Santiago Buitrago overcame a brutal challenge in stage 14 of the Vuelta a España and secured a spectacular second place in a thrilling finish

The Colombian Santiago Buitrago delivered a spectacular performance in stage 14 of the Vuelta a España and finished second in a brutal day marked by high temperatures. The Bogotá native was left wanting to win after losing in the final sprint to Marco Brenner.

Stage 14 of the Vuelta a España was an ideal setting for Buitrago to add more points in the mountain classification and reinforce his leadership. The 154-kilometer day between Jaén and the Sierra de la Pandera featured three mountain prizes, two of second category and a first-category summit finish that added a special touch to a very complex stage.

The Colombian Juan Guillermo Martínez was one of those who tried to animate the race at the start and tested a breakaway that the peloton prevented. After several attempts, 45 riders managed to open a gap with the favorites.

Among the escapees was the name Santiago Buitrago, who joined to fight for points in the two second-category mountain prizes before the finish. Also traveling in that group were his compatriots Iván Ramiro Sosa and Juan Felipe Rodríguez, who is having a great performance in his first three-week World Tour race.

The escapees faced the Puerto de los Villares with more than four minutes advantage over a peloton where Thomas Gloag, Fabio Van den Bossche, Timo de Jong, and Chris Hamilton crashed. The setback was not serious and all four riders continued in the race.

Santiago Buitrago executed the move perfectly and crossed first the day’s first climb ahead of Lorenzo Fortunato and Kevin Vermaerke. He earned 5 points in the mountain classification and increased his lead to 23 points over Wout van Aert, who stayed with the favorites’ group.

Kevin Vermaerke shook up the breakaway and went solo on the descent, opening a gap of more than 55 seconds. Behind, the peloton topped the second-category climb with more than 5 minutes advantage.

Vermaerke could not hold his lead on the ascent to Puerto de Locubín and was caught by the men in the break. Buitrago had his chance to add more points on the mountain pass, but his rivals beat him in the sprint and he did not score.

Georg Steinhauser animated the race on the last climb of the day. The only one who managed to close the gap was Valentin Paret-Peintre, who stuck to his wheel. Both gained a small advantage of 30 seconds over the chasing group in which Santiago Buitrago pulled and wore himself out.

In the peloton, the Colombian Harold Tejada jumped from behind and attacked Enric Mas and the leaders trying to cause damage and gain some seconds to consolidate himself in the top-10 of the general classification.

With 3 kilometers to go, Santiago Buitrago stood on the pedals and attacked the few companions left in the breakaway. In the favorites’ group, the tense calm was broken by Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz, who attacked Enric Mas on the brutal ascent to the Sierra de La Pandera.

It was in the last kilometer when Buitrago delivered the final blow, but Marco Brenner stuck to his wheel and, in an exciting finish, beat the Colombian, who arrived second and was left wanting to take the victory.

This Sunday, stage 15 of the Vuelta a España will be contested over a medium mountain route with three third-category mountain passes, ideal for Buitrago to continue adding points in the fight for the points jersey.

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