Vuelta 2020: Woods brings late attack home, Carapaz still leader

The riders are navigating the hilly Basque Country on the seventh day of action. Michael Woods, Omar Fraile, Alejandro Valverde, Guillaume Martin and Nans Peters battle it out in the finale. The Canadian attacks just before the flamme rouge and he powers to glory. Richard Carapaz stays in the red jersey. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 7th stage Vuelta a España 2020

1. Michael Woods (can)
2. Omar Fraile (spa) + 0.04
3. Alejandro Valverde (spa) s.t.
4. Nans Peters (fra) + 0.08
5. Guillaume Martin (fra) s.t.
6. Rui Costa (por) + 0.13
7. Alex Aranburu (spa) s.t.
8. Ide Schelling (nld) s.t.
9. Kenny Elissonde (fra) s.t.
10. Davide Formolo (ita) s.t.
– GC riders + 0.56

GC after stage 7
1. Richard Carapaz (ecu)
2. Hugh Carthy (gbr) + 0.18
3. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.20
4. Primoz Roglic (slo) + 0.30
5. Enric Mas (spa) + 1.07
6. Felix Großschartner (aut) + 1.30
7. Marc Soler (spa) + 1.42
8. Esteban Chaves (col) + 2.02
9. Alejandro Valverde (spa) + 2.03
10. George Bennett (nzl) + 2.39

Race report
High pace from the start, but still, Rémi Cavagna manages to jump clear. While attacks are flying behind him, the Frenchman holds on. But after 35 kilometres of hard racing the peloton is together again.

The breakaway establishes itself after almost 50 kilometers when a group of 17 riders – with Sepp Kuss, Rui Costa, Cort Nielsen, and Niki Terpstra – opens up a gap. They enter the Puerto de Orduña with a lead of almost 2 minutes.

Another big group – with Tim Wellens, Alejandro Valverde, George Bennett, Michael Woods, Guillaume Martin, Nans Peters, Davide Formolo, Alex Aranburu, Mikel Nieve, and Omar Fraile – bridges across in the ascent.

Peters goes solo with 2 kilometres left to climb. Kuss, Martin and Arensman bridge across.

Kuss is the first rider over the summit. The American moves into the virtual KOM lead before the entire lead group comes together on the plateau at the top.

While the lead of the attackers widens to almost 3 minutes in the intermediate phase it falls back to 1 minute in the second ascent of the Orduña.

Woods goes alone with 3.5 kilometres left to climb before Valverde, Martin, Peters and Fraile regain contact in the descent. As Martin is the second rider at the summit the Frenchman moves into the polka jersey.

While a chasing group keeps putting pressure the five try to jump away one after the other. But to no avail until Woods breaks clear. The Canadian goes solo just before the flame rouge and he wins the race ahead of Fraile and Valverde.

The GC group crosses the line 56 seconds later and Carapaz retains the maillot rojo.

Another interesting read: route 7th stage 2020 Vuelta a España.