Carlos Barredo took the Biggest Victory

QuickStep rider Carlos Barredo took off at the foot of the mist-enshrouded Lagos de Covadonga Credit: Universalsports

LAGOS DE COVADONGA, Spain — QuickStep rider Carlos Barredo was a popular victor — a local boy, he is from Asturias who lives in Gidon took off at the foot of the mist-enshrouded Lagos de Covadonga ascent from a six-rider break for a solo win.

The 29-year-old Quick Step rider, born in nearby Oviedo took the biggest victory of his career in Sunday’s 15th stage of the Vuelta a Espana on the same climb where he started riding a bike.

Barredo said,”My father told me if I managed to ride a mountain bike he’d borrowed for me all the way from Oviedo to here then he’d buy me a road bike.”

“I knew we’d have a chance today,” he said. “I was in all the attacks from the gun and I knew that we’d have to have an advantage. I’ve been fighting all season long for a big victory and I kept coming up short. I won the Clasica San Sebastian last year, but this is the most important victory so far in my career. I’m from this area, so to win in front of my friends and family makes it even sweeter.”

“This is the mythical climb of the Vuelta,” he said. “For a Spanish rider, winning at the Lagos is as important as winning at the Mont Ventoux or l’Alpe d’Huez. It’s a pretty long climb, quite difficult at halfway. Someone like (Esquiel) Mosquera will be at his ease, more than yesterday at Pena Cabarga. The rain will not be a problem because there’s no downhill in this stage, but the road to the climb is difficult because it’s always up and down for the whole day.”

The QuickStep rider Carlos Barredo won the 15th stage of the Spanish Vuelta on Sunday, while Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali kept the overall lead, ESPN reported.