Castrillo secures his future with another masterpiece in the Vuelta: "When I saw Vlasov's face..."
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Follow us on GooglePablo Castrillo—had you heard of him before this Vuelta a España? As in, did you actually know who he was? Many cycling fans likely didn’t have him in their predictions for the Tour of Spain, but the 2024 Vuelta has become the race of this 23-year-old Spaniard's big breakthrough. After an already impressive stage win from the breakaway on day twelve, his stage victory on the monstrous Cuitu Negru was even more remarkable. Standing at 1.83 meters and weighing over 70 kilograms, he outperformed big names from the leading group.
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Before this Vuelta, Castrillo had never won a race. He signed with the ProContinental team Equipe Kern Pharma in 2023 (after a period as a trainee) for two seasons, which now seems to have been a fortunate decision. WorldTour teams will be lining up for him after Castrillo showcased his climbing abilities not only in a challenging hill stage but also on a massive Vuelta climb. "A damn dream," was all the stage winner could say in the flash interview after his victory.
The fact that he was in the breakaway wasn't even a surprise, especially since he had already won a stage. His legs felt strong, but no one could have predicted they were strong enough for him to ride Pavel Sivakov and Aleksandr Vlasov off his wheel. Especially when Castrillo seemed to be struggling in the wheel during the steepest kilometers. "I had incredible legs," he admitted. "They were even better than on day twelve; I truly gave everything I had in that attack."
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Has Castrillo earned a transfer to INEOS Grenadiers?
When the steepest sections began in the last three kilometers, Castrillo boldly broke away. Sivakov and Vlasov didn't respond, and by the time Vlasov eventually joined him, he was already worn out. Castrillo was then able to drop the Russian from Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe in the final meters. "When I saw Vlasov's face, I decided to attack. I can't explain these performances any further; I never expected this."
Expected or not, performances like these are almost always rewarded in cycling. Ciclo21 is already reporting that INEOS Grenadiers will soon secure Castrillo's services. The British multi-million euro team is taking advantage of a clause in the Spaniard's contract that allows him to void his automatic extension until the end of 2025 if a WorldTour team shows interest. Reportedly, that interest was already expressed before the Vuelta.
Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- I’m still figuring out cyclocross: do the riders use the same bikes for the grass, sand and mud, or change them during the race?jeremya02-11-2026
- £50 seems a bit steep for a day out, though I suppose it’s a major event and the demand is clearly there. Do family tickets make it much more affordable?tourdeforce902-11-2026
- Fifteen thousand is a serious crowd for a World Cup round. Glasgow could be a huge moment for British ‘cross if Mason can get near the podium again.jennifer1902-11-2026
- Those junior races are a great addition — it gives young riders a proper spotlight before the elites take over. Hope the course makes the most of the park rather than just being a muddy spectator scrum!samanthak02-11-2026
- Fantastic to see cyclocross getting this kind of response in Scotland. A packed Kelvingrove Park should make for a brilliant atmosphere, especially with Mason racing on home roads.raceready702-11-2026
- No explanation after 15 years feels a bit thin. The budget pressure may be unrelated, but it’s hard not to wonder if all these changes are connected.samanthak02-11-2026
- I’m still learning how team directors work—does the head sports director decide race tactics, or is that mainly down to the riders and the person in the team car?velodromevirtuoso102-11-2026
- A proper changing of the guard at EF, especially with Carapaz going too. Hope they don’t lose the team identity in the reshuffle.cadencekingm02-11-2026
- White coming back just before Wegelius leaves makes the timing look significant, even if EF haven’t said there’s a connection. Interested to see who gets the head DS role.raceready702-11-2026
- Fifteen years is a huge stint in modern cycling. Wegelius’ knowledge of EF and its riders will be hard to replace.robert6502-11-2026
