source: Instagram/@rusty_woods
Michael Woods from Canada achieved a stunning victory in Stage 13 of the Vuelta a España on Friday, executing a brilliant late breakaway in the challenging mountains of northwestern Spain. This win marked Woods’s fourth Grand Tour stage triumph and his third in La Vuelta.
The race, spanning from Lugo to Puerto de Ancares, saw Michael Woods in top form as he broke away from a tight-knit group of five riders just 4.5 kilometers from the finish. Despite fierce competition, Woods managed to pull ahead and secure the win.
Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid finished in second place, struggling to keep up with Woods’s formidable pace. Spaniard Marc Soler took third, earning cheers from the local fans.
Michael Woods shared his excitement after the race, saying, “It’s been a tough journey. Winning today is a huge relief. The pressure was intense, but now I’m ecstatic.” He added, “I knew I had a chance as long as I stayed close to the leaders because the climb played to my strengths.”
Reflecting on his strategy, Woods noted, “I didn’t want to attack as early as Mauro did, but I had to make my move. It was a long, solo effort for those last four kilometers.”
At the finish line, Michael Woods proudly pointed to the red maple leaf on his Canadian champion jersey, celebrating his tactical and hard-earned victory.
In the overall standings, Slovenian Primoz Roglic closed the gap on leader Ben O’Connor by nearly two minutes. O’Connor’s lead is now reduced to just one minute and 21 seconds.
O’Connor, who finished 33rd on the stage, compared to Roglic’s 16th place, said, “I’m exhausted. It’s tough, but I’m still in the leader’s red jersey. At least that’s a positive. Tomorrow, I’ll focus on recovery and hope for a better performance on Sunday.”
