It's been a long, long time since a Dutch rider celebrated a Grand Tour victory.
Joop Zotemelk did so: 1980 Tour de France and 1979 Vuelta a Espana. Tom Dumoulin is just four stages to break through. For a rider known as a fierce time-trial specialist, he has morphed into a solid all rounder. I'm amazed he can climb so well. Thus the paradox of the Dutch rider. He's held his own over the punishing steep Spanish climbs and put favorite climbers into tailspin. He punished everyone today posting the best time of 46' 01" over the 38.7km Burgos course thus taking the lead by three seconds. The race of truth spoke big time, Fabio Aru is second on GC, Purito Rodriguez faded to third - 1' 15" behind Dumoulin.
Ripping it.
photo Yuzuru Sunada
"It's going to be very stressful, but I guess that is the same for everyone. For me this Vuelta has been a success already, who could have thought I would be in the red jersey in the third week with two stage wins in my pocket? I will try to defend it and we will see."
- Tom Dumoulin
Not over quite yet.
photo Yuzuru Sunada
"There are still four stages remaining and the difference isn't that much so it is still to be decided. I have to go for it, particularly in the three stages before Madrid."
- Fabio Aru
Before Dumoulin fans can fully celebrate, Stage 20 is incredibly bumpy a last gasp for Fabio Aru to steal the Dutch Thunder? It's going to be a thrilling ending and ...it's not over quite yet.
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