Remco Evenepoel made a powerful statement with a superb solo Stage 14 victory in the 2023 Vuelta a Espana on Saturday, the day after his Grand Tour defense crumbled.

The reinvigorated Soudal-QuickStep rider crossed the line with arms aloft on the Larra-Belagua mountain finish, dropping Romain Bardet just over three kilometers from the end.

Last year's champion Evenepoel struggled badly Friday, explaining his world championships efforts back in August, where he won the time-trial in Glasgow, had disrupted his training and affected his preparation.

The Belgian slunk over the line 27 minutes behind Jumbo-Visma rival and stage winner Jonas Vingegaard to end his hopes of competing in the general classification.

Sepp Kuss kept the red jersey, with Jumbo-Visma still hogging the top 3 overall, with three-time Vuelta winner Primoz Roglic second, and back-to-back Tour de France winner Vingegaard third.

"Yesterday was a very difficult day, also the evening -- I couldn't sleep too much, I had negative thoughts in my head," Evenepoel told Eurosport. "Today, I woke up and just told myself to make the best of it."

He added: "I think I can be very proud with this answer, after yesterday."

Stage 14 started with a relatively flat 50-kilometer stretch from Sauveterre-de-Bearn, before climbing into the Pyrenees and back into Spain.

Evenepoel was on the attack from the very start in a blistering opening to the race on a baking hot day.

Eventually, he and 23 other riders managed to breakaway, with the peloton sitting back ahead of the Col Hourcere climb.

Evenepoel took maximum points in the race for King of the Mountains, driving on with DSM-Firmenich's Bardet ahead of the break.

On the Puerto de Larrau, roared on by hoards of Basque fans, he clinched the blue-polka-dot jersey for best climber -- some consolation after his disastrous performance Friday.

Evenepoel and Bardet hit the final 10 kilometers over four minutes ahead of the chase, ready to do battle for the stage, but the Belgian breezed away a long way before the finish.

"He's just way stronger, I was beaten by Remco," Bardet explained. "He's incredible."

The 23-year-old was emotional after his solo victory, his second stage win of this year's Vuelta.

The group containing the general classification favorites came in 8 minutes, 22 seconds behind Evenepoel, with no significant changes in the overall standings.

"(Evenepoel's win) is really impressive," said US rider and race leader Kuss. "It's a nice way to bounce back after yesterday, and I'm happy for him that he could get a win after yesterday maybe being a disappointing day -- hats off to him."

On Sunday, riders take on a hilly 15th stage, running 158.5 kilometers between Pamplona and Lekunberri.

This is the 78th edition of the Vuelta, which ends in Madrid on Sept. 17 after 21 stages and 3,153.8 kilometers.