Following the highs and lows for Juan Ayuso on previous mountain stages at the Vuelta a España, Sunday’s ninth stage was another to forget for the Spanish rider.
Ayuso, who went into the Vuelta as co-leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, suffered on the road to Valdezcaray, dropping early on the final climb and losing over 21 minutes at the finish.
Further up the mountain, UAE’s main GC hope since Ayuso’s demise, João Almeida, shed 24 seconds to main race favourite Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease A Bike). With Ayuso obviously unable to assist his teammate in the final, some raised questions about his role in the team.
Almeida now lies third overall, 1:15 off race leader Torstein Træen (Bahrain Victorious) and 38 seconds off second-placed Vingegaard, with almost half the Vuelta done.
UAE have taken three stage victories so far in the race – the team time trial in Figueres, Jay Vine’s breakaway effort in Andorra, and Ayuso’s move from the break in Cerler. Almeida, meanwhile, looks a favourite for a final podium spot, even if beating Vingegaard will be a tall order.
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