Starting out at Madrid’s celebrated Hipodromo de la Zarzuela racecourse, the standard processional part of the final stage was over far more quickly than normal. After the four jersey wearers, and Jumbo Visma as a team, had completed their curtain calls, the peloton pressed on for the city centre circuit.
The 5km course was shaped into three prongs, featuring long straights and tight hairpins that would bring riders all but to a standstill as they completed each corner. That had, in the past, made for some exciting racing and presented interesting opportunities for animation.
Clearly a couple of riders knew what was in store, and had grand plans, but they would not unveil themselves until the second of nine laps, after Alpecin-Deceuninck had helped Groves add another 20 points to his green jersey total.
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