Veteran Canadian climber Michael Woods powered to victory on stage 13 of the Vuelta a Espana on Friday as Primoz Roglic slashed nearly two minutes off Ben O’Connor’s overall lead.
Israel–Premier Tech rider Woods cut loose from the breakaway with 4.5 kilometres to go of a testing 176km route from Lugo to Puerto de Ancares, which included four categorised climbs.
The 37-year-old made his move on the last of the climbs, with some stretches at a punishing 15 percent, and rolled across the line 45 seconds ahead of Swiss rider Mauro Schmid with Spaniard Marc Soler completing the day’s podium.
It marked a fourth grand tour stage victory for Woods, his third in the Vuelta. The other victory came during last year’s Tour de France.
O’Connor, who rides for AG2R-Decathlon, started the stage with a 3min 16sec lead over the Slovenian Roglic from Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe.
But, as on Wednesday, the Australian struggled in the latter stages as Roglic turned the screw. Then he dropped 37sec to Roglic but on Friday the damage was even greater as he dropped almost two minutes.
O’Connor will head into Saturday’s 14th stage – the longest of the race at 200km between Villafranca del Bierzo and Villablino – with a vulnerable lead of 1min 21sec.
