Geoffrey Soupe (TotalEnergies) pulled a wild upset in stage 7 of the Vuelta a Espana.
The 35 year sprinter wasn’t on anybody’s list of potential winners, contenders or even dark horses. I doubt Monsieur Soupe woke up this morning, thinking, this is my stage, I shall show Kaden Groves who is boss.
“I didn’t think it was possible to win a stage because it’s really fast in the sprints,” said Soupe. Yes, sprints as fast — it’s kinda what they’re known for.
However, there was Soupe amidst all the final kilometer chaos of the Helta Skelta Vuelta. Somehow, some way, he found himself in fantastic position as Groves, Theuns, Molano and Filippo Ganna all went full gas, mega-wattage.
At 200 meters to the line, he punched it and shot up the left side of the road. Hey, he’s thinking, I might get third place, this is my lucky day. Groves was a little boxed in and the only rider who came close to beating Soupe was another long-shot, Orluis Aular (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA).
For a moment, it even appeared the Aular had pulled off his own miracle. But that would have been just mind-blowing. He settled for a thrilling second place (awesome, Orluis!) with Trek-Lidl’s Edward Theuns in third. Groves, who’d won two sprint stage in convincing fashion could only manage fifth.
Soupe was super surprised. “I saw that I could launch my sprint from a ways to go after the last corner and I was surprised when nobody from behind me came past.” This is the very definition of victory — nobody comes past you. Thus, you are first.
Soupe, who looks like the pro cycling James Harden with his thick, dark beard was over the moon. “To win a sprint in a Grand Tour is always special and also a surprise. I’ve always wanted to taste victory in a Grand Tour” he said. “It’s an unbelievable, indescribable moment for me.”
Chapeau Soupe. He’s only had two pro wins in his career, both in that nutty La Tropicale Amissa Bongo race down in Gabon. Now, in the twilight of his sprint career, he has himself a Vuelta a Espana triumph.
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