However, the Vuelta a España featured more steep First Category Climbs and more stages that favored breakaway riders. Therefore, it was difficult even for the Red Jersey holder to snowball climbing points.
Two kilometers later, after a trio including Vine had broken away, the peloton reached another gentle slope, and eight more riders launched an attack.
Prominent among them was Soler, the UAE Deputy Commander, who was already wearing the Polka Dot Jersey for the day.
The other seven were Thomas Champion from Cofidis Team.
Sylvain Monique from Lotto Team.
Carlos Canar from Movistar Team.
Clemente Bette from Decathlon Team.
Castrillo from Kern Pharma Team.
Jack Haig from Bahrain Victory Team.
And Enzo Leijnse from Team DSM.
Seeing this eleven-man breakaway group, Huang Chong was crystal clear about each rider's intentions.
First, none of these eleven riders posed any threat to him in the general classification.
