first classic of the year in Belgium, where Oier Lazkano surprised. The Vitorian from Movistar, the best Spanish classicist this season, got into the good break and fought for the victory against the Belgians Wout Van Aert and Tim Wellens, almost nothing.

The trio imposed an infernal pace in the face of the helplessness of the peloton. The Spaniard tried it in the last kilometer with an attack from behind. Mission impossible, but very worthy. The Basque was third (the best place for a Spaniard in the 76 editions of this race). Van Aert, Vingegaard's teammate at Visma, won.

Before the Belgian classic, the closing day of the UAE Tour was held, with victory and overall for the Belgian Lennert Van Eetvelt. Pello Bilbao was second in the stage and third overall.

Juan Ayuso, huge again, was second in the classic Faun Drome Classic, won by the Swiss Marc Hirschi, the Spaniard's teammate in the UAE. The weekend was memorable for the kid from Jávea, since on Saturday at the Faun Ardèche Classic.