South African climber Louis Meintjes won the ninth stage of the Tour of Spain alone on Sunday August 28 at the top of the explosive Col des Praeres, where Belgian Remco Evenepoel suffocated his competitors to consolidate his red jersey. Meintjes was more than a minute ahead of young Italians Simone Battistella (Astana) and Edoardo Zambanini (Bahrain) at the finish line. Seventh in the last Tour de France, the South African notably took advantage of the 24% portions in the final climb classified first category to win his opponents in the breakaway and win his first stage victory in a Grand Tour, at thirty years old. , confirming his excellent season.