REMCO EVENEPOEL dropped his main challengers on the short but gruelling final ascent in Les Praeres to increase his overall lead in the Vuelta on Sunday.

South African flyweight Louis Meintjes, ideally built for the 20-plus per cent gradients, won the ninth stage, crossing the line more than a minute ahead of his breakaway companions Samuele Battistella, Edoardo Zambanini — and the irrepressible Evenepoel.

The Vuelta is the third and final leg of cycling’s annual grand tours, the Spanish equivalent of the Tour de France and Italy’s Giro d’Italia, a gruelling 21 stages over three weeks.