Just four stages the riders are left in this Vuelta, beginning today with a stage of 204 kilometers between Roa and Riaza. It’s not a real mountain stage, but with the finish fourteen kilometers after a first category climb, the GC riders must be attentive. Lotto Soudal is starting in today’s stage with six riders. Jurgen Van den Broeck is travelling back to Belgium, because he’s going to the USA next Monday for the World Championships in Richmond.

“For the remaining stages we have set two goals: keeping the fourteenth place of Bart De Clercq in the GC and joining breaks who have the potential to make it to the end," sports director Mario Aerts said. "In the past weeks, we were only once in a break that remained ahead, with Maxime Monfort, and I want it different the next few days. Jelle Vanendert, Maxime Monfort, Tosh Van der Sande, Jasper De Buyst and also Adam Hansen will have their chance to join a break. Even Bart De Clercq may try to get in the break when the group is big enough. The GC riders will wait to attack, so in my opinion, the break can make it to  the end.”