Vuelta a España leader Ben O’Connor survived a difficult stage and dangerous late attack by EF Education-EasyPost leader Richard Carapaz with his five-second overall lead intact, but the Australian admitted it had been anything but a straightforward day through the sierras of Alava.
Carapaz and EF launched a powerful surprise attack on the Alto de la Herrera category 1 climb. With nearly 40 kilometres to go, on paper, that was a long way from the finish in Maeztu, but in fact, it proved more than enough to put O’Connor in trouble.
