When the Vuelta a España peloton slowly grinds its way up the final climbing challenge of the 2024 race to the summit finish at Picón Blanco this Saturday, spare a thought for Rein Taaramae (Intermarché-Wanty).
The winner on the same summit back in the 2021 Vuelta, the Estonian veteran had hoped to round out his soon-to-end career in the WorldTour (though he will continue racing in Japan in 2025) by ascending Picón Blanco one last time. But instead of reliving his greatest ever win, not to mention becoming Estonia’s first and to date only leader of the Vuelta, just two days ago Taaramae became too ill to continue the race.
