In a startling triumph, Geoffrey Soupe nailed his most significant career accomplishment by conquering stage seven of the Vuelta a España. Soupe pulled off this coup after a dramatic photo finish against Orluis Aular in the sprint climax in Oliva, Spain.
Propelling himself into the final turn with just 300 meters left on the track, the French cyclist outstripped Aular to claim a victory that seemed almost too close to call. The frenzied atmosphere was further fueled by an unfortunate collision that occurred with a little over six kilometers to go, requiring Thymen Arensman to seek immediate medical attention via ambulance.
Earlier on the same circuit, Geraint Thomas, the lead rider for Ineos, had his own bit of bad luck as he too went tumbling down. The Welsh athlete had to get medical aid for an injured left knee, eventually losing an extra 24 seconds as a result.
Amidst the chaos, Lenny Martinez successfully held onto the coveted red jersey he had snatched during stage six. Sepp Kuss, who sits in second place, managed to claw his way back into the pack after facing a late-stage hiccup, staying a mere eight seconds behind Martinez.
Kaden Groves, a rider who had already bagged two stage wins this race, seemed poised to make it a hat-trick. However, he was overtaken at the last turn and ended up in the fifth spot.
For Geoffrey Soupe, a rider from the TotalEnergies team, this Vuelta stage victory stands as the pinnacle of his career thus far. “This win is surreal, both for me and the team, especially considering that I wasn’t even slated to compete in the Vuelta this year,” Soupe enthused. “Honestly, I never believed winning a stage was in the cards for me, given how rapid the sprint segments are.”
Stage Seven Final Rankings
- Geoffrey Soupe (Fra/TotalEnergies) – 4hrs 56mins 29secs
- Orluis Aular (Ven/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) – Same time
- Edward Theuns (Bel/Lidl-Trek)
- Sebastián Molano (Col/UAE Team Emirates)
- Kaden Groves (Aus/Alpecin-Deceuninck)
- Marijn van den Berg (Ned/EF Education – EasyPost)
- David Gonzalez (Spa/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA)
- Hugo Page (Fra/Intermarche-Circus-Wanty)
- Filippo Ganna (Ita/Ineos Grenadiers)
- Matevž Govekar (Slo/Bahrain Victorious)
Overall Classification After Stage Seven
- Lenny Martinez (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) – 26hrs 37mins 04secs
- Sepp Kuss (USA/Jumbo-Visma) +8secs
- Marc Soler (Spa/UAE Team Emirates) +51secs
- Wout Poels (Ned/Bahrain Victorious) +1min 41secs
- Steff Cras (Bel/TotalEnergies) +1:48
- Mikel Landa (Spa/Bahrain Victorious) +1:58
- David de la Cruz (Spa/Astana-Qazaqstan) +2:23
- Jefferson Alveiro Cepeda (Ecu/Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) +2:30
- Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal-Quick-Step) +2:47
- Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Jumbo-Visma) +2:50
So there you have it, sports aficionados. The drama and high-speed duels in this year’s Vuelta a España are worthy of a Netflix binge-watch. Only here, there are no do-overs, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Stay tuned for more road-burning action!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Vuelta a España Stage Seven Results
Who won the seventh stage of the Vuelta a España?
Geoffrey Soupe of the TotalEnergies team won the seventh stage, beating Orluis Aular in a dramatic photo finish.
Who retained the overall leader’s red jersey in this stage?
Lenny Martinez retained the overall leader’s red jersey that he had claimed in the sixth stage of the Vuelta a España.
Was the seventh stage of the Vuelta a España incident-free?
No, the stage was marred by a couple of crashes. Thymen Arensman required ambulance treatment following a crash six kilometers before the finish, and earlier in the stage, Geraint Thomas also went down, requiring medical attention to his left knee.
How did Sepp Kuss fare in stage seven?
Sepp Kuss recovered from a late-stage hiccup and managed to remain within eight seconds of the overall leader, Lenny Martinez.
Did Kaden Groves win his third stage in the Vuelta a España?
No, Kaden Groves was overtaken at the final turn and ended up finishing fifth in stage seven, missing out on a third stage win.
What did Geoffrey Soupe say about his unexpected win?
Geoffrey Soupe said the win was “incredible” and “surreal,” especially because he wasn’t initially slated to compete in the Vuelta a España this year. He also mentioned that he didn’t think winning a stage was possible due to the speed of the sprint segments.
Who are the top three riders in the overall classification after stage seven?
The top three riders in the overall classification after stage seven are Lenny Martinez in first place, Sepp Kuss in second place with an eight-second difference, and Marc Soler in third place with a 51-second difference.
How long did it take for Geoffrey Soupe to complete the seventh stage?
Geoffrey Soupe completed the seventh stage in 4 hours, 56 minutes, and 29 seconds.
Who are some of the other cyclists who finished in the top 10 of the seventh stage?
Apart from Geoffrey Soupe and Orluis Aular, Edward Theuns, Sebastián Molano, and Kaden Groves were among the cyclists who finished in the top five. Marijn van den Berg, David Gonzalez, Hugo Page, Filippo Ganna, and Matevž Govekar rounded out the top 10.
Is this Geoffrey Soupe’s first big win?
Yes, this victory in the Vuelta a España’s seventh stage stands as the most significant win of Geoffrey Soupe’s career so far.
More about Vuelta a España Stage Seven Results
- Vuelta a España Official Website
- TotalEnergies Team Profile
- Latest Cycling News
- Photo Finish Explained
- Geraint Thomas Career Highlights
- Who is Lenny Martinez?
- Understanding the Red Jersey
- Stage Seven Full Results
- Sepp Kuss Career
- Crash Dynamics in Cycling Races