🤩 Another unbelievable day for @EqKernPharma ! ✨ ¡Otro día inolvidable para el Equipo Kern Pharma! #LaVuelta24
Castrillo secures his future with another masterpiece in the Vuelta: "When I saw Vlasov's face..."
CyclingSunday, 01 September 2024 at 19:18
Pablo Castrillo—had you heard of him before this Vuelta a España? As in, did you actually know who he was? Many cycling fans likely didn’t have him in their predictions for the Tour of Spain, but the 2024 Vuelta has become the race of this 23-year-old Spaniard's big breakthrough. After an already impressive stage win from the breakaway on day twelve, his stage victory on the monstrous Cuitu Negru was even more remarkable. Standing at 1.83 meters and weighing over 70 kilograms, he outperformed big names from the leading group.
Before this Vuelta, Castrillo had never won a race. He signed with the ProContinental team Equipe Kern Pharma in 2023 (after a period as a trainee) for two seasons, which now seems to have been a fortunate decision. WorldTour teams will be lining up for him after Castrillo showcased his climbing abilities not only in a challenging hill stage but also on a massive Vuelta climb. "A damn dream," was all the stage winner could say in the flash interview after his victory.
The fact that he was in the breakaway wasn't even a surprise, especially since he had already won a stage. His legs felt strong, but no one could have predicted they were strong enough for him to ride Pavel Sivakov and Aleksandr Vlasov off his wheel. Especially when Castrillo seemed to be struggling in the wheel during the steepest kilometers. "I had incredible legs," he admitted. "They were even better than on day twelve; I truly gave everything I had in that attack."
Read more below the video
Has Castrillo earned a transfer to INEOS Grenadiers?
When the steepest sections began in the last three kilometers, Castrillo boldly broke away. Sivakov and Vlasov didn't respond, and by the time Vlasov eventually joined him, he was already worn out. Castrillo was then able to drop the Russian from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in the final meters. "When I saw Vlasov's face, I decided to attack. I can't explain these performances any further; I never expected this."
Expected or not, performances like these are almost always rewarded in cycling. Ciclo21 is already reporting that INEOS Grenadiers will soon secure Castrillo's services. The British multi-million euro team is taking advantage of a clause in the Spaniard's contract that allows him to void his automatic extension until the end of 2025 if a WorldTour team shows interest. Reportedly, that interest was already expressed before the Vuelta.
🎉🎉The party has already started at the @EqKernPharma bus La fiesta del Kern Pharma ya ha empezado 🤪🤪🤪 #LaVuelta24
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024