Simon Yates certainly has a sense of timing and he showed experience well beyond his years on the way to a stage victory and the red jersey at the 2018 Vuelta A España.
Stage 14 of La Vuelta challenged riders to a gruelling day with an incredibly steep finish into Les Praeres.
And while a number of general classification riders attacked in the final stages, it was Yates who measured his effort before riding away on the final kilometre.
He said: “It was very difficult (last climb), it was a very difficult stage. I chose my moment really well in the very final and I didn’t look back until it flattened a little bit. I had a little gap so it was everything to the line.
“I feel a bit more like I deserve the red jersey this time. I gave everything I could in the very end so I’m very happy.”
Yates finished two seconds clear of Alejandro Valverde, who moves into second overall, and Miguel Angel Lopez, with Thibaut Pinot and Nairo Quintana coming home a little bit further back.
And with leader Jesus Herrada, who had moved into red on Thursday, finishing well off the pace, that was enough to put Yates back into the overall lead.
He now holds a 20-second lead over Valverde, whose Movistar teammate Quintana is third 25 seconds behind the leader.
Lopez is also within a minute of Yates going into stage 15 where the riders will take on the legendary Lagos de Covadonga which has featured regularly on La Vuelta since its first appearance in 1983.
Quintana was victorious on its slopes two years ago, with Yates ninth that day, and the Brit is hopeful that he will be in similar shape on Sunday.
He added: “I remember the stage to Lagos de Covadonga from 2016. That’s the only time I’ve ridden this climb. It’s a very difficult climb so I hope to have the same legs as today.” Sportsbeat 2018