Lindeman wins the first serious climb of the Vuelta

USPA NEWS - The first big test of the Vuelta to the discovery on Friday the real level of the favorites in the seventh stage of the race. Fabio Aru (Astana) was the better off in the long climb to Capileira, Las Alpujarras.

Aru excelled in a handful of seconds to a group with Rafal Majka, Alejandro Valverde, Nairo Quintana, Tom Dumoulin, Joaquim Rodriguez or leader, Esteban Chaves. Almost all candidates for the red jersey with the exception perhaps of a Chris Froome at the end of a climb marked by the intense heat choked. After a few kilometers of several attacks and counterattacks, five men mocked surveillance platoon at kilometer 12 of stage. Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Jerome Cousin (Europcar), Bert Jan Lindeman (LottoNL-Jumbo), Carlos Quintero (Team Colombia) and Belarusian Koshevoy Ilia (Lampre-Merida) made their way quickly reaching more 13 minutes before arrival to Granada.

First one, then Orica-GreenEdge solo control tasks and eventually led a hunting Astana was limited to the last 75 km. When Kazakhs chose to keep forces, Movistar took over the chase, accompanied later Katusha. The escapees began to climb the first slopes of Capileira with a lead of 6 minutes. Carlos Quintero was the first to lose ground in the early ramps of the climb. After several attacks Jerome Cousin, was Ilia Koshevoy which was leaving alone, but he will soon join the French and Dutch Europcar set of Lotto-Jumbo. Regular Lindeman knew better than anyone and dealt its final blow with the finish line in sight, and scoring his best win as a professional.