Team Dimension Data’s Merhawi Kudus was the team’s top finisher on stage 11 of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday.
He spent most of the day in the break but was caught with 4km to go and eventually crossed the line 2.45 minutes down.
Team Dimension Data’s Merhawi Kudus was their best finisher on stage 11 of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday. Photo: Stiehl Photography
Chris Froome (Sky) crossed the finish line on the Pena Cabarga in first position ahead of overall leader Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde (both Movistar).
The race started with a blistering pace and it took a long time until 23 riders managed to break clear from the peloton.
Kudus and Jacques Janse van Rensburg managed to jump into the group.
However, Movistar and Tinkoff were not keen to let the group get a big gap and kept a striking distance.
In the finale the gap dropped below the one-minute mark and it was then when Kudus and Janse van Rensburg showed their team’s fighting spirit.
The latter was one of the first to attack from the break, but he was pulled back by the others.
Kudus then tried to stay out as long as possible, but when the GC favourites started their fireworks it was all over for him and the remaining break.
Esteban Chaves (Orica-BikeExchange) was the first to give it a real go.
He couldn’t sustain his gap, though, and was reeled in inside the final kilometre when both Valverde and Quintana tried to outclimb Froome, who stayed calm enough to take the win on the day.
