Jay Vine Takes Vuelta Stage Nine As Juan Ayuso Attacks Uae Team ‘dictatorship’

Jonas Vingegaard looked casual while he slipped backmost into nan reddish jersey astatine nan apical of nan Larra-Belagua but it was a melodramatic time astatine nan Vuelta a España for UAE Team Emirates arsenic Jay Vine, nan mountains classification leader, took nan shape triumph aft his teammate, Juan Ayuso, has earlier accused guidance of acting “like a dictatorship”.

Vine took his 2nd shape win, nan 4th of nan title for UAE, pinch a well-timed onslaught connected nan last climb to region his last challenger near successful nan breakaway, Pablo Castrillo. The Australian had primitively called disconnected plans to spell for a shape triumph earlier successful nan time arsenic nan peloton attacked nan hilly way astatine gait – pinch mean speeds regularly topping 49km per hr – but arsenic nan title unfolded an opportunity arose for Vine to span complete to nan day’s breakaway group and he took it.

Lotto’s Alec Segaert later attacked from that battalion of leaders astatine nan 20km banner, but was caught and passed connected nan measurement up Larra-Belagua by nan 9 remaining riders. As nan pretenders fell distant connected a 6.3% mean gradient, Castrillo (Movistar) and Vine were near to conflict it out. It ever looked for illustration Vine would person excessively overmuch for Castrillo and truthful it proved erstwhile he powered distant connected a chicane pinch 5km to go.

Vine’s triumph put a affirmative slant connected a time that began pinch tumultuous scenes astatine nan commencement arsenic Ayuso deed retired astatine UAE management. The Spanish rider described their determination to nonstop retired a property merchandise connected Monday’s remainder time – confirming that nan 22-year-old would beryllium ending his statement 3 years early – arsenic “like a dictatorship and an workout of powerfulness complete me”.

Jonas Vingegaard reclaimed nan wide lead arsenic nan two-times Tour de France victor seeks a first Vuelta title. Photograph: Javier Lizón/EPA

Ayuso told Spanish reporters: “We’d made an statement that it would travel retired aft nan Vuelta was over, truthful it wouldn’t impact things successful nan squad astatine each connected a sporting level during nan title and not to impact immoderate of nan riders. I deliberation that it’s clear why they’ve done it, to effort and harm my image again.”

Ayuso had said riding for nan squad would beryllium “pointless” aft shape 9 connected Sunday, but put successful a beardown effort connected nan last climb arsenic nan UAE squad leader, João Almeida, tried push nan different wide classification contenders retired of their comfortableness zones.

Almeida is now 3rd overall, only 12 seconds down Norway’s Torstein Træen (Bahrain-Victorious), who mislaid nan wide lead to Vingegaard aft falling disconnected nan backmost of nan GC group pinch 6km to go. Tom Pidcock is only 20 seconds down Almeida – who told nan Briton to “grow immoderate balls” aft a ding-dong thrust connected shape 9 – pinch nan Briton now 4th successful nan GC standings.

Pidcock looked comfortable going up Larra-Belagua, maintaining nan shape he showed earlier Monday’s remainder day. “I backed up my thrust from nan different time and nan much I do that, nan much assurance I’m going to have,” said nan Q36.5 Pro Cycling squad leader post-stage.

The double Olympic upland motorcycle golden medallist confirmed that he had received an apology from Almeida complete their angry ecxhange, saying: “I don’t return thing to heart, it was successful nan power of nan moment. I’ve besides said worldly to group successful nan past, truthful there’s nary difficult feelings.”

Tom Pidcock, left, was successful a bullish temper pursuing different beardown showing connected nan climbs during shape 10 of nan Vuelta a Espana. Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images

Pidcockhas yet to put together a genuine situation for a expansive circuit title, but has antecedently performed powerfully astatine nan Tour de France, winning a shape successful 2022. Asked astir his form, he said: “I consciousness ace good. After a capacity for illustration I did connected Sunday it fills you pinch confidence. The much that happens nan amended I’ll feel.”

Vingegaard described Pidcock arsenic a “very strong” rival for nan GC and nan Dane appeared pleased pinch nan low-key measurement he was capable to retake nan reddish jersey. With nan media attraction presently elsewhere successful nan peloton, nan Visma-Lease a motorcycle rider now faces a reliable week of climbing, including nan celebrated L’Angliru climb connected shape 13, pinch a target connected his back.

“Basically each time this week is going to beryllium a conflict for GC,” Vingegaard said astatine nan decorativeness line. “You request to take your days and past spell for it. That’s what we did.”