Geoffrey Soupe stuns field to power to victory in 'messy' bunch sprint
Updated 01/09/2023 at 17:35 GMT
A thilling if chaotic finish to Stage 7 of the 2023 Vuelta a Espana saw Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergies) take a surprise win following a bunch sprint. The 35-year-old Frenchman launched a late attack in the final few kilometers on the Costa Blanca to beat Orluis Aular (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) to the line.
'What an incredible finish!' - Soupe wins Stage 7 by fraction ahead of Aular
A hectic bunch sprint at the end of Stage 7 of the Vuelta a Espana saw a surprise winner in the form on Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergies).
The French veteran accelerated into a lead of several bike lengths out of the final corner, and hung on ahead of Orluis Aular (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) and Edward Teuns (Lidl-Trek).
The unlikely victory came at the end of a chaotic closing ten kilometres, containing several crashes, as riders fought with complex street furniture arrangements on top of the usual stresses and strains in which every team is fighting for position.
Highlights from Stage 7 of Vuelta a Espana as Soupe claims surprise win
The 200km stage, the second longest of the entire Vuelta was always destined to end in a sprint. The only question, open to interpretation, was what shape that sprint would take.
Unlike Stage 6, when seemingly every ride fancied his chances, the day began in straightforward, perfunctory style. After rolling through the neutral start at Utiel, in the province of Valenciana, Two riders, Jose Herrada of Cofidis and Ander Okamika (Bugos-BH) eased themselves out of the saddles the moment the race director's flag signalled for them to go.
Alpecin-Deceuninck, on whose green jersey carrying shoulders responsiblities to keep the break in check rested, were in no mood to make it hard for themselves. Two minutes was the maximum size of gap were permitted during their four hours together.
Despite being largely down-hill for the first 120km, the average speed of both groups remained well under 40kph until the race reached the coast. Only after turning onto the southern coast road out of Valencia, did anyone begin to press firmly on the pedals.
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A crash involving three riders from Ineos Grenadiers caused Geraint Thomas to seek medical attention, and left the British rider removing ears of corn from his jersey after what was a relatively soft landing.
Knowing the game was long up, Herrada, in likely his last Vuelta breakaway, returned to the peloton 67km from the finish, leaving Okamika to collect the combativity prize.
Despite at one point being within spitting distance of the bunch, the former triathlete actually stayed out on his own for another half an hour, his ride being shut down by the collective acceleration ahead of the intermediate sprint.
Which was won with ease by the green jersey wearing Kaden Groves, although Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo Visma) popped up to snatch two bonus seconds for taking third in Cullera.
The first of two significant crashes came 10.4km from the finish, as a Jayco Alula riders overlapped a wheel on the left side of the bunch, causing half a dozen riders to either be brought down or impeded. The most important affected was stage 6 winner Sepp Kuss (Jumbo Visma), who quickly remounted and made short work of the chase back, with Cian Uijtdebroeks (BORA - hansgrohe) having a harder time of returning to the main group.
With nerves already jangling, the more serious incident came with 5km remaining, and took on the opposite side of the road, towards the top of the peloton. Thymen Arensman (Ineos Grenadiers) was left motionless on the ground, before being lifted into an ambulance.
Into Oliva, despite losing several from the sprint train, Alpecin were just about still in control, though all their hard work was about to be undone by the sweeping wide 90 degree left hand turn which came 300m from the line.
'What an incredible finish!' - Soupe wins Stage 7 by fraction ahead of Aular
Soupe found himself among the top seven riders, just behind Juan Sebastián Molano (UAE Team Emirates) on the left, with Kaden Groves being led round by his last bodyman. The Frenchman took the turner tighter than Groves, however. Although he carried less speed, he was able to straighten up first and was back on the pedals before anyone else, and while all the rest were still cornering. That extra time was to Soupe's advantage, as it meant he was able to accelerate to top speed and steal a few bike lengths of advantage. Just 150m from the line he was in poll position by some margin, and while a dozen or so came back to almost level, none could overhaul him.
Soupe, 35, had never previously won a WorldTour race, with his best result being two stage victories in La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, and the overall victory this year.
The win was made even more impressive by Soupe only having been included in his team's line-up at the last minute: "I didn't originally have the Vuelta on my schedule but because Alexis Vuillermoz crashed at the Tour de l'Ain, the team picked me," he said afterwards.
"I didn't think it was possible to win a stage, because it's really really, really fast in the sprint. Yet today it was really nervous in the final - there were a lot of roundabouts, a lot of wind also. It was a long shot, a surprise, but always special."
'I didn't think it was possible' – Surprise winner Soupe reflects on 'special' Stage 7 triumph
Points competition leader Kaden Groves (Alpecin–Deceuninck), chasing a third stage win, and favourite for the hat-trick, got held up around the final corner.
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