Champoussin savours 'unexpected' stage victory at Vuelta a España

Clément Champoussin
Clément Champoussin celebrates winning stage 20 at the Vuelta a España (Image credit: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

After the last breakaway rider standing, Ryan Gibbons, was caught on Saturday's final climb of stage 20 of the Vuelta a España, the final kilometres looked all set to be a showdown for victory between the big GC names of Primož Roglič, Enric Mas, Jack Haig and Adam Yates.

However, rather than one of the GC protagonists enjoying a crowning moment on the Alto Castro de Herville, it was another name from the breakaway who enjoyed victory on the final road stage of the race – AG2R Citroën's second-year pro Clément Champoussin.

Dani Ostanek
Senior News Writer

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, joining in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired full-time. Before joining the team, they had written for numerous major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly and Rouleur.

Dani has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France, Road World Championships, and the spring Classics. They have interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Mathieu van der Poel, Demi Vollering, and Remco Evenepoel. Their favourite races are the Giro d'Italia, Strade Bianche and Paris-Roubaix.

Season highlights from the 2024 season include reporting from Paris-Roubaix –  'Unless I'm in an ambulance, I'm finishing this race' – Cyrus Monk, the last man home at Paris-Roubaix – and the Tour de France – 'Disbelief', gratitude, and family – Mark Cavendish celebrates a record-breaking Tour de France sprint win.