Team LottoNL-Jumbo survived the monstrous 11th stage over six climbs across Andorra in the Vuelta a España. George Bennett rode into the main breakaway along with Mikel Landa (Team Astana), the eventual winner of the queen stage. Fabio Aru (Team Astana), second in the stage, took over the leader's jersey from Tom Dumoulin (Giant-Alpecin).  

The 11th stage of the Vuelta was a monster. The stage included more than 5.000 vertical metres of climbing, and the peloton was full of fear. Bennett, however, was not put off by the vertical challenge, and went on the attack.  

"It was a bitterly tough stage for the boys. It was every man for himself on the first two climbs,” said Sports Director Merijn Zeeman after the race. "There were no organized groups on the first two climbs, and therefore it was a fight man-to-man and very hard for non-climbers. At the front it was war. George Bennett fought like a lion, and he managed to make it into the right breakaway. He sat for a while in the group of favorites, but ran out of energy on the final climb. Our young men are all safe and well within the time limit.”  

Bennett was 27th in the overall standings before the stage, and built a good lead over the peloton in the breakaway. But on fourth col of the day, the strong of the New Zealander started to crack, and he was caught by a group of the favorites. Bennett held onto that group until the foot of the final climb.  

"It was a very difficult stage. On the first climb I make a tactical error,” said Bennett. "I jumped too often, and thus missed the right escape. After the descent, I closed gap in the valley to the leading group. That cost a lot of energy. At the foot of the Gallina, I had a bad moment and I was dropped by the breakaway. I was caught by a large group of GC riders, but on the final climb I was completely empty. I am disappointed but also happy with the strength in my legs. I will keep my focus on the right breakaway in the coming days, and then we'll see where this ends.”  

Tomorrow is a 174-kilometer transition stage to Lleida ideal for a breakaway.  

"The race starts downhill," Zeeman continued. "It's not so easy to be in the escape. After 40 kilometres, a climb of second category follows. We will not wait for that and will go in an early attack. Tom van Asbroeck and Dennis van Winden are fast. They can keep quiet until the final and have to sprint if the break doesn’t make it."