Stefan Küng wins the individual time trial on stage 18 of Vuelta a España
Enric Mas succesfully defends his red jersey
The 2026 Vuelta a España enters its critical phase on Thursday September 10th, with Stage 18's 32.1km individual time trial looming. This stage could potentially alter the race's outcome, being the final opportunity for title contenders or GC riders to showcase their abilities. It is also the last chance for specialized time trialists to secure a stage victory since the opening day in Monaco.
Tadej Pogačar, the initial stage favorite, is absent, leaving the door open for other contenders. Among the participants, Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) and Stefan Küng (Tudor Pro Cycling) are notable time trial specialists. Meanwhile, riders like Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) aim to leverage their general classification skills.
The time trial will commence at 14:07 CEST, with Mathias Norsgaard (Lidl-Trek) starting first. Riders will depart at one-minute intervals, with the final participant, Andreas Leknessund (Uno-X Mobility), leaving at 15:23 CEST. Notable riders to watch include Hayter, Küng, Andreas Leknessund, Wout van Aert, Roglič, and João Almeida.
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- Vuelta a España stage 18 individual time trial start times cyclingweekly.com
- Roglic closes gap on Mas in Vuelta time trial sports.yahoo.com
- Roglic closes gap on Mas in Vuelta time trial bbc.co.uk
- Swiss Kung wins Vuelta stage 18, Mas retains healthy overall lead channelnewsasia.com
